Decoding Google's Page Speed Score.

Hey there! If you take a quick peek at my profile banner, you'll spot a shiny achievement: the pagespeed ?? score of one of the websites I built. Whether it's a simple website, an e-commerce store, or a feature-packed masterpiece, I always aim for a score of 90 or higher. Call it an obsession if you will, but I believe it's a great way to impress clients and show off my work.

But here's the deal: Google's Page Speed Score is important, no doubt about it. It's a nifty starting point for boosting your website's performance. However, it isn't the holy grail of website performance. Yep, you heard me right. Balancing speed with user experience, top-notch content, and other crucial factors is the key to online success.

So, in this article, we're going to unravel the mystery of Google's Page Speed Score and dive into some essential ideas. We'll talk about why it matters, debunk a few myths floating around, and most importantly, discover a balanced approach. We'll find a way to make your website faster and score better without sacrificing functionality. Oh, and don't worry, we'll keep it practical and skip the boring theory stuff.

So, let's dive in, shall we?

How to improve Google Page Speed Score??

First off, there are a few metrics you need to pay attention to. We've got TTFB, FCP, and CLS. Don't worry about what they stand for, just know that they're key factors in page speed.?

TTFB - Time to first Byte.

Now, let's focus on reducing that TTFB because it's a biggie. Here are my top three performance hacks that will make a real difference:

?? High-performance server:?

No need to settle for a sluggish one. Go for speed. Period!

?? Optimise images:

Use modern image and video formats like AVIF and WEBP instead of old-school JPG and PNG. These new formats are optimised and will make your visuals load faster. And when it comes to videos, choose WEBM over MP4. Your site will thank you.

?? Embrace lazy loading:

Lazy loading is a clever technique that defers the loading of assets until they're actually needed. There are some cool JavaScript libraries out there that can help with this. If you're using WordPress, give WPRocket a try.

Oh, and don't forget about browser caching. Use it, things load up real quick.?Now, here's a tricky one: inline CSS. I know, it sounds a bit technical, but hear me out. By directly inserting your CSS code into your HTML, you can speed things up significantly. It's like giving your website a turbo boost.

First Contentful Paint (FCP)

FCP is a nifty web performance metric that tells us how quickly a webpage shows its first bits of content. You know that feeling when you're waiting for a page to load, and it seems like forever before anything useful appears? FCP is here to measure that crucial moment when the good stuff finally pops up on your screen.

Here are some awesome tips to boost your First Contentful Paint (FCP):

?? Keep it streamlined:

Make sure your webpage's essentials are top-notch. Trim down your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to be sleek and speedy. That way, the browser can quickly get things rolling without any fuss.

?? Unblock the view:

Get rid of anything that blocks the browser from painting the screen. Remove unnecessary scripts or stylesheets that slow things down. Let your content shine bright!

?? Lazy but smart:

Delay loading non-essential content, like images or ads, until after the initial paint. This way, the browser can focus on showing the important stuff first, giving users a head start.

?? Embrace the future:

Check out cool technologies like AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) or PWA (Progressive Web Apps). They prioritize speed and offer an enhanced user experience. Think of them as turbo boosters for your webpages!

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)?

CLS is a fancy term for how much a website jumps around while you're trying to load it. You know how annoying it is when you're about to click on a button or link, but just as you're about to click, everything moves and you end up clicking on something completely different? Yeah, that's CLS at work.

Basically, CLS is all about making sure websites stay still and behave themselves while they load. It's not just about being a pain for users though; it also affects how people perceive a website. Imagine trying to read something, and the words keep shifting around on the page. Talk about a headache!

Now, the tech stuff behind CLS involves some calculations. They measure how much things move around, how big they are, and how much of an impact they have on the overall layout. It's like giving the website a score for how stable it is visually.

But here's the kicker: CLS isn't just about making users happy, it's also about making Google happy. Yep, Google takes CLS seriously and uses it as a factor in ranking websites. So if you want your site to show up higher in search results, you better keep that CLS low.

So, how can you improve CLS and make everyone's life easier? Here are a few tips:

?? Size matters:

Tell your images and videos how big they are before they load. That way, they won't surprise everyone by suddenly taking up space and pushing things around.

?? Save space for ads:

If you have ads or other fancy stuff on your page, reserve a spot for them in advance. You can use some technical trickery to make sure the layout doesn't go haywire when those things pop up.

?? Load smartly:

Load the important stuff first and then go for the rest. Don't keep people waiting while everything keeps shifting. Give them the main content first, and then let the rest tag along.

?? Don't be too spontaneous:

Be careful when adding new things to the page on the fly. It might seem cool to surprise your users, but it can also mess up the layout. If you must add something new, make sure there's a spot reserved for it beforehand.

?? Keep an eye on CLS:

Use tools like Google's PageSpeed Insights or Chrome DevTools to keep track of your CLS score. Find out what's causing the layout shifts and fix them before they annoy too many people.

By taming CLS and making websites behave, you'll create a smoother and happier experience for everyone. Users will love you, Google will love you, and who knows, maybe you'll even end up at the top of those search rankings.

Debunking Myths Surrounding Page Speed Score

Of course, the Page Speed Score matters. However, it is shrouded in myths and misconceptions that can lead to misguided efforts. Let's debunk these myths and acquire the knowledge to optimise your website's performance.?

Myth #1: High Score. High Speed.

Page speed is definitely important for user experience and search engine optimization, no doubt about it. But don't get too hung up on those scores.?

You see, these scores are usually calculated by tools like Google's PageSpeed Insights, and they look at different aspects of how your website performs. They give you a score based on some criteria they've set up. But here's the kicker: that score doesn't always match up with how fast your site actually loads for users.

Sometimes, even if your score is low, your site can still load up faster than a rabbit on roller skates. How come? Well, it could be because you've got a super optimised server setup, a smart caching system in place, or you've trimmed down your content to load like lightning.

That's why it's super important to take a step back and look at the big picture when it comes to your website's performance.

Myth #2: Speed over Substance.

Imagine landing on a page that loads in a split second, only to find it filled with bland and irrelevant content. Not cool, right? People crave valuable information, entertaining stories, and helpful resources.?

So, don't neglect the power of content! Quality content is like the secret sauce that keeps your visitors engaged and coming back for more.

Also, let's not overlook the user experience. Even if your site loads in a flash, if it's a maze to navigate or looks like it belongs in the Stone Age, visitors won't stick around. We're all about making things easy-peasy for your audience. Clear navigation, intuitive design, and mobile-friendliness are the name of the game.

Don't fall for the myth that speed is the be-all and end-all. It's time to embrace substance and deliver an amazing experience to your visitors.

Myth #3: One Score Fits All

Don't fall for the myth that one Page Speed Score fits every website like a glove. That's just not how it works! You see, different websites have different needs and circumstances that affect how we interpret their Page Speed Scores. It's like trying to fit all shapes and sizes into one pair of jeans—it just doesn't make sense!

Think about it: the industry a website belongs to, its type (like a blog or an online store), what users expect from it, where it's being accessed from (yeah, geography matters!), the devices people are using, and even the strength of their internet connection—all of these things play a role in understanding a website's performance.

We can't just rely on a cookie-cutter approach and expect it to accurately measure every website's significance. Nope, we need a more balanced and flexible approach that takes all these factors into account. It's like finding the right balance between hot and cold in your shower—you want it just right!

Beyond Page Speed: Looking at the Bigger Picture

It's time to step back and take a wider look at the whole shebang—the user experience. Yeah, speedy pages are cool, but there's a whole lot more to consider. We have to put the users first and think about how to make our websites an awesome place to hang out. It's like turning your favorite coffee joint into a cozy, welcoming spot where people wanna chill, not just because the coffee's fast, but because it feels darn good to be there.

We can't forget about inclusivity either! It's not just about how fast your site loads, it's about making sure everyone can enjoy it. We gotta think about all the folks out there, including those with disabilities. Just like we make buildings accessible with ramps and elevators, we gotta make our websites accessible too. So while we're jazzing up that page speed, let's also make sure we're doing what it takes to make our content easy to navigate and engage with for everyone. Let's create a space online where everyone feels welcome and included.

So, in a nutshell, let's ditch the obsession with Page Speed Scores and zoom out. Focus on the user experience, amp up conversions with faster loading times, and make your website a place where everybody can hang out. It's time to take a broader perspective and create online experiences that truly rock!