Data security is being treated with ever-increasing importance across the tech world. and websites continue to update their informational technology standards to remain competitive.
However, SEO priorities continue to advance regardless of these new requirements; as Entrepreneur note, many of the March 19 Google updates reinforce the need for high quality page optimization.
The demands of security assurance can lead to a conflict with the priorities of SEO optimization; finding ways to keep both aspects happy will be a key requirement of managing a website or business.
Enabling your visitors
Google have long indicated that page load is a big signal factor in ranking construction. While sometimes overlooked, Forbes recently reiterated the importance of page load times as a ranking factor. As a result of many modern security issue, page load times are increased, reducing the weight of any given web page in the ranking. How can this be addressed?
One method is to ramp up security on your side and encourage customers or visitors to engage with cyber security tools like VPNs, where legal; certain countries have restrictions on VPN use. This will effectively help your client base to improve their internet browsing experience without creating reductions in page load times, keeping your service competitive.
Voice recognition amid privacy concerns
Voice activation and search compatibility is another important and ever-growing component of Google’s ranking priorities. The spread and influence of voice activation is growing, with some banks now accepting voice as a means of authentication. However, there are security concerns over voice activation, particularly with reports of misattributed data transfer between home hubs, websites and third parties.
With the emphasis placed by Google on voice activation, websites need to have a voice activation and discovery component. Staying safe is perhaps about staying simple; don’t overextend your voice activation features more than necessary, and instead tailor them to your target audience to minimize the risk of data leaks.
Cross platform compatibility
A functioning page that crosses across all three of the major operating systems, and the countless number of connected smart devices, will rank highly with Google. However, cross platform compatibility also comes with security issues. In a non-controlled environment, the differences in platform and security infrastructure means that one user’s experience can be entirely different from another’s – meaning a drop in your ranking.
Achieving assurance over device security is relatively easy in a ‘closed’ system – many universities deploy such policies to ensure the integrity of their network. When it comes to managing your own website, try running your development through coding platforms that will ensure equal delivery to all operating systems. Many websites have also opted to prevent connections from devices without the necessary security credentials.
Security is crucial for the health of any website or business, but so is the ability of that website to stay relevant in Google rankings. However, the priorities of the algorithm are often security-conscious but in other factors, demanding. Matching both sets of priorities is not impossible and is, in fact, very doable; the underlying principle is to set standards, and stick to them.
About the Author: Lucy Thompson
Lucy is a professional freelance writer. When not writing or driving, Lucy enjoys reading, hiking and spending time with her husband and two children.
