In March 2024, Google will replace one of the 3 metrics comprising the Core Web Vitals. Indeed, the FID (First Input Delay) will give way to INP (Interaction to Next Paint), which will focus on users’ arrival on a site and understanding when a website becomes interactive and how smooth and responsive it is to user inputs.
What are Google’s Core Web Vitals (Essential Web Signals)?
In 2020, Google launched the Core Web Vitals to provide information on key metrics of the pages making up a website. It is therefore possible to directly track the evolution of 3 metrics on a site’s Google Search Console:
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): corresponds to the time it takes to display the largest visible element in the browser window from the moment a visitor tries to access a page (To provide a good user experience, strive to have LCP occur within the first 2.5 seconds of the page starting to load.)
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): It is the sum of scores for each layout shift that has occurred. The closer this metric is to 0, the better.
- FID (First Input Delay): This is the delay between the moment a user clicks to access a page and the moment the browser responds to this interaction (first interaction).
To pass the Core Web Vitals assessment, the URL’s result must achieve a “good” score for all three Core Web Vitals based on field data.
Field data is collected from real users through the Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX) over a 28-day collection period.
Laboratory data is collected in a controlled environment without any involvement from real users.
Source: conductor.com
Why Are These Signals Important?
The “Core Web Vitals” are a set of parameters related to speed, responsiveness, and visual stability, intended to help website owners measure user experience on the web.
They are important because they provide information about visitor engagement with a site. As Google mentions, studies show that 24% of visitors are less likely to abandon a visit when signals are positive. Yahoo! Japan also increased its number of page views per session by 15%.
What Will INP Bring?
As mentioned earlier, the new metric INP will replace the FID metric. Unlike FID, INP does not only consider the delay of the first interaction but the entirety of the experience on the site (meaning all interactions).
This means that it will analyze the responsiveness of a page to various interactions performed on it (e.g., opening an information accordion). The goal of INP is to ensure that the delay between the start of an interaction and the moment the action is displayed is as short as possible, thus making the user’s navigation on the page smooth. For the more curious among us, it will, for example, analyze interaction elements coded in CSS and JavaScript or even commands integrated into the browser.
How is it Measured?
The Google Search Console will identify pages requiring improvement if less than the 75th percentile of recorded page loads is less than or equal to 200 milliseconds. Between 200 and 500 milliseconds, page responsiveness can be improved. Above 500 milliseconds, page responsiveness will be considered low.
It is also crucial to note that the INP responsiveness score differs on mobile and desktop. Page responsiveness may be good on desktop and still require improvement on mobile.
Source: tech.behindmatters.com
What To Expect and What To Do?
Starting in March 2024, the GSC report will no longer provide information related to the FID metric and will definitively offer INP.
From now on, it is recommended to become aware of any potential issues that Google may have identified in the Search Console by referring to the Core Web Vitals section.
If your site meets Google’s requirements, the following message will appear:
If, on the contrary, an error detection message has appeared, do not hesitate to contact our SEO team, who can assess the necessary optimizations and come back to you with a strategy tailored to your needs.
Conclusion
Google is known for continuously refining its metrics. While the introduction of INP into the Core Web Vitals lineup is the first change of its kind since 2020, we must prepare for further enhancements and modifications to the existing set of Core Web Vitals.
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How To Prepare For The Transition To INP?
- Website audit: Use tools like PageSpeed Insights or the CWV report in Search Console to identify areas for improvement on the site.
- Collaboration with developer teams: A site’s performance is often a shared responsibility among development, design, and content teams. Ensure that stakeholders are aware of Core Web Vitals requirements and collaborate to optimize the entire site.
- INP optimization: Ensure that user interactions on the site are as smooth as possible, meaning critical resources are deferred or loaded asynchronously to minimize impact on user experience. This may include optimizing script loading and managing JavaScript events.
- Testing on multiple browsers and devices: Site performance can vary depending on the browser and device. Test your site on different configurations to ensure a consistent user experience.
- Active monitoring: Web performance requirements and recommendations may evolve. Keep active monitoring on forums, blogs, and official documents to ensure the site remains compliant with current standards.
Should Mobile Data Take Precedence Over Desktop Data?
Google has adopted a “Mobile-First” indexing approach, which means it primarily uses the mobile version of a site for ranking in search results. Due to this strategy, it can be wise to pay particular attention to the user experience on mobile devices first, then work on desktop data.
Core Web Vitals, which include metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Input Timing (INP), are becoming increasingly important for search engine ranking, especially on mobile. By optimizing these factors, you improve the overall user experience, which can be more critical on mobile devices.
Need expert guidance to help you with this transition? Contact us!