🚨Google's March Core Web Vitals Update and What You Can Do🤷‍♂️

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Read time: 5 minutesHey, Shane here,In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying ahead of crucial updates is important.Today, we’ll delve into the latest updates from Google, specifically the upcoming changes to Core Web Vitals, shedding light on what they entail and how they will impact websites. Plus, we've got a comprehensive guide on optimizing for INP - Interaction to Next Paint to ensure your website is ready for the transition.

What you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:

• Understanding the Google Core Web Vitals update

• Featured tool of the week

• New on the blog this week

P.S. It's the last week to fill in the 2024 Digital Success survey! If you haven’t already, submit your responses to our 10-minute survey here. It’s just multi-choice; no long answers! ;) 

Understanding the Google Core Web Vitals Update: A Shift to the Future

Google's continuous efforts to refine user experience metrics have led to a significant update. On March 12, Interaction to Next Paint (INP) is set to replace First Input Delay (FID) as a Core Web Vital metric.INP measures the time between a user's interaction and the visual update on the website, offering a more comprehensive assessment of interactivity compared to its predecessor.

The Impact of This Update on Websites: What You Need to Know

As Google places greater importance on INP, websites will need to evaluate their current performance and take proactive steps to meet the "good" threshold, ensuring optimal search rankings and user engagement. 

The transition from FID to INP will change the best web development practices, emphasizing the need for interaction readiness optimization.

A Deep Dive into Interaction to Next Paint (INP): What is It and Why Did the Change Happen?

INP measures the entire delay between a user's interaction (e.g., clicking a button) and the subsequent visual update on the web page.Unlike FID, which is considered only a fraction of the delay, INP provides a more accurate representation of interactivity. The change reflects Google's commitment to enhancing user experience by addressing the limitations of FID.

How to Optimize for Interaction to Next Paint Metric: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Evaluate current INP performanceUtilize tools like PageSpeed Insights and Chrome's User Experience Report to assess your website's performance. Currently, only 64% of websites are performing well on the Interaction to Next Paint metric. Is your website among them?

2. Diagnose INP issuesUtilize web development tools to uncover interactivity issues such as large JavaScript files and third-party scripts. Recognition of these issues serves as the initial step toward optimization.3. Optimize problematic areasFollow Google's optimization guides to streamline JavaScript, reduce input delay, simplify DOM structure, and refine CSS selectors.

Image via Optimize Smart

4. Implement progressive rendering and lazy loadingEnhance INP scores by incorporating progressive rendering and lazy loading techniques. These approaches offer users a sense of progress and contribute to reducing the initial load time.Click on the video to watch an in-depth explainer.

5. Implement Real User Monitoring (RUM) toolsConsider implementing Real User Monitoring tools for detailed insights into specific page interactions causing delays. RUM provides real-time data, allowing you to quickly identify and address issues, ensuring a seamless user experience. Tools include Datadog and Retrace.6. Optimize server and client-side renderingFine tune server and client-side rendering to enhance your website's interactivity. If you’re looking for new cloud-based servers to host your website, check out Bluehost and HostGator.7. Manage media content effectivelyCompress and deliver images, videos, and other media content effectively. Utilize Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to minimize latency.As Google's Core Web Vitals evolve, you must stay proactive in optimizing your website for the upcoming changes.By understanding the nuances of the Interaction to Next Paint metric and implementing effective optimization strategies, you'll be well-positioned to maintain your search rankings and enhance user engagement.