In the slew of updates Google has been releasing lately, from getting rid of the broad match modifier in Google Ads to pushing out the passage rank update, they have also stayed busy by making some new changes to Search Console.
Here is what they rolled out.
Changes to Core Web Vitals Reporting and Measurement
With the May 2021 core update just around the corner, with its known emphasis on Core Web Vitals, it is quite timely that GSC has improved how users can see issues with their site’s vitals within the platform.
What Changed
To clear up misunderstandings on the scoring of the vitals they measure, like largest contentful pain, first input delay, and cumulative layout shift, Google has changed the ways in which they present data.
An article by Search Engine Journal explained it this way:
“Going forward, the metrics defining the boundaries for largest contentful paint (LCP), first input delay (FID), and cumulative layout shift (CLS) are now defined as <= (less than or equal to).
Previously the boundaries for each of the Core Web Vitals was defined as < (less than). That meant the Google Search Console report would only show a “good” rating if measurements were under the ideal thresholds.
Site owners can now achieve a “good” rating if measurements meet the ideal thresholds.
For example, an ideal measurement for LCP was previously defined as less than 2.5 seconds. If LCP was recorded at exactly 2.5 seconds then the site owner would see a “needs improvement” rating in Search Console.
That is no longer the case. Now that same site will receive a “good” rating.”
Updates to Associations Page
📢 We’re happy to announce that Search Console has a new and enhanced Association page 🎉 but don’t worry, any associations that were previously set are carried over to the new Associations page automatically. Read more at https://t.co/svVS5bPiLD pic.twitter.com/F6rIHVVmxb
— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) February 22, 2021
To help Search Console connect to other platforms related to your website and business, they have updated their associations page.
Available Associations to Add
- Google Analytics
- Google Ads
- YouTube
- Play Console
- Actions Console
- Chrome Web Store
