How important is the user experience for SEO in google's eyes?

[Deacyde]

So far I've gathered that backlinks are really king, however you can't get good backlinks without well written content that serves a purpose. As well you can't do a great job with that content and not keep a good user experience, since why would anyone want to backlink to content that can be helpful if you squint an eye and suffer a few scrolling cramps.

So how would you rank user experience in the everlasting war of SEO for Google?

With this in mind, why would using bootstrap resources pose a problem? I've seen it could add issue to pageload times, however seems minifying could easily solve that. I personally enjoy the use of Bootstrap since it's very easy on the eyes and can have real positive effects when a user looks at content on such a framework.

[ClaytonJ]

Good questions.  I think user Experience is becoming more important within  google algorithm updates.  A few years ago it was in my view a non factor - it was all about links.

Today I believe it is a very important factor. I would say in the top 3-4 now. When I say user experience, I am talking user experience I am considering combination of CTR, dwell time, complete's on page etc. But probably the most important user experience factor is page loading speed - which is close to my no 1 factor. Though I include page speed in technical seo given it is so important.

Hope that assists.

[EGOL]

Read Jennifer Slegg's article on the Google Search Quality Raters Guidelines.  Very important.

https://moz.com/blog/google-search-quality-raters-guidelines