As an e-commerce store owner, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the world of online retail. One topic that has been getting a lot of attention lately is Google’s Core Web Vitals.
But what exactly are Core Web Vitals, and why do they matter to your online store? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what these metrics are, how they’re calculated, and why they’re important for the success of your e-commerce business.
What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure the speed, security, and overall user experience of a website. These metrics were introduced by Google in May 2020 as part of the company’s efforts to improve the quality of the web.
There are three main Core Web Vitals:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): This metric measures the loading speed of a webpage. The faster a webpage loads, the higher the LCP score.
- First Input Delay (FID): This metric measures the responsiveness of a webpage. The faster a webpage responds to user input, the lower the FID score.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): This metric measures the stability of a webpage. A stable webpage will have a low CLS score, while a page with frequent layout shifts will have a higher score.
How are Core Web Vitals calculated?
Google calculates Core Web Vitals using a combination of real-world data and lab data. Real-world data is collected from users visiting websites on their devices, while lab data is collected from simulations run in a controlled environment.
To calculate LCP, Google looks at the time it takes for the largest content element on a webpage to load. For FID, the company looks at the time it takes for a webpage to respond to user input, such as clicking a button or filling out a form. And for CLS, Google measures the amount of unexpected layout shifts that occur on a webpage.
Why do Core Web Vitals matter to your online store?
There are several reasons why Core Web Vitals matter to your online store:
- Improved search rankings: Google has stated that it will use Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor in its search algorithms. This means that websites with good Core Web Vitals scores are more likely to rank higher in search results. And since search engine traffic is a key source of traffic for most online stores, it’s important to ensure that your store’s Core Web Vitals are as strong as possible.
- Better user experience: Core Web Vitals are all about providing a better user experience. A fast loading, responsive, and stable website is more likely to keep users engaged and reduce the bounce rate. And a good user experience is crucial for the success of any online store, as it can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty.
- Mobile-first approach: With more and more users accessing the web from their smartphones, it’s important to ensure that your online store is optimized for mobile devices. Core Web Vitals can help you identify any issues with your store’s mobile performance and make the necessary improvements.
