Over the years, the significance of website speed and mobile functionality has grown significantly. Users across Google and other platforms now have higher expectations for fast-loading and smoothly functioning websites to facilitate their browsing experience.
Google considers site speed, as measured by the website page speed test tool, a determining factor for website rankings. To ensure an exceptional user experience, Google focuses on three key aspects when evaluating site speed:
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): This metric measures the time it takes for the primary content of a webpage to load for the user.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): CLS evaluates how much-unexpected shifting occurs on a webpage during its lifespan, ensuring a stable visual experience for the user.
First Input Delay (FID): FID is a performance metric that tracks the time between a user's initial interaction with a webpage and when the browser starts processing that interaction. It is sometimes referred to as input latency.
Now, let's explore the recommendations for each of the three core web vitals mentioned earlier.
Recommendations for the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP):
Largest Contentful Paint measures the time it takes for the primary content, such as the initial splash or key elements, to load for the user. Approximately 50% of websites on the internet meet Google's requirements in this aspect.
Many websites struggle to pass this metric due to large video or image content that takes a considerable amount of time to load. To improve LCP performance and consistently pass this test, Google suggests implementing the following measures:
Enhance HTML Optimization for Improved Discoverability
When prioritizing the loading sequence of websites, it is common for scripts to be placed in the header section, ensuring they load first. Similarly, many websites feature an image as their primary content, typically located in the header section. It is crucial for websites to prioritize the loading of this image.
The recommended approach is to include the image as an image tag in the header, before the scripts. It is advised to avoid relying solely on lazy loaders or image optimizer plugins, as they often serve as mere shortcuts without providing optimal results.
To further enhance the performance of your website, consider utilizing a Core Web Vitals checker. This tool allows you to assess the loading speed and user experience of your website based on Google's Core Web Vitals metrics. By identifying areas for improvement, you can optimize your website and provide a better user experience.
Enhance Website Speed and Content Delivery with Improved Hosting and CDN
Improving your hosting provider and utilizing a content delivery network (CDN) is an often overlooked method for accelerating website speed and content delivery. A CDN is a distributed network of servers located in different geographical locations that work together to ensure swift delivery of internet content.
CDNs enable faster delivery of scripts, images, and content from websites that utilize their servers. Many hosting providers offer CDNs, and it is highly recommended for businesses to leverage this technology on their websites.
Optimizing Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) - Recommendations
As discussed earlier, CLS measures the extent of unexpected shifting that occurs during the loading of a website.
Controlling Content Size with CSS and HTML Parameters
One effective way to mitigate shifting is by defining parameters for content size through CSS and HTML. This prevents content from being resized during loading. In the past, when websites were not fully responsive, it was easier to set fixed pixel sizes for images based on different device types (mobile, desktop, and tablet). Nowadays, it is possible to set parameters based on aspect ratio in the website's code, ensuring that oversized images do not require resizing.
Avoiding Animation and Popups
Frequently, CLS issues are caused by the presence of popups such as notifications or cookie opt-ins, as well as animated design features. These elements significantly impact CLS because the website needs to adjust for them during and after loading. Although animations and popups may add visual appeal to the design, it is advisable to avoid them as they are unnecessary for the proper functioning of websites and can negatively impact CLS.
Improving First Input Delay (FID) - Recommendations
As mentioned earlier, FID measures the responsiveness of a website when users interact with it. It determines how quickly a website loads or accepts user input when clicking on links or buttons. While most websites pass this test, it is crucial to optimize all aspects to minimize input delay.
Avoid Unnecessary JavaScripts
Many websites utilize JavaScript for user tracking or website functionality. It is essential to review and remove any unnecessary scripts that are not currently in use. JavaScript is typically placed in the header section to ensure its functionality across all pages. However, this means that it needs to load every time a user navigates, potentially causing delays. For optimal performance, consider condensing JavaScript files or removing ones that are not actively utilized.
Avoid Lengthy Chains of Tasks
Similar to the previous recommendation, it is advisable to break up tasks to prevent delays. For instance, if a page requires loading 20 scripts or inputs before fully loading, it is better to divide them into two sets of 10 to distribute the load and minimize delays.
While some of these recommendations may require technical expertise, many can be implemented by individuals with a basic understanding of coding and website management. To assess your current scores for the mentioned measurements, you can use tools such as gtmetrix.com or the internal Lighthouse tool in Chrome. These tools provide an overall site score and specific scores for each Google-measured category. Additionally, they offer suggestions on how to improve your website's performance in each section.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the significance of website loading speed must be balanced. Users nowadays have high expectations for fast-loading websites, and a significant percentage of users abandon sites that take more than three seconds to load. In a world where instant gratification is the norm, websites that lag behind or fail to meet user expectations are at a significant disadvantage.
If you're seeking recommendations on how to optimize your website's page speed, Auditzy is here to assist you. Our team of experts can help ensure your website performs efficiently and swiftly while also enhancing the overall user experience through responsive web design. Don't hesitate to try out an Auditzy tool today to improve your website's speed and enhance user satisfaction.
