As of May 2021, Google will have a new set of metrics that will gauge the User Experience of each website, known as the Google Core Web Vitals. These metrics will come into play when Google is ranking your website within Google search, and not meeting the criteria could mean your site slips in search rankings. It is important to review your scores using a tool like Google PageSpeed Insights to make sure that your site is meeting Google’s expectations.
The three factors that Google will begin to evaluate are Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
LCP refers to the time between the start of a page load to when the largest image or text block in a user’s view port is rendered.
FID refers to the amount of time it takes for a page to be ready for user interactivity, meaning that as pages are assembling, how long does it take for the page to respond to clicks, scrolls or keyboard inputs.
CLS refers to the amount of unexpected layout shift of visual page content. This occurs when attempting to interact with the page and the content shifts, causing issues for the user.
If your scores are not up to par or if you’re unsure of how your site is performing in these critical areas, Strategy 3 can help to provide your visitors the best possible User Experience. We are happy to run tests on your website to identify any areas of concern and can provide a plan to resolve these issues, putting you in the best position possible when the new metrics are considered starting May 2021. Contact us today for an evaluation!
