Understanding Core Web Vitals: Making Your Website Better

CWVs, short for core web vitals, are the fresh ranking factors from Google scheduled for launch in June 2021. These new updates focus on three main things that Google will pay attention to while deciding how websites should be ranked.

Core Web Vitals consist of three important measurements that Google is introducing to decide how good a website is. Let’s break them down:

1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): This measures how fast a page loads. According to Google, a page should show up within 2.5 seconds after someone opens it.
2. First Input Delay (FID): FID checks how quickly a user can do things on a page, like clicking links or buttons. Google wants this to happen in just 100 milliseconds.
3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): This checks if a page’s layout changes while someone is using it. Imagine if you were reading an article and suddenly the text jumps around – that’s what CLS looks for.

Google will be keeping a close watch on all three of these measurements to decide if a page is doing well. But, as usual, Google isn’t giving away all the details, so we’re not sure how exactly a site will rank if it meets some of these goals but not all of them. And don’t worry too much – these Core Web Vitals won’t be the only thing that decides how high your website shows up in search results. So, no need to panic if you’re not hitting all the targets just yet.

If you’ve been following Google’s updates lately, you might not find these changes unexpected. Google has been stressing the importance of being “mobile-first” for a while now. This means that websites should work well on mobile phones and tablets, since most people use these devices to browse the internet.
Getting a good spot in the organic search results on Google has always been really valuable for any company. It helps them get noticed and find potential customers. So, if you want to keep a good ranking or if you’re aiming to improve it, you need to understand what Core Web Vitals are all about. They’re becoming a key part of this whole process.

CWVs are closely linked to Google’s push for making user experience (UX) better. Google has always liked websites that offer useful information and insights to users, and it rewards them with higher rankings. But now, things are stepping up a notch. Just having great content won’t be enough to land you on the first page of search results. You also need to make sure that people have a good time using your website.
It might feel like an extra task, but let’s look at it from a positive angle. This is a chance to make your website even more friendly for users, and that could lead to some really good things for your business:

1. More People Visiting: Improved user experience can attract more visitors to your site.
2. Better Sales: A good experience might translate into more sales.
3. Generating Leads: A user-friendly website can help you get more potential customers interested.

Some businesses might have seen this change coming and prepared for it. That puts them in a good spot to climb up the rankings. But even if you didn’t see it coming, don’t worry. It’s never too late to start working on these improvements for your website.

Checking and Measuring Your SEO Core Web Vitals Score: A Simple Guide

Thankfully, Google has made it easy to measure your Core Web Vitals (CWV) score. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to do it. Here’s how:

1. Use Google Search Console: Go to Google Search Console. There, you can see your SEO Core Web Vitals (CWV) data without needing advanced technical skills. It’s all laid out for you.
2. See Your CWV: Inside Google Search Console, you’ll find your CWV info. It tells you if your website is doing well or if there’s room for improvement.
3. Spot Troublesome Pages: Google even tells you which specific web addresses need attention. This helps you focus on the pages that might be causing issues.
4. Explore Page Speed Insights: Google also has something called “Page Speed Insights.” This tool is really helpful for boosting your CWV score. It’s like your secret weapon for improvement.
5. Try Chrome Lighthouse Extension: If you want to get hands-on, the Chrome Lighthouse Extension is great. It gives you easy-to-understand reports and lets you make changes as you go. Plus, it’s free to use!
6. Seek Expert Help: If you want to be sure you’re measuring your CWV score just right, our SEO services page is worth a visit. Our smart experts can guide you through the process. We’re a technical SEO agency, so we know our stuff.
7. Consider an SEO Audit: Curious about how healthy your website is in terms of technical stuff? We offer an SEO audit service that can give you a clear picture.

In a nutshell, measuring your CWV score isn’t as hard as you might think. Google provides tools to help, and if you need extra assistance, there are experts ready to lend a hand.

Enhancing Your Website’s SEO Core Web Vitals (CWV) Score: A Step-by-Step Approach

To elevate your Core Web Vitals (CWV) score, let’s take a closer look at each of the three CWV components and address them one by one.

LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)

LCP measures how long it takes for the main content of a webpage to load. Google considers a good LCP to be around 2.5 seconds, while anything over 4 seconds is considered a poor score. If your LCP score needs improvement, consider these actions:

1. Optimize Images:
   • Choose the right file format for images.
   • Resize images that are too large.
   • Compress images to reduce their size.
   • Remove unnecessary images that slow down loading times.
2. Choose a Good Web Host:
   • Ensure your web host provides fast loading speeds.
3. Trim Unnecessary Javascript:
   • Excess javascript can slow down page loading, especially on mobile devices.

FID (First Input Delay)

FID measures the time it takes for a user to interact with your webpage. This includes tasks like navigating between pages, entering information, or playing videos. Google believes that user interaction should take less than 100ms for a good experience. To enhance your FID score:

1. Divide Code into Smaller Tasks:
   • Lengthy javascript tasks can add delay. Split them into smaller tasks to reduce response time.
2. Use Web Workers:
   • Employ web workers to execute scripts in background threads. This keeps the main thread clearer, minimizing input delay.
3. Generate Content Server-Side:
   • Provide content from the server side to prevent the client’s browser from processing it.

Remember, each improvement you make contributes to a better user experience and an improved CWV score. By addressing LCP and FID issues, you’re on the path to creating a smoother and faster website.

Improving Your CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) deals with how stable your web pages are. Google checks if elements on your page move around during loading. Remember, Google emphasizes its “mobile-first” approach when dealing with CLS. Here’s how you can enhance your CLS score:

1. Plan for Media Elements: Determine the screen space you’ll allocate for the biggest media elements. This helps prevent sudden shifts as things load.
2. Specify Ad Dimensions: If you have ads on your site, ensure your ad partners give you clear dimensions. This helps maintain stability.
3. Careful with Animations: Be cautious about animations that load after the main page has finished appearing. They can disrupt stability.

To sum up, always keep the user experience in mind when considering your CWV score. Google wants to know how visitors feel about your website and how easily they can find value. While you might want your website to be visually appealing with fancy graphics and animations, remember that if these slow down your site or make it unstable, your search rankings could be impacted. So, keep in mind that your website needs to meet Google’s standards for successful results.