New Google Update: Make Your Website Faster and Friendlier with INP

In the past year, we've diligently reported on how Google's Core Web Vitals impact your site's bounce rate, visibility, and conversion rates. With a staggering 109 reports sent out, it's become clear that many businesses are yet to take action.

As we edge closer to the pivotal shift in March 2024, where Interaction to Next Paint (INP) will replace First Input Delay (FID), the urgency for optimisation has never been more critical.

Why should you care?

Simply put, these metrics are not just numbers, they're reflections of your user's experience. A poor score could mean you're losing potential customers before they even see what you have to offer.

7 Basic Tips to help you navigate the latest update and mitigate its impacts:

1. Understand the Change: INP measures the responsiveness of your site to user interactions. A good INP score means your site responds swiftly, enhancing user satisfaction. Tool: Web Vitals Chrome Extension (Free) Tool: Rum Core Web Vitals Visualiser (Free)
2. Audit Your Site: Regularly check your Core Web Vitals through Google Search Console. Knowing where you stand is the first step to improvement. Tool: Pagespeed Insights (Free)
3. Optimise for Mobile: With the majority of internet browsing done on mobile devices, ensure your site is responsive and loads quickly on all screen sizes. Tool: Mobile-Friendly Test (Free)
4. Minimise JavaScript Execution Time: Heavy JavaScript can slow down your site. Optimise or defer non-critical JavaScript to improve loading times. Tool: Chrome Lighthouse Extension (Free)
5. Streamline Your Content: Large images and unnecessary elements can bog down your site. Compress images and streamline your content for faster loading. Tool: TinyPNG (Free & Paid options)
6. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN can significantly reduce load times by storing copies of your site on servers around the world, closer to your users. Tool: Cloudflare (Free & Paid plans)
7. Engage with Feedback: Use visual indicators to acknowledge user interactions. This immediate feedback can keep users engaged, even if the page is still loading. Tool: Hotjar (Free & Paid plans)

The Bottom Line

Ignoring Core Web Vitals could put your business at a significant disadvantage. As Google shifts towards a more comprehensive measure of web performance, staying ahead of the curve is not just beneficial, it's essential for your online success.

Remember, optimising for these updates is not a one-time task but an ongoing commitment to providing the best possible experience for your users. Start today, and ensure your business thrives in the ever-evolving digital landscape.