Improving Ecommerce Site Performance: A Guide to Core Web Vitals
Published: August 25, 2023 | Case Studies & Guides, E-Commerce Strategy, Retail & Commerce, Tips & Tricks
Google’s Core Web Vitals have become crucial performance metrics for websites. They reflect user experience aspects related to loading, interactivity, and visual stability. For ecommerce platforms, optimized Core Web Vitals can mean better user experiences, potentially leading to more conversions.
What are Core Web Vitals?
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures loading performance. A good LCP score is below 2.5 seconds.
- First Input Delay (FID): Evaluates interactivity. Aim for an FID of less than 100 milliseconds.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Gauges visual stability. Aim for a CLS score of less than 0.1.
Why Core Web Vitals Matter in Ecommerce:
- User Experience: Shoppers prefer smooth, fast-loading websites.
- SEO Rankings: Google considers Core Web Vitals as ranking factors, affecting visibility in search results.
- Conversion Rates: Better site performance can lead to higher conversions and reduced cart abandonment.
Optimizing LCP for Ecommerce Sites:
- Optimize Images: Use modern formats like WebP, compress without losing quality, and use CDN for faster delivery.
- Minimize CSS/JS: Only load necessary CSS/JS files and consider in-lining critical paths.
- Server Response Times: Use a reliable host and consider server-side caching.
Improving FID on Ecommerce Platforms:
- Reduce JavaScript Execution Time: Break up long tasks and delay non-essential scripts.
- Optimize First-party Code: Minimize unused polyfills and reduce the impact of third-party code.
- Use Browser Caching: Store repetitive files locally to reduce the load.
Enhancing CLS for Ecommerce:
- Stable Ad Elements: Avoid ad pop-ups that cause layout shifts.
- Fixed Dimensions: Assign width and height attributes to images and videos.
- Web Fonts: Ensure text remains visible during web font loads to prevent unexpected layout shifts.
Tools to Measure and Monitor Core Web Vitals:
- Google Search Console: Offers a Core Web Vitals report for a site overview.
- PageSpeed Insights: Provides insights on individual page performance.
- Web Vitals Chrome Extension: Real-time feedback on Core Web Vitals metrics.
Challenges and Considerations:
- Dynamic Content: Ecommerce platforms often display dynamic content. Ensure content updates don’t lead to layout shifts.
- Testing: Regularly check performance on various devices and network conditions.
- Platform Limitations: Some ecommerce platforms might have constraints. It’s essential to be aware of them and find workarounds or alternative solutions.
Core Web Vitals are redefining the standards of web performance, especially for ecommerce sites where user experience plays a pivotal role in business success. By prioritizing these metrics and implementing the recommended optimizations, ecommerce businesses can offer shoppers a seamless experience, driving increased engagement and sales.
