The Ultimate Guide to Core Web Vitals and Page Experience
In today’s digital world, speed, usability, and interactivity are no longer just bonuses—they’re necessities. Google’s Core Web Vitals update, introduced in 2021, emphasized the importance of user experience in search engine rankings. This shift means that understanding and optimizing Core Web Vitals can have a significant impact on your SEO. In this ultimate guide, we’ll break down what Core Web Vitals are, how they relate to the broader concept of page experience, and actionable steps to optimize them for your website. What Are Core Web Vitals? Core Web Vitals are specific metrics Google uses to measure user experience. They focus on three main aspects: loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability. These metrics are designed to capture how users perceive the experience of interacting with a webpage. 1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): This metric measures loading performance. Specifically, LCP gauges how long it takes for the main content of a page to load. Google recommends an LCP time of 2.5 seconds or faster. Pages with a fast LCP are more likely to keep users engaged. 2. First Input Delay (FID): FID assesses interactivity, specifically the time it takes for a page to become interactive. For example, how long does it take after a user clicks on a button before something happens? Google recommends an FID of less than 100 milliseconds. 3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): CLS measures visual stability, specifically unexpected layout shifts as the page loads. For example, if content moves around as the page loads, this results in a high CLS score. Google suggests keeping CLS under 0.1 to prevent jarring experiences for users. Core Web Vitals and the Page Experience Update Core Web Vitals are a central part of Google’s broader “Page Experience” update, which focuses on elements beyond traditional SEO factors. The Page Experience update also includes mobile-friendliness, HTTPS security, safe browsing, and intrusive interstitial guidelines. This means that optimizing Core Web Vitals alone isn’t enough; for a well-rounded page experience, a website should be: