Overview of Core Web Vitals:
We kick off this episode walking through the six Core Web Vitals – a set of metrics used by Google to evaluate the user experience of a website.
These are:
- First Contentful Paint (FCP)
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
- Time to Interactive
- Speed Index
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
- Total Blocking Time (TBT)
Each vital is then discussed in detail, explaining what they measure and their importance in website performance.
Strategies for Improving Core Web Vitals:
- Importance of optimizing images and videos, including best practices for media file sizes and formats.
- Discussion on the use of WordPress and how various tools can impact Core Web Vitals.
- Techniques for optimizing JavaScript loading, such as deferring or minifying scripts.
- The significance of setting correct image sizes and the impact of media on layout shifts.
Real-World Challenges and Solutions
Pete & Jeff share practical experiences and challenges they've faced in optimizing websites, offering insights into real-world application of these strategies.
- Importance of Testing and Iteration: Emphasis on the necessity of testing optimizations and understanding the impact of changes on overall website performance.
- SEO and Core Web Vitals as Part of a Larger Strategy: They discuss how Core Web Vitals fit into a broader SEO strategy and the need to balance technical optimization with other SEO elements.
