In May 2021, Google introduced a new ranking algorithm that includes; a new set of metrics called Core Web Vitals. Core Web Vitals are a set of three metrics that measure; interactivity, the loading speed, and the visual stability of a webpage.
These metrics are vital for user experience and have a significant impact on the search engine ranking of a website. In this blog post, we will discuss how to use Google Lighthouse to improve the score of Core Web Vitals SEO.
What is Google Lighthouse?
Google Lighthouse is an open-source tool that helps web developers improve the quality of their web pages.
It analyzes web pages based on a set of metrics and provides suggestions for improvements on the SEO ranking factors. The tool is available as a browser extension, a command-line tool, and a part of the Google Chrome DevTools.
How To Use Google Lighthouse To Improve Core Web Vitals?
Analyze Your Web Page With Google Lighthouse.
The first step to improving your Core Web Vitals score is to analyze your web page with Google Lighthouse. To do this, open Google Chrome and navigate to the page you want to study.
Then, click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen and select More Tools, and then Developer Tools. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + I” on Windows or “Command + Option + I” on Mac.
In the Developer Tools window, select the “Lighthouse” tab and click on, Generate report. It will start crunching the metrics of your web page based on a set of measures. Once the analysis is complete, you will be presented with a report that includes your Core Web Vitals score.
Identify Areas For Improvement
The next step is to identify areas for improvement based on the report generated by Google Lighthouse. The report will provide suggestions for improvements based on the metrics analyzed.
For example, if your page has a slow loading speed, the report will suggest reducing the size of images, minifying CSS and JavaScript, and reducing the number of server requests.
Make Improvements
Once you have identified areas for improvement, you can start making changes to your web page. Some of the few changes that can improve Core Web Vitals scores include:
- Compressing images: Large images can significantly slow your page’s loading speed. Use an image compression tool to reduce the file size of your pictures without compromising their quality.
- Minimizing CSS and JavaScript: Large CSS and JavaScript files can increase the loading time of your web page. Minimize the size of these files by removing unnecessary code and whitespace.
- Reducing server requests: Every time a web page loads, it makes multiple server requests for resources such as images, scripts, and stylesheets. It can slow down the page’s loading speed. Reduce the number of server requests by using CSS sprites, combining multiple scripts and stylesheets, and using a content delivery network (CDN).
- Lazy loading: Lazy loading is a technique that defers the loading of non-critical resources until they are needed. It can significantly improve the loading speed of your web page.
Test Your Changes
Once you have implemented changes to your webpage, it is important to test their impact on your Core Web Vitals score. To do this, run another analysis of your webpage using Google Lighthouse and compare the results to your previous report.
If your score has improved, it is a positive sign that your changes are making a difference. However, if your score has not improved, it is crucial to continue making adjustments and testing until you achieve a satisfactory score. This iterative approach will allow you to fine-tune your website’s performance and enhance user experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Core Web Vitals have become a critical factor in website optimization, as they measure key aspects of user experience, including loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
These metrics are not only important for website owners seeking to improve user experience and drive traffic to their site, but they also significantly impact the search engine ranking of a website. Website owners must prioritize user experience and ensure their site meets these critical metrics to remain competitive and attract more visitors.
Author Bio: – Rudra Kumar is an Assistant General Manager of search operations at Techmagnate with more than 10+ years of experience in search engine optimisation. He has helped many businesses in growing revenue via search engines of his strengths.
