Manzar Mashhood

What is real user monitoring (RUM)?

Real user monitoring (RUM) is a process of tracking and measuring the performance of a website or web application from the perspective of real users. It collects data on how users interact with a website, such as page load times, JavaScript errors, and user navigation patterns. This data can be used to identify performance bottlenecks and improve the user experience.

What are the benefits of using RUM?

RUM offers a number of benefits, including:

• Improved user experience: By understanding how users are actually experiencing your website, you can identify and fix performance issues that may be causing frustration.
• Increased conversions and revenue: A faster and more reliable website is more likely to convert visitors into customers and increase revenue potential.
• Improved SEO: Google uses real user data in its ranking algorithm, so improving your website’s performance can also lead to better search rankings.

How does Real User Monitoring RUM work?

RUM works by embedding a small JavaScript snippet on your website. This snippet collects data on user interactions and sends it to the RUM provider’s servers. The RUM provider then analyzes the data and provides you with reports on your website’s performance.

What are the different types of RUM data?

RUM data can be classified into two main types:

• Synthetic data: Synthetic data is collected by simulating user interactions in a controlled environment. This type of data is useful for testing the performance of new features or changes to your website.
• Real user data: Real user data is collected from actual users as they interact with your website. This type of data is more representative of the actual user experience and can be used to identify and fix performance issues that are affecting real users.

What are some best practices for using Real User Monitoring?

Here are some best practices for using RUM:

• Use a RUM provider that is reliable and reputable.
• Install the RUM snippet on all pages of your website.
• Configure the RUM snippet to collect the data that is most important to you.
• Regularly review your RUM reports to identify and fix performance issues.
• Use RUM data in conjunction with other website performance monitoring tools, such as synthetic monitoring and log analysis.

What are some common RUM metrics?

Some common RUM metrics include:

• Page load time: The amount of time it takes for a page to fully load.
• JavaScript errors: The number and type of JavaScript errors that occur on a page.
• User navigation patterns: The path that users take through a website.
• Core Web Vitals: A set of three metrics that Google uses to measure the user experience of a web page: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).

What is the difference between real user monitoring (RUM) and Google’s Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX)?

• RUM: RUM collects data from real users as they interact with your website. This data can be used to identify and fix performance issues that are affecting real users.
• CrUX: CrUX is a public dataset of real user performance metrics that Google collects from Chrome users who have opted in to share their data. CrUX data is aggregated over a 28-day period, so it may take a long time to see the effects of a change to your website.

Why is it important to use RUM in addition to CrUX?

RUM is important because it can provide more timely and detailed insights into your website’s performance than CrUX. RUM data can also show you how different user groups are experiencing your website, such as users on different devices, browsers, and network connections.

How can I use Real User Monitoring data to pinpoint specific performance metrics?

RUM data can be used to pinpoint specific performance metrics by looking at the distribution of user experiences. For example, you can use RUM data to see which pages are fast and which are slow, and how long it takes for different page elements to load. You can also use RUM data to correlate page speed metrics with other metrics, such as bounce rate and conversion rate.

How can I use RUM data to debug the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) metric?

To debug the LCP metric, you can use RUM data to see which page element is responsible for triggering the LCP milestone. You can also use RUM data to see what network requests are involved in loading the image. This information can help you to identify which page optimizations would have the biggest impact on the LCP metric.

How can I use Real User Monitoring data to set up alerts for performance regressions?

You can use RUM data to set up alerts for performance regressions by creating rules that trigger an alert if a specific metric falls below a certain threshold. For example, you could create an alert that triggers if the LCP metric for a page exceeds 3 seconds.

How can I use RUM data to compare speed test results?

You can use RUM data to compare speed test results by using a compare mode that lets you compare test results before and after a change to your website. This can help you to see exactly what changed and how it’s impacting users.

What are the Top Real User Monitoring (RUM) Tools?

DebugBear

Dynatrace RUM

AppDynamics Browser RUM

How Manmash Consulting can help?

Manmash Consulting is a digital marketing agency that specializes in real user monitoring (RUM) and other technical SEO services. We can help businesses of all sizes to improve their website’s performance and user experience. You can contact Manzar Mashhood on his Whatsapp +923331200550.

What is Google Voice Search?

Google Voice Search is a way to search Google using your voice instead of typing keywords on Google website or app, or through Google Assistant on Android phones, smart speakers, and Apple devices. Google uses natural language processing (NLP) and speech recognition to understand your request and deliver the most relevant results, giving you a truly hands-free experience. In general, Google Voice Search returns organic content, similar to the results you would get if you typed the same query. 

Voice search is the future of search, and businesses need to be ready

Voice search is changing the way people find information online. It is faster and easier than typing, and it allows people to use more natural language. Businesses need to optimize their websites for voice search in order to reach potential customers.

Voice search is not just used on search engines. It is also used in smart speakers, chatbots, and navigation apps. This means that businesses need to think about how their content and marketing strategies will be affected by voice search on all of these platforms.

6 Step Guide to Google Voice Search Registration For Your Business

Step 1: List your business online to get found in voice search.

Get your business listed on all relevant websites and directories to establish a strong online presence and increase online citations for your business.

To get started, make a list of all common and niche-specific directories that your business needs to be listed on. Then, create a spreadsheet of all the business information you’ll need to add to your listings, such as your name, address, phone number, business hours, parking availability, and handicap-friendliness. You should also write a short (100 words) and long (250 words) description of your business, and add photographs of your store location. 

You have to make sure that your listings are consistent and accurate across all these directories. If you have a lot of listings to manage, you can automate the process using a local listing management tool like BrightLocal, Whitespark and Yext.

Step 2: Use online business reviews from customers to your advantage.

Positive reviews are important for voice search ranking. Businesses with an average four-star rating or more are more likely to rank in voice search results. To get more reviews, ask your customers to leave them and make the process easy. You can also automate your review management and add review schema to your website.

Local review schema is a code that you can add to your website to help search engines understand your business information. Once you add the review schema, your business information may appear in the local-three-pack in search results. Voice search results often use information from the local-three-pack to find the best results.

Step 3: Optimize your website for more specific, long-tail keywords

People speak differently than they type, so voice search queries tend to be longer and more conversational. For example, someone might type “best interior designers New York City” but say “Ok, Google! Who are the best designers in New York City?”

In addition to long-tail conversational keywords, you can also optimize your keyword strategy for “Near Me” searches. This is because people are increasingly using search to find answers to personal queries. For example, a beauty salon owner might target search queries like “Should I color my hair?” or “How often should I wash my hair?” This way, people who are looking for advice on these topics will be more likely to visit the salon’s website.

Step 4: Optimize your website for mobile

Voice search is becoming increasingly popular, and people are primarily using their mobile devices to conduct them. This is why Google has announced that their search algorithms will primarily begin to use mobile versions of websites as a primary ranking factor.

To optimize your website for mobile, you need to make sure that it has a responsive design and that your content is optimized for smaller screens. You should also make sure that your site speed is fast and that your content loads in less than two seconds. If your site has two versions, one for mobile and one for desktop, your content must be the same on both.

Step 5: Optimize your content for Featured Snippets

Google uses a variety of factors to rank websites in voice search results, including the presence of featured snippets. So, if you have featured snippets for your target keywords, you are more likely to appear in voice search results. 

Voice assistants are designed to provide users with quick and concise answers to their questions, and featured snippets are the perfect format for this. When a user asks a question, the voice assistant will often read aloud the featured snippet, if one is available.

Step 6: Get Active on Social Media

When people use voice search to ask questions about businesses, search engines often use information from social media profiles to provide answers. This means that businesses with well-maintained social media profiles are more likely to appear in voice search results.

Google voice search statistics

1. 20% of searches in the Google App are now by voice. (Google, 2023)
2. More than 50% of the adults reported that they use voice search daily. (Demand Sage, 2023)
3. 70.4% of voice search result pages are HTTPS websites. (Backlinko, 2023)

Get your business registered on Google Voice Search with Manmash Consulting

Manzar Mashhood and his voice search consultants at Manmash Consulting have a deep understanding of how Google Voice Search works, and we can help businesses implement the necessary steps to get listed and registered. We help businesses optimize their websites for voice search by using relevant keywords, creating clear and concise content, and structuring their content in a way that is easy for Google to understand.  If you are interested in learning more, please contact Manzar Mashhood on his WhatsApp number +923331200550.

What is website performance monitoring?

Website performance monitoring (WPM) is the process of tracking and measuring the performance of a website or web application. This includes metrics such as uptime, page load time, and error rates. WPM can be used to identify and resolve performance issues, improve the user experience, and boost SEO.

Why monitoring my website performance is important?

1. 74% of consumers say they will abandon a website if it takes longer than 10 seconds to load. (Source: Hosting Tribunal)
2. A 1-second improvement in page load time can increase conversions by 2%. (Source: Kissmetrics)
3. Google considers website performance to be a ranking factor in its search algorithm. (Source: Google)

What are the SEO benefits of tracking my website’s performance?

WPM offers a number of SEO benefits, including:

• Improved user experience: WPM can help you identify and resolve performance issues that can impact the user experience, such as slow page load times and broken links.
• Increased uptime: WPM can help you identify and resolve downtime issues before they impact your users.
• Boosted SEO: WPM can help you improve your SEO by tracking and addressing latency metrics and core web vitals.
• Competitive advantage: WPM can help you track the performance of your competitors and identify areas where you can improve.

What is a website performance tracking/monitoring dashboard?

A website performance tracking/monitoring is a tool that provides a visual overview of your website’s performance metrics. This can be used to track trends, identify potential technical SEO issues, and get alerts when problems occur.

What are the different types of site performance monitoring?

There are two main types of site performance monitoring:

• Synthetic monitoring: Synthetic monitoring involves simulating user traffic and measuring the performance of your website from different locations.
• Real user monitoring (RUM): RUM involves tracking the performance of your website from the perspective of real users.

What are the different SEO metrics that can be monitored using WPM?

Some of the most common WPM metrics include:

• Uptime: The percentage of time that your website is up and running.
• Page load time: The amount of time it takes for a web page to load.
• Error rates: The percentage of requests that result in an error.
• Latency: The time it takes for a request to be processed and a response to be returned.
• Core web vitals: A set of metrics that measure the user experience of a web page, such as largest contentful paint (LCP), first input delay (FID), and cumulative layout shift (CLS).

How often should I monitor my website’s performance?

The frequency of site performance monitoring depends on a number of factors, such as the size and complexity of your website, the amount of traffic it receives, and the level of service you expect to provide your users. In general, it is recommended to monitor your website’s performance at least once per day.

How can I test performance from multiple locations?

Most website performance tracking tools like Pingdom and New Relic allow you to schedule tests from different virtual locations. This can help you understand the user experience of your website in other parts of the world.

Can I keep an eye on competitors by tracking their website performance?

Absolutely, by adding your competitors’ websites to your WPM dashboard, you can track their performance metrics and compare them to your own. This can help you identify areas where you can improve.

How much does WPM cost?

There are a number of free and paid performance monitoring tools available. The cost of a paid tool will depend on the features and functionality you need.

What are the top 5 website performance monitoring tools?

Here are the top 5 website performance monitoring tools in my opinion:

1. Sematext
2. Pingdom
3. New Relic
4. Dynatrace
5. Site24x7

The best site performance monitoring tool for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. If you are just getting started, I recommend starting with a free or freemium tool. Once you have a better understanding of your needs, you can upgrade to a paid tool if necessary.

How Manmash Consulting can help in my site performance monitoring?

Manzar Mashhood and his team of technical SEO experts at Manmash Consulting can help you in your website performance monitoring in a number of ways, including:

• Setting up and configuring tools: Manmash Consulting can help you set up and configure tools such as Sematext, Pingdom, New Relic, Dynatrace, and Site24x7. This can save you time and frustration, and ensure that your website performance tracking is set up correctly.
• Identifying and resolving website performance issues: Manmash Consulting can help you identify and resolve website performance issues such as slow page load times, broken links, and downtime. This can help you improve the user experience of your website and boost your SEO.
• Creating and managing reports: Manmash Consulting can help you create and manage performance monitoring reports. This can help you track your progress over time and identify areas where you need to improve.
• Providing ongoing support: Manmash Consulting can provide ongoing performance monitoring support to ensure that your website is always performing at its best. This can include monitoring your website performance, identifying and resolving issues, and providing you with regular reports.

Key Takeaways

• Robots.txt and XML sitemaps are two important files that can help search engines crawl and index your website more effectively.
• Robots.txt is a text file that tells web robots which pages on a website they can and cannot crawl.
• XML sitemap is a file that lists all of the pages on your website that you want search engines to index.

What is a robots.txt file?

Robots.txt is a text file that tells web robots (typically search engine crawlers) which pages on a website they can and cannot crawl.

It is a simple way to control how search engines index your website. For example, you can use robots.txt to block crawlers from accessing sensitive content or pages that are still under development.

Robots.txt files are written in plain text and follow a simple format:

User-agent: [user-agent name]

Disallow: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/how-to-stop-search-engines-from-crawling-your-website/

The User-agent line specifies which user agents the robots.txt file applies to. User agents are the names of the software programs that crawl the web. For example, the user agent for Googlebot is Googlebot.

The Disallow line specifies which URLs the user agent is not allowed to crawl. The URL string must start with a forward slash (/).

For example, the following robots.txt file would block Googlebot from crawling the /admin/ directory:

User-agent: Googlebot

Disallow: /admin/

It is important to note that robots.txt files are only guidelines. Web robots are not required to follow them. However, most major search engines do respect robots.txt files.

What is an XML sitemap?

An XML sitemap is a file that helps search engines find and index your website’s pages more efficiently. It is like a roadmap of your website that tells search engines where to go.

XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. It is a format that is easy for search engines to read and understand.

How Are robots.txt & Sitemaps Related?

In 2006, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Google standardized XML sitemap submissions. Initially, sitemaps had to be submitted through each search engine’s webmaster tools. In 2007, they added Sitemaps Autodiscovery, which checks for sitemaps via robots.txt. Before Sitemaps Autodiscovery, you had to submit your website’s XML sitemap to each search engine individually. Now, search engines can automatically discover your sitemap from your robots.txt file. You can still submit your sitemap to most search engines, but it’s not necessary.

Benefits of Adding a Sitemap to robots.txt file

XML sitemaps can help you improve your website’s SEO because they can help search engines find your new and updated pages more quickly. This can lead to better rankings in search results pages.

How To Add Your XML Sitemap To Your Robots.txt File in 3 Steps

Step 1: Locate Your Sitemap URL

1. Check common locations

Try going to these URLs in your browser to see if you can find the sitemap:

• https://www.websitedomain.com/sitemap.xml
• https://www.websitedomain.com/sitemap_index.xml
• https://www.websitedomain.com/sitemap1.xml

If you find a file at any of these locations, that’s your sitemap!

2. Use a tool

If you can’t find the sitemap at any of the common locations, you can use a tool like Google Search Console or SEO Site Checkup to help you find it.

3. Check your CMS

If you’re using a popular CMS like WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Joomla, Squarespace, or Magento, your CMS may generate a sitemap for you automatically. Check the CMS documentation to see if there’s any information on where to find the sitemap.

Robots.txt Files for Subdomains

If you use subdomains on your website, create a robots.txt file for each one.

How to add your sitemap to robots.txt in WordPress

Please visit this link to learn more about adding a sitemap in a wordpress website.

How to add your sitemap to robots.txt in Drupal

Please visit the following link to learn more about how you can add a sitemap to your drupal website.

How to add your sitemap to robots.txt in Hubspot

If you have a HubSpot website, visit the following link to learn how you can add a sitemap in Hubspot.

How can Manmash Consulting help?

Manzar Mashhood and his team of technical SEO consultants can help you improve your website’s technical soundness, and technical SEO goes way beyond robots.txt file and XML sitemaps. 

For more information, click on the ‘let’s talk’ button at the bottom right corner of this page to leave us a message on WhatsApp. We also provide white label technical SEO service to digital marketing agencies.