Google Page Speed Optimization Insights Metrics

As per audit report by google page insight speed below are important page speed metrics which you need to understand and focus on improvement.

First contentful painting is the time when the browser will render anything on the page, it could be text or image. The first contentful paint is the time it takes for the first visible elements of a page to load; this could be a logo, text, image, or background.Improve FCP by optimizing your critical rendering path. Because FCP is one of the earliest events in the overall page load, server and network timings may have a large impact on the timing of FCP. For example, a high Time to First Byte time will also result in a high FCP.

• Reduce initial server response time
• Minify CSS
• Avoid chaining critical requests
• Reduce unused CSS
• Eliminate render-blocking resources
• Ensure text remains visible during webfont load

Speed Index (SI) is dependent on the size of the browser viewport and differs from other metrics like First Contentful Paint (FCP) or Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) because it is not a milestone on your page’s loading timeline.This metric measures the average speed at which the entire content of the page gets loaded onto the screen. Basically, it measures and checks how quickly all the visible elements are loaded on the screen. The search giant encourages users to optimize their pages so they load faster. This includes using less bulky images and simplifying code. Like the other metrics in this list, the lower the number, the better.

• Use lazy loading images. Content that loads as the user scrolls down is called lazy loading.
• Add placeholders.
• Embrace progressive images
• Eliminate unnecessary downloads
• Compress your data
• Create a caching hierarchy
• Optimize your images
• Optimize your fonts

LCP or largest contentful paint time is the period during which the largest part of the content becomes visible to the user. This includes everything that’s above the fold or “viewport” (the area visible to the user after the page initially loads), whether that’s a chunk of video, images, or other elements.LCP is decided by factors such as the render time and the largest video, image, and text in the user’s visible area of a web page. Google looks at this metric to find out how long it takes for the largest piece of content to load, regardless of the size of the device or the type of content on the page. It can be impacted by your CSS, your server time, and client-side rendering.

• Eliminate render blocking resources
• Reduce unused CSS
• Reduce initial server response time
• Reduce unused JavaScript
• Minify CSS
• Ensure text remains visible during webfont load
• Avoid enormous network payloads
• Avoid chaining critical requests
• Largest Contentful Paint element

This is a performance metric that measures a page’s load responsiveness and helps identify situations where a page looks interactive but actually isn’t. a page is considered fully interactive when it displays useful content, as measured by First Contentful paint event handlers are registered for most visible page elements, and the page responds to user interactions within 50 milliseconds.

• Optimizing javascript execution
• Serving minimal requests
• Using resource hints to establish early connections.

Total Blocking Time (TBT) measures the total time between First Contentful Paint (FCP) and Time to Interactive where the main thread was blocked for long enough to prevent input responsiveness.

• Reduce the impact of third party code
• Minimize main thread work
• Reduce Javascript execution time
• Avoid an excessive time
• Avoid long main-thread tasks

CLS measures the visual stability of a webpage. Does the page shift as you scroll, do you go to click a link for it to move before you’ve clicked it. This usually happens because things are still loading in the background. Visual stability is a frustration for users as it can cause confusion – or worse – incorrect use of the site, form, or application. CLS is a score between 0 and 1 based on the element’s moving distance and visual impact in the viewport. A score of 0.1 or less is good, and anything over 0.25 is considered poor.

• Image elements do not have explicit width and height.
• Avoid large layout shifts.
• Add Dimensions to Avoid Layout Shifts.
• Always include size attributes on your images and video elements, or reserve the required space with something like CSS aspect ratio boxes.

First Input Delay measures how responsive your website is, once a user clicks on a link, taps a button, or any other interaction with the page. What is the delay between the interaction and the result of the website actually doing something?

The Core Web Vitals are a set of parameters that Google considers vital for page experience. Google stated in May 2020 that page experience signals will be incorporated in SERP results and that Google would begin assessing mobile-friendliness, secure surfing, HTTPS security, and the absence of intrusive interstitials (pop-ups) to encourage and favor better user experiences.In November 2020, Google introduced three new page experience signals known as the Core Web Vitals. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) are the three vitals that will be incorporated in Google’s SERP ranking algorithm beginning in mid-June 2021.

These are the core web vitals metrics, as defined by google:

• Largest Contentful Paint: The amount of time it takes for the primary content of a page to load. The optimum LCP measurement time is 2.5 seconds or less.
• First Input Delay (FID): The time it takes for a page to become interactive after receiving the first input. A perfect measurement is less than 100 milliseconds.
• Cumulative Layout Shift: The amount of unexpected visual page content layout shift. A perfect measurement would be less than 0.1 sec.

We have 5 tips to improve your core web vitals,

• Reduce Javascript(js)execution
• Implement lazy loading
• Optimize and compress images
• Set proper dimensions for images and embeds
• Improve your server response time

When it comes to measuring Core Web Vitals, SEOs and site owners can utilize a number of Google tools, such as:

• Search Console:Web developers and SEO professionals may use the search console to obtain Core Web Vitals information in order to assess the performance of a page. Using this report, it is simple to discover all of the pages that require care. URLs must be avoided since they can be omitted when just the most basic reporting data is available.
• Google page speed optimization Insights: You may obtain a comprehensive analysis of the page content and determine whether or not you can make modifications to optimize it. You may also get recommendations on how to speed up the page.
• Lighthouse: It’s an excellent professional tool for assessing website performance. It may also be used as a plugin in many web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and others. The user experience may be enhanced by website developers.
• Chrome DevTools: With the aid of this application, it is simple to address visual instability concerns. Instability problems can lead to CLS if they are not addressed (Cumulative Layout Shift). If you wish to see the shifting placement, you may drag the Layout shift to any field.
• Chrome UX report: The Chrome UX report may be used to assess all field versions. With this study, one may focus on a better user experience by analyzing a large dataset including numerous websites. You can obtain genuine data rather than laboratory data.

Google Page Speed and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) are closely related because website speed and performance are important factors in determining search engine rankings and user experience. Here are some ways in which Google Page Speed can impact SEO:

• Ranking factor: Google has explicitly stated that page speed is a ranking factor in its search algorithm. Faster-loading websites are more likely to rank higher in search results compared to slower ones. This means that optimizing your website for speed can positively impact your SEO efforts.
• User experience: Page speed directly affects user experience. Slow-loading websites frustrate users and lead to higher bounce rates, lower engagement, and reduced conversions. On the other hand, fast-loading websites provide a better user experience, increasing the likelihood of visitors staying on your site, exploring more pages, and converting into customers. This positive user experience signals value to search engines and can contribute to higher search rankings. Hiring a web design service to help you build your site can be a great idea if you feel stuck. This guide will help you find the vetted specialist.
• Mobile-first indexing: With the shift towards mobile-first indexing, where Google primarily uses the mobile version of a website for indexing and ranking, mobile page speed has become even more critical. Fast-loading mobile pages are essential for providing a smooth experience to mobile users and improving your website’s chances of ranking well in mobile search results.
• Core Web Vitals: Google introduced Core Web Vitals as a set of performance metrics that focus on user experience. Optimizing these metrics, which are closely related to page speed and interactivity, can positively impact SEO and help your website meet the user experience expectations set by Google.
• Mobile-friendly ranking factor: Google has a mobile-friendly ranking factor that considers how well a website performs on mobile devices. Page speed is an important aspect of mobile-friendliness, and having a fast-loading mobile site can improve your rankings in mobile search results.

To optimize your website’s page speed for SEO, consider implementing the recommendations provided by Google PageSpeed Insights, such as optimizing images, minifying code, leveraging browser caching, reducing server response time, and using a content delivery network (CDN). Additionally, prioritize mobile optimization, monitor and improve your Core Web Vitals, and regularly test your website’s performance using various tools to ensure optimal speed and user experience.

8. Conclusion