How to Make Sure Your Website is Google-Friendly in 2025

If you’re running a business in 2025, your website is often your first impression. But here’s the kicker: a beautiful design means nothing if Google isn’t happy. Fortunately, there are some clear, actionable steps you can take to keep your website smiling in the eyes of the almighty algorithm. Let’s dive into what makes a site SEO and Google-friendly today.

Core Web Vitals Still Matter (A Lot)

Google’s Core Web Vitals have been the gold standard for page experience for a while now, and they’re not going anywhere.

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Keep your main content loading fast (under 2.5 seconds).
• First Input Delay (FID): Ensure your site responds quickly to the first user interaction.
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Avoid elements jumping around while the page loads.

Pro tip: Use tools like PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse to measure and improve these metrics.

Mobile-First Isn’t Optional

In 2025, over 70% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. Google indexes the mobile version of your site first, so it needs to be:

• Fully responsive
• Easy to navigate with thumbs
• Free from annoying popups or intrusive interstitials

If your site still needs a pinch-to-zoom dance to read content, it’s time for a redesign!

Speed Is the Silent Salesperson

A slow site frustrates users and gets punished by Google. Hosting plays a big role here (hello, Cloudflare caching!), but also consider:

• Minimising plugins
• Using next-gen image formats like WebP or AVIF
• Lazy-loading assets below the fold

At The DMA, we obsess over performance because we know that even a 1-second delay can affect bounce rates and conversions.

Structured Data = Rich Results

Adding schema markup to your content helps Google understand what your site is about, and can get you those coveted rich snippets.

• Use FAQ schema for common questions
• Add Product schema to eCommerce pages
• Use Article schema on blog posts

You can generate and test your schema with Google’s Rich Results Test.

Helpful, Human Content Wins

Gone are the days of keyword stuffing. Google wants content that helps real people, not just robots.

• Write for your audience, not the algorithm
• Include relevant keywords naturally
• Use clear headings, bullet points, and internal links

In short, if your content solves a problem, answers a question, or explains a concept clearly, you’re on the right track.

Technical SEO Basics (Still) Count

Even the best content won’t rank if your site has technical issues:

• Make sure you have an XML sitemap
• Fix broken links and redirects
• Use canonical tags to prevent duplicate content
• Keep your SSL certificate active (HTTPS is a must!)

Google-friendly websites don’t happen by accident. They’re built with purpose, precision, and the right partners. At The DMA, we build WordPress sites that tick all the technical boxes while staying fast, beautiful, and user-first.

Want a website that makes Google and your customers happy? Get in touch and let’s chat.

Photo by Ben Mathis Seibel