September 2024 brought several critical updates to the SEO landscape. If you want to optimize your digital strategy, it’s essential to stay informed about the latest changes. In this article, we cover:
- Google introduces CrUX view in the Core Web Vitals Tool
- New best practices for product markup in Google Shopping
- Bing expands generative search functionality to handle complex queries
Read on for a detailed review of how these changes could impact your SEO strategy and steps you can take to optimize your website.
1. Google CrUX View in Core Web Vitals
One of the most significant updates in September 2024 is Google’s addition of CrUX (Chrome User Experience Report) to their Core Web Vitals Tool. This new feature provides deeper insights into how users experience your website in real-world conditions. Core Web Vitals measure three key areas: loading performance (Largest Contentful Paint – LCP), interactivity (First Input Delay – FID), and visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift – CLS).
With CrUX data, you can now analyze interactions from actual users across different devices and networks. This is crucial since Core Web Vitals increasingly impact rankings in Google’s search results. Slow load times or excessive layout shifts can harm user experience and your ranking.
How can you optimize? First and foremost, you should prioritize improving the elements that affect LCP, FID and CLS. Ensure your website loads quickly and is responsive on both mobile and desktop. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse to assess your Core Web Vitals and identify areas for improvement. A well-designed and fast-loading website will enhance both user experience and search rankings.
2. New Best Practices for Product Markup
In September 2024, Google also updated its guidelines for product markup. Using schema markup is crucial to display accurate and informative product details in search results. The new best practices focus mainly on pricing and reviews, with stricter requirements for e-commerce sites to ensure this data is as accurate as possible.
For e-commerce sites, this means that all product details—from pricing to stock levels—must be up-to-date and correctly structured in schema markup. Accurate product data boosts visibility on Google Shopping and Google Search, increasing click-through rates (CTR) and conversions. Make sure reviews are also prominently displayed to build trust with potential customers.
Why is it important? Proper use of schema markup can help improve the visibility of your products across Google Shopping, Google Search and other Google services. By ensuring your product data complies with Google’s updated standards, you can increase your click-through rate (CTR) and improve your conversions. Also, make sure reviews and ratings are clearly displayed as this builds trust with potential customers and improves the user experience.
3. Bing Expands Generative Search
Bing announced an expansion of its generative AI-powered search in September 2024, offering users more complex and in-depth responses directly in search results. This feature is part of Bing’s effort to deliver tailored and contextual answers using AI, reducing the need for users to click through multiple links.
For SEO professionals, this means optimizing not only for Google’s algorithms but also for Bing’s generative AI. If your pages offer valuable and in-depth information, there’s a better chance they’ll be featured in AI-generated answers.
How should you adapt? Optimize your content for Bing by focusing on creating unique, valuable content that addresses complex queries. Use semantic keywords and ensure your content is easy for both humans and AI to understand. These updates highlight how the SEO landscape is constantly evolving. Both technical optimizations and content strategies are crucial to keeping up. At IIH Nordic, we’re ready to help you navigate these changes and ensure your business remains competitive in search engine results.
