Core Website Vitals And Why They Are So Important

Is your website ranking lower than you would like on search results? Are the pages slow to load? Are you looking to try and reduce your bounce rate? In the ever-evolving world of web development, Core Web Vitals (CWV) are a critical factor in ensuring a positive user experience. These metrics measure the loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability of a web page, providing valuable insights into how users perceive and interact with your website.

In 2023, CWV continues to play a pivotal role in search engine optimisation (SEO) and overall website performance. Below we explore a few key considerations:

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): LCP measures the time it takes for the largest content element on a page to load. In 2023, it has become even more important to prioritise LCP optimisation, as users are becoming increasingly impatient with slow-loading websites.
  
• First Input Delay (FID): FID measures the time it takes for a browser to respond to a user’s first interaction with a page. This could be anything from clicking on a button to typing in a form field. (FID) is now being measured using Interaction to Next Paint (INP). INP is a more accurate measure of how long it takes for a user to interact with a website and see a response. This change is important because it will provide a more accurate picture of how users are actually experiencing your website.
  
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): CLS measures the amount of unexpected layout shift that occurs on a page. This can be caused by elements on the page moving around as they load, which can be jarring and frustrating for users. (CLS) is now being measured using a new formula. The new formula is more sensitive to layout shifts that occur above the fold. This means that you’ll need to be even more careful about avoiding layout shifts in the visible area of your website.
  
• Core Website Vitals (CWV): Google uses CWV as a ranking factor in search results. This means that websites with good CWV scores will be more likely to rank higher in search results.

In addition to these core metrics, you should also be aware of the following trends:

• The rise of mobile-first indexing: Google moved to a mobile-first indexing model. This means that the mobile version of a website will be the primary version used for ranking and indexing. As a result, it will be more important than ever to ensure that websites are optimised for mobile devices.
  
• The increasing importance of user experience: Google has made it clear that user experience is a top priority for the company. As a result, you can expect to see CWV continue to play a major role in SEO. By focusing on creating a positive user experience, you can improve your chances of ranking well in search results.

Core Web Vitals are not just a passing fad. They are a critical factor in ensuring a positive user experience and improving SEO performance. By staying up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices, we can create websites that are both fast and engaging.

We offer a free website audit tool where you can run various diagnostics and tests to get you started or contact us today on 01235 364 545 and you can speak to a member of our team who will be happy to help.