What are the best ways to optimize copy for Google's Core Web Vitals?

1 Understand the Core Web Vitals

The first step to optimize your copy for Google's Core Web Vitals is to understand what they are and how they affect your web pages. The Core Web Vitals are divided into three categories: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). LCP measures how fast the main content of your page loads, FID measures how responsive your page is to user interactions, and CLS measures how stable your page layout is during loading. Google recommends that your pages should have an LCP of 2.5 seconds or less, an FID of 100 milliseconds or less, and a CLS of 0.1 or less.

2 Write concise and clear headlines

One of the best ways to optimize your copy for Google's Core Web Vitals is to write concise and clear headlines that capture the attention and interest of your readers. Headlines are the first thing that users see when they land on your page, and they can influence their decision to stay or bounce. Headlines also affect your LCP, as they are part of the main content of your page. To write concise and clear headlines, you should use keywords that match your audience's intent, avoid unnecessary words and punctuation, and use active and specific language.

3 Use subheadings and bullet points

Another way to optimize your copy for Google's Core Web Vitals is to use subheadings and bullet points to break up your text and make it easier to scan and read. Subheadings and bullet points can help you organize your information, highlight your main points, and create a logical flow for your content. Subheadings and bullet points can also improve your FID, as they can help users find what they are looking for faster and interact with your page more smoothly. To use subheadings and bullet points effectively, you should use consistent formatting, use keywords and phrases, and limit the number of items per list.

4 Optimize your images and videos

Another way to optimize your copy for Google's Core Web Vitals is to optimize your images and videos that accompany your text. Images and videos can enhance your content, but they can also slow down your page loading and cause layout shifts if they are not optimized properly. Images and videos can impact your LCP and CLS, as they are often the largest and most dynamic elements of your page. To optimize your images and videos, you should compress them to reduce their file size, use responsive design to adjust them to different screen sizes, and use lazy loading to defer their loading until they are in view.

5 Avoid pop-ups and banners

Another way to optimize your copy for Google's Core Web Vitals is to avoid pop-ups and banners that interrupt your content and annoy your users. Pop-ups and banners can hurt your user experience, as they can distract, frustrate, and block your users from accessing your content. Pop-ups and banners can also affect your FID and CLS, as they can delay your page responsiveness and cause layout shifts when they appear or disappear. To avoid pop-ups and banners, you should limit their use to essential purposes, such as legal notices or email opt-ins, use user-friendly design and placement, and provide clear and easy ways to close them.