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March 15, 2024 | Digital Marketing
Navigating Core Web Vitals: Optimizing Website Performance for Australian Users
You land on a website, eager to explore. But wait, what’s this? The page takes eons to load, buttons freeze like deer in headlights, and elements jitter around like a chaotic dance. Frustration sets in, and you’re a swift click away from abandoning the ship. Now, flip the narrative. You glide onto a website like a dancer on stage. Everything loads in a snap, buttons respond like old friends, and the layout remains as steady as a mountain. Your journey is seamless, engaging, and satisfying. That’s the magic of Core Web Vitals in action.
This article embarks on a journey through the realms of Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)—the trifecta of Core Web Vitals.
Practical Tips to Optimize Core Web Vitals for Australian Websites
Understanding Core Web Vitals: Core Web Vitals is a set of specific user-centred metrics measuring a website’s loading, interactivity, and visual stability. Google employs these metrics to assess the overall user experience and influence search rankings. The three-core metrics are:
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP):
This metric measures loading performance and represents the time it takes for the most significant content to become visible within the viewport. Aim for an LCP of 2.5 seconds or faster to provide a good user experience.
Tips for improving LCP:
- Optimize images and other media files to reduce size without compromising the quality.
- Use lazy loading to load images and content only when they are about to come into the user’s view.
- Choose a reliable and fast web hosting provider.
First Input Delay (FID):
FID gauges interactivity and responsiveness by measuring the time between a user’s first interaction (such as clicking a button) and the browser’s response. A good FID is less than 100 milliseconds.
Tips for improving FID:
- Minimize JavaScript execution time by optimising and deferring non-critical scripts.
- Use web workers to offload heavy tasks and keep the main thread responsive.
- Load third-party scripts asynchronously to prevent them from blocking user interactions. This ensures the website remains responsive even if external resources take time to load.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS):
CLS measures visual stability by quantifying unexpected layout shifts of page elements during loading. A CLS score of less than 0.1 is considered good.
Tips for improving CLS:
- Set dimensions for images and media elements to prevent sudden layout shifts as they load.
- Reserve space for ads and other dynamically loading content to avoid pushing other elements around.
- Use CSS animations and transitions thoughtfully to prevent layout shifts.
- Ensure that dynamically inserted content doesn’t push existing elements around. Reserve space for such content or insert it without causing layout shifts.
Real-World Example :
Imagine an Aussie e-commerce site. Converting HD product images to WebP, using lazy loading, and optimising JavaScript can boost LCP and FID. Plus, anchoring product info prevents jarring layout shifts and amps up CLS.Top of Form
Tools for Measurement and Reporting:
Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, Google Search Console, and Lighthouse to measure and report your website’s performance. Google’s Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX) provides accurate user data, offering insights into how actual users experience your website’s performance.
Optimising for Australian Users? Quick Tips:
- CDNs: Use global CDNs to speed up content delivery.
- Local Servers: Choose Aussie-based servers for faster access.
- Image Slimming: Compress images without losing quality.
- Trim Scripts: Limit third-party scripts for swifter loading.
- Cache Wisely: Enable browser caching for smoother revisits.
- Mobile Ready: Ensure responsive design across devices.
Web99 Pro Tip : Wrapping Up
2.5 seconds,that’s the golden threshold for the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)—the heartbeat of loading speed. Beyond this, the digital attention span wanes, and your users are already exploring greener pastures. First Input Delay (FID) steps in with its stopwatch, measuring the blink-of-an-eye delay between your click and the website’s response. You aim for less than 100 milliseconds to stay in the game. And then comes Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), the guardian of visual serenity. A score less than 0.1 and your layout remains steadfast, preventing your content from jolting around like a startled cat.
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About Author
Prem Rathod
Director & co-founder
Prem Rathod is a highly skilled professional and co-founder of Web99, a digital marketing and web development agency based in Australia. With expertise in SEO, he is committed to providing innovative solutions to help businesses improve their online presence and visibility. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Prem is passionate about leveraging technology to automate processes and drive innovation in the healthcare sector. His proficiency in SEO, automation, and health tech has helped Web99 stay at the forefront of the industry. His skills in web development, UI/UX design, and project management have also been instrumental in the growth and success of the company.
The site owner also excels at finding compelling ways to present information. Through vivid examples, insightful analogies, and clear language, they make every topic engaging. Their passion and expertise on each subject shines through. This website never feels dry or dense.