Why Performance is a Ranking Factor
In 2021, Google introduced Page Experience signals, including Core Web Vitals, as official ranking factors. These metrics focus on three key aspects of page performance: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) for loading performance, Interaction to Next Paint (INP) for responsiveness, and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) for visual stability.
How to Optimize LCP, INP, and CLS
To improve loading speed (LCP), optimize and compress your images, utilize modern formats like WebP or AVIF, and use a content delivery network (CDN). To reduce interaction delay, eliminate bloated JavaScript and optimize execution loops. Finally, to prevent layout shifts (CLS), always specify height and width attributes for images and dynamic containers.