The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and with it, the metrics that define success.
As we enter 2024, it’s important for you—as a website owner, developer, marketer, or designer—to have a solid understanding of Google’s Web essentials. These metrics measure how end users experience your website, and as of 2021, play a role in your search engine rankings.
While many websites have already adjusted to pursue better Core Web Vitals scores, the recent changes to the set of metrics will have additional implications for Search Engine Optimization (SEO), particularly in the coming year.
To get ahead of these changes and keep your site running smoothly, read on for more information on the latest updates to Core Web Vitals, including the introduction of Interaction to Next Paint (INP) and information on how these changes will continue to affect site performance and SEO strategies. Here’s what we’ll cover:
Understanding Core Web Vitals: An Overview
In May 2020, Google announced a new set of metrics known as Core Web Vitals, transforming how website performance is measured.
At the time, these metrics focused on three main aspects of the website experience: loading performance, as measured by Largest Contentful Paint (LCP); interactivity, through First Input Delay (FID). and optical stability, measured by cumulative array shift (CLS).
All three metrics were designed to provide a holistic view of a website’s user experience.
Originally introduced as guidelines, Core Web Vitals eventually evolved into ranking factors for Google’s search algorithm. By June 2021, these metrics were fully integrated into Google’s Page Experience signals, influencing how Google ranks websites in search results.
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Sites that excelled on these metrics saw their rankings improve or remain stable, while those that lagged, in some cases, experienced a significant drop in rankings.
In addition to the immediate, tactical impact on SEO, the integration of Core Web Vitals into Google’s ranking algorithm has also led to a substantial shift in SEO strategies, as website owners, developers and content creators now prioritize user experience, loading speed and visual stability more than ever to ensure their sites rank well.
Core Web Vitals in action
Since their introduction, Core Web Vitals have been more than just a set of metrics. have reset the bar in terms of website performance and end-user expectations. This shift in focus is notable as it has changed the way websites are built, managed and optimized.
Evolution in the Construction and Management of Websites
As noted above, the way websites are built and managed has been greatly influenced by Core Web Vitals.
Website owners now consider these metrics as key considerations at every stage of website design and development, and performance optimization, once considered a “good” for many websites, has become a cornerstone of the development process.
Developers also use Core Web Vitals as benchmarks to guide the design process, ensuring that each element contributes positively to the overall user experience. This attention to detail results in websites that are fast, efficient and provide a seamless and engaging user experience.
To help developers and site owners more quickly address these factors with their sites, tools like WP Engine’s Page Speed Boost automatically clean up code, optimize Core Web Vitals, and increase SEO. Page Speed Boost was designed with Core Web Vitals in mind, and this collection of 30+ interface optimizations offers a one-click, set-it-and-forget solution for better Core Web Vitals—no coding required.
Ongoing conversations about SEO
Core Web Vitals have become increasingly important in SEO strategies, with professionals prioritizing user experience alongside content quality and keyword optimization.
This development represents a shift towards a more holistic approach, balancing content quality with user experience. As such, SEO and web design have begun to overlap more than ever, looking for easy-to-use websites that offer fast load times and consistent layouts.
As we move forward, look for the integration of these metrics and their underlying considerations to increasingly permeate website building and SEO strategies. In the meantime, it’s important to keep track of changes to Core Web Vitals, including the introduction of new metrics.
Insert interaction in next color (INP)
In a major update, Google has introduced Interaction to Next Paint (INP) as the newest Core Web Vitals metric, and it won’t be number four. From March 2024, lNP will officially replace First Entry Delay (FID) as one of the three Core Web Vitals metrics.
INP measures a website’s responsiveness to user input, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the user’s interactive experience. This metric helps website owners understand when a website is becoming interactive and how smooth and responsive it is to user input.
The introduction of INP stems from the need for a more nuanced metric that captures the full range of a website’s interactive experiences. While the FID was effective in measuring the latency of the first input, it did not take into account the overall interactivity of the website during the entire user visit.
INP addresses this gap by providing a more detailed assessment of interactive performance.
Additional Core Web Vitals Trends for 2024
While the introduction of INP is an important update to Core Web Vitals, it is essential to remain prepared for other potential developments in this evolving space.
A better understanding of potential trends and changes in Core Web Vitals is vital for both website owners and developers. Here are some areas to watch out for:
Improving existing metrics
Google is known for constantly improving its metrics. Although the introduction of INP to the Core Web Vitals series is the first such change since 2020, you should plan for further improvements and changes to the existing set of Core Web Vitals.
In addition to another metric, these improvements could include more precise measurement techniques or modified interpretations to align with the latest user experience expectations.
Broadening the scope of the user experience
While Core Web Vitals currently measures load times for various elements on your website, Google may increasingly focus on other aspects of the user experience, such as interactivity or content relevance.
Such a major change would require site owners and developers to consider a wider range of factors when optimizing for Core Web Vitals.
Integration with Google Tools
Another trend to watch could be the deeper integration of Core Web Vitals with tools like Google Analytics and Search Console. This development could be a boon for website owners, providing more comprehensive information and enabling targeted optimizations.
Emerging Technologies and Standards
The world of web development is constantly evolving, and new emerging technologies and standards could significantly impact Core Web Vitals. In addition to these metrics, keeping track of developments in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and various web APIs is a surefire way to keep your website performing at its best.
Improved optimization instructions
As users become more familiar with INP and other Core Web Vitals metrics, Google may provide more comprehensive guidelines and best practices. These resources, which in many cases are already available, are vital for developers looking to improve their site’s performance and user experience.
Keeping up to date with these potential trends and adjustments is vital to ensure your sites comply with current standards and prepare for future developments.
Preparing for Core Web Vitals in 2024
As we enter 2024, Core Web Vitals will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping website development.
The introduction of INP as a replacement for FID marks another step towards improving user experience online. Website owners must now focus not only on the visual aspects and loading performance, but also on the responsiveness and interactivity of their sites.
Basic Takeaways
- Core Web Vitals are vital for SEO and user experience.
- The key metrics to focus on are Largest Content Painting (LCP), Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), and Interaction to Next Painting (INP).
- Regular monitoring and optimization of these vital elements is necessary to maintain and improve website rankings.
- INP provides a more comprehensive understanding of a website’s interactivity, replacing FID.
- Adapting to these evolving metrics is critical to any website’s success in 2024.
In addition, further improving the existing set of Core Web Vitals metrics and incorporating new tools and technologies will all be important areas of focus going forward.
As you optimize the front-end performance of your website, tools like WP Engine’s Page Speed Boost can be of great help. Automatically clean up code and improve your Core Web Vitals with this collection of 30+ UI optimizations—no coding required.
Here’s to your success in improving online user experiences! Learn more about updating your website in 2024 with WP Engine.
