Google’s core web vitals are a set of metrics that the company uses to measure the performance and quality of webpages. These include speed, mobile responsiveness, accessibility, security, and engagement signals like load time, page load slowdowns, and in-page navigation.
Google created these vitals to help webmasters improve their websites and make them more responsive to users. The vitals are also used by Google’s ranking algorithm to determine which pages rank highest for specific queries.
If you’re a business that depends on traffic and leads from your website, it’s important to understand these vitals and how they can affect your website. By catering for these core web vitals, you can help your website rank higher on Google and improve your website’s user experience.
What are Google's core web vitals anyway?
Google’s core web vitals are:
- Speed – how fast your website loads
- Mobile responsiveness – how well your website looks and functions on mobile devices
- Accessibility – how easy it is for people with disabilities to use your website
- Security – how safe your website is from malware and other online threats
- Engagement signals – how well your website engages users and keeps them on the page
A ranking factor for Google
Google has said that the vitals are one of many factors that the company takes into account when ranking websites. However, they are an important factor, and improving your website’s performance in these areas can help you rank higher on Google.
In a study by SEMrush, it was found that page speed was the number one factor that affected a website’s ranking. The study also found that mobile responsiveness was the second most important factor, followed by security and then accessibility.
Without these new Core Web Vitals, SEO would be missing a lot of important data. The three metrics that represent load time and visual stability as well as interactivity in a page all come together to give us an accurate picture on how fast or if our website is being viewed by people online!
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)tracks when the largest above the fold content element appears;
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)shows how much unexpected layout shifts (ads, pop-ups, etc.) affect a page’s visual stability;
- First Input Delay (FID)measures how long it takes for the browser to begin processing the first user interaction on a page.
How to prepare your website for Core Web Vitals
If you’re a business that wants to improve your website’s performance and rank on Google, you need to prepare your website for Core Web Vitals. This includes making your website fast, mobile-friendly, accessible, secure, and engaging.
Make sure your website is fast
One of the most important vitals is speed. Google has made it clear that website speed is a ranking factor, and users are more likely to leave a slow website. You can test the speed of your website with Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool.
If your website is slow, there are several things you can do to improve its speed:
– Optimise images: Make sure your images are properly compressed and sized for the web.
– Use a fast hosting provider: Host your website with a provider that has a good reputation for speed and performance.
– Minimise HTTP requests: Reduce the number of files that need to be loaded on each page.
– Use a caching plugin: A caching plugin will store static versions of your pages so they don’t need to be reloaded each time someone visits your website.
Make your website accessible
Making your website accessible is important for two reasons: It’s the right thing to do, and it can help your website rank higher on Google. Web accessibility refers to making websites usable by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities.
There are many things you can do to make your website more accessible:
– Use high contrast colours: Dark text on a light background is easier to read than light text on a dark background.
– Use large fonts: Increase the font size so that it’s easy for everyone to read.
– Use clear headings and labels: Headings and labels help people understand the structure of your website.
– Use multimedia sparingly: Some people with disabilities may not be able to access multimedia content.
Make your website secure
Security is another important aspect of web vitals. Google has made it clear that website security is a ranking factor, and users are more likely to leave a website that isn’t secure. You can test the security of your website with Google’s Security Checkup tool.
If your website isn’t secure, there are several things you can do to make it more secure:
– Use a SSL certificate: A SSL certificate will encrypt the data transferred between your website and your users’ browsers.
– Use a firewall: A firewall will protect your website from attacks by hackers.
– Use strong passwords: Use strong passwords and change them often.
Make your website engaging
Google also rewards websites that are engaging. Engagement signals include things like load time, page load slowdowns, and in-page navigation. You can track these things with Google’s Webmaster Tools.
If your website is engaging, there are several things you can do to improve its engagement:
– Optimise your content: Make sure your content is well written and relevant to your audience.
– Use multimedia: Include videos, images, and infographics on your pages.
– Use social media: Promote your content on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
– Use call to actions: Include call to actions buttons (like “Download Now” or “Subscribe”) on your pages.
How a Web Design Agency like Titan Blue can help?
If you’re looking for help with your website, it’s important to work with a web design agency that understands Google’s vitals and how they can help improve your website. The creative agency should be able to help you with all aspects of your website, including design, development, and marketing.
By working with a Web Design Agency in Sydney like us here at Titan Blue, we understand Google’s Web Vitals, you can be sure that your website is up to par and performing at its best. We take speed, mobile responsiveness, security and accessibility seriously, and our team of experts will work with you to make sure your website is compliant.
Contact us today for an obligation-free chat about how we can help you with your digital marketing and website design needs.
