Ready for Google's 2024 Core Web Vitals?🤔

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Read time: 5 minutesHey, Shane here,In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing and website optimization, it's paramount to keep a close eye on the horizon. The digital landscape is about to witness a seismic shift as Google gears up for its March 2024 Core Web Vitals Update.If you're wondering what this update entails and how it might impact your website's rankings, you've come to the right place. In this edition of Marketing Mix by Shane, we'll delve deep into the core of the matter, with a specific focus on the Interaction to Next Paint (INP) metric.

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

• How to prepare for Google's March 2024 Core Web Vitals update

• This week’s featured tool

• This week’s blog updates

A special thanks to sponsors who keep this newsletter free: Semrush is my go-to all-in-one SEO tool. I use it daily for keyword research, competitive analysis, rank tracking, and even content quality checking.

How to Prepare for Google's March 2024 Core Web Vitals Update

With two months to go before 2024, getting a head start is key to making sure your website doesn’t fall behind in the new year. With Google’s March 2024 Core Web Vitals update looming, now is as good as any time to start preparing for it.

Understanding INP: What is It?

Interaction to Next Paint (INP) isn't just another technical jargon. It's a pivotal web performance metric that measures the time it takes for a web page to become interactive for users after the initial page load.

In simpler terms, it gauges how quickly users can click buttons, interact with elements, or perform actions on a web page.

How does INP differ from current metrics?

The INP metric brings a substantial change compared to the previous First Input Delay (FID) metric.While the FID metric is considered only a fraction of the overall delay, INP offers a more comprehensive view of a web page's responsiveness.

The main difference between FID (First Input Delay) and INP (Interaction to Next Paint) lies in what they measure and how they assess user experience on a website.FID (First Input Delay)FID measures the delay between a user's first interaction (e.g., clicking a button) and the time the browser responds to that interaction. It primarily concentrates on the responsiveness of a website when a user initiates an action.FID reflects how quickly the website acknowledges user input, providing insights into user satisfaction based on the immediacy of feedback.INP (Interaction to Next Paint)INP measures the time it takes for a web page to become interactive for users after the initial page load, considering all interactions. It takes a broader approach by assessing the overall interactivity of a web page and how quickly users can perform various actions after the initial load.INP provides a more holistic view of user experience, encompassing the entire spectrum of interactions, not just the first input. 

The Impact of INP on Website Rankings

Now, let's explore the crucial question: What does the INP metric mean for your website's rankings?Google has been increasingly emphasizing web performance as a critical ranking factor. With the introduction of Core Web Vitals, including INP, websites excelling in web vitals are more likely to secure higher positions in search results.In essence, a poor INP can directly impact your website's SEO. Delays in user interaction often lead to higher bounce rates and lower engagement, signaling to search engines that your content might not be as valuable as it could be.Statistics Speak VolumesWebsites that maintain an INP below 200 milliseconds are likelier to keep users engaged and satisfied with their experience.That is why Google recommends an INP score below 200ms. Between 200 - 500ms needs some improvement and anything over that is critical.To check if your website’s INP falls within Google’s recommended speed, you can use Google’s Page Speed Insights tool.

Currently, only 64% of websites are performing well on the Interaction to Next Paint metric. Is your website among them?

Preparing Your Website for INP Optimization

To prepare your website for the INP metric, consider the following strategies:

1. Identify INP issues: Utilize web development tools to unearth issues impacting your website's interactivity. Common culprits include large JavaScript files and third-party scripts. Identifying these issues is the first step to optimization.

2. Use progressive rendering and lazy loading: Implement progressive rendering and lazy loading techniques to enhance your INP. These strategies provide users with a sense of progress and reduce the initial load time.

3. Optimize JavaScript and CSS delivery: Efficiently deliver JavaScript and CSS resources using techniques like code splitting, minification, and asynchronous loading.

4. Reduce third-party scripts: Evaluate the necessity of third-party scripts and consider eliminating unnecessary ones that add bloat to your website.

5. Optimize server and client-side rendering: Optimize server and client-side rendering to improve your website's interactivity.

6. Optimize media content: Compress and efficiently deliver images, videos, and other media content. Consider using Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to reduce latency.

7. Measure and monitor INP scores: Regularly track and monitor your INP using tools like Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, and the Chrome User Experience Report. Additionally, encourage user feedback to understand how INP is perceived.This upcoming Google update is a reminder of the evolving digital landscape. By optimizing for INP, you can gain an edge in the competitive SEO industry and provide users with a smoother browsing experience.