You can regain your website ranking after the HCU updates by maintaining a measurement called LCP under 2.5s and CLS under 0.1, both available in the Lighthouse tool that comes with Chrome browser.
Google’s recent Helpful Content Update (HCU), along with the Core and Spam Updates, has sent shockwaves through the online community.
Numerous websites have experienced sudden ranking drops and indexing issues, leaving many website owners scrambling for the solutions found here.
PageSpeed Metrics: The Key to Recovery
The secret to recovering from the HCU lies in understanding and optimizing PageSpeed metrics, particularly Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
LCP measures the loading time of the largest visible element on a page, while CLS quantifies the visual stability of a page as it loads.
Through a recent Google Data Storage API leak, it was revealed that these metrics are stored during the indexing process, indicating their significance in Google’s Mobile First Indexing (which Google has said is now just their normal indexing).
Statistical analysis conducted by Comptrio using their DIY SEO Toolbox has shown a strong correlation between LCP and CLS, and ranking fluctuations. Performance Scores are a shorthand guideline.
Boosting Your PageSpeed for HCU Recovery
To regain your rankings after the HCU, aim for a Performance Score above 40 in the Lighthouse tool.
This score provides a quick snapshot of your page’s speed and usability and acts as a guideline.
However, to truly optimize your site, focus on achieving an LCP under 2.5 seconds and a CLS under 0.1.
Balancing these metrics can be challenging, as improving one may sometimes negatively impact the other.
For example, forcing a fast LCP by delaying the rest of the page can result in a higher CLS as elements shift around during loading.
Striking the right balance often requires technical expertise.
For more insights on improving page speed metrics, check out one of my previous articles about How to Improve Page Speed Metrics.
Real-World Examples: Websites That Bounced Back
None of my websites were affected by these updates, but I commonly visit SEO forums and hear from numerous website pros through that channel.
Several websites that experienced significant ranking drops following the HCU have reported gains after improving their LCP and CLS scores.
While most forum visitors may not return to confirm the effectiveness of the advice, the data-driven evidence collected by Comptrio through our tooling supports the crucial role of PageSpeed in recovering from these last few Google updates.
Next Steps to Recovering Your Website
The key to regaining your Google rankings after the HCU lies in optimizing your PageSpeed metrics, particularly LCP and CLS.
By using tools like Lighthouse and aiming for the recommended thresholds, you can boost your Performance Score and improve your chances of recovery.
Once these scores are above a minimum value, all of the old SEO rules are back in play.
The poor scores seem to act as a hurdle that your website needs to get past before anything else is considered.
After that hurdle is cleared, speed does not appear to play a major role in ranking.
For those seeking an SEO software solution, consider trying my DIY SEO Toolbox, a subscription web tool that crawls your website, integrates with your Google Search Console account, and provides valuable insights for just $10/month.
Alternatively, my full-service SEO solution offers ongoing professional management of your SEO efforts, ensuring your site stays ahead of Google’s updates.
Don’t let the HCU keep your website down.
Take action today and start optimizing your PageSpeed metrics to regain your rightful place in Google’s search results.
You can do it! Comptrio can help.