Core Web Vitals is a recent initiative by Google that aims to improve the loading speed and user experience (UX) of all websites.

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Google has recently confirmed its commitment to integrating user experience into its SEO criteria. Since May 2021, three new metrics have been added to the search engine's ranking algorithm: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).

What are the Core Web Vitals?

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Core Web Vitals are a set of indicators designed to assess user experience on your website. Google's algorithm uses these scores to adjust your ranking in search results, favourably or unfavourably, based on the data collected.

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If you are looking to improve your ranking in search engine results, you surely know that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and UX (User Experience) are two inseparable elements.
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To go further in this trend, Google announced the implementation of three new performance indicators.

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• Le Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
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This indicator measures the load speed of the largest content element visible on the page, such as an image, video, or text block. An optimal load time should be under 2.5 seconds. If your LCP falls between 2.5 and 4 seconds, improvements are recommended. A loading time exceeding 4 seconds could negatively impact your organic search ranking.

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• First Input Delay (FID)
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This KPI is the amount of time a visitor has to interact with your page. Their goal is to measure the interactivity of your site’s pages. That is, when a user clicks on a button, a link or a menu item.

You might wonder if your action buttons are visible enough, if your links are easy to access, and if your menu items are clickable.

A good FID should be around 100 milliseconds (0.1 seconds). If ever the delay between the interaction made by the user and the response of his browser is too large, it will directly impact the conversion rate.

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• Cumulative Layout Shift

‍The last KPI aims to check the visual stability of a page during its loading time using a complex algorithm. With this indicator, Google is interested in the elements of your page. They must be stable. In fact, it happens that the elements of a page move as the content loads and appears on the screen. This is not a very pleasant experience for your visitor.

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How to measure Core Web Vitals for your site?

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To measure these indicators and assess their values, simply use Google's PageSpeed Insights tool.

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Indicators to gauge your SEO strategy

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Your SEO strategy should not just focus on finding relevant keywords; now, these indicators must also be considered. They demonstrate Google's strong encouragement for businesses to focus on user experience in SEO.

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A precise diagnosis should be your starting point in strategic planning. PageSpeed can also provide advice on refining these three critical signals.

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However, it's important to remember that the quality of content offered to your visitors remains Google's number one criterion, alongside your backlinks. As content quality continues to improve, user experience could become a key differentiator and thus a major traffic generator.

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In summary, pages that provide the best user experience will be valued higher and appear at the top of search results. To gain a competitive edge, it's advisable to keep a close eye on your Core Web Vitals.

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For further insights and to improve user experience and navigation on your site, consider reading our article on Everything You Need to Know About CRO.

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