One thing is for sure; the world of SEO never sits still!

We’ve got to the point when staying ahead of Google's updates is not just beneficial – it's a necessity for businesses aiming to maintain a competitive edge. Google's core web vitals update represents one of the most significant shifts in how the search engine giant evaluates and ranks websites.

This Google update brings a renewed focus on the user experience, emphasising the importance of a website's speed, responsiveness, and visual stability.

The Core web vitals update is not simply about tweaking a website's aesthetics; it's a comprehensive overhaul aimed at enhancing the overall user experience. So, read on to discover everything you need to know.

What are core web vitals?

Core web vitals are a set of metrics that Google uses to measure the health and user-friendliness of a website.

They focus on three key aspects of the user experience:

1. Loading Performance - Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

2. Interactivity - First Input Delay (FID) *

3. Visual Stability - Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

These metrics are part of Google's ongoing efforts to enhance the user's web experience, ensuring that sites are not only informative but also accessible and pleasant to navigate.

* Why have we highlighted number 2? Well, this is what the most recent update focuses on, so keep your eyes peeled as we reveal what lies ahead.

How often does Google update core web vitals?

There’s no set timeframe! Google updates its algorithms and metrics regularly, with significant updates announced periodically. Core web vitals, being part of these metrics, are subject to change as Google adapts to new web technologies and user expectations.

The impact of these updates can be substantial and can significantly affect your website ranking. Staying informed about these updates is crucial, but don’t panic; that’s what we’re here to help with.

The latest core web vitals update

On 10 May 2023, Google announced that FID (#2 referenced above) will be replaced by INP in the core web vitals as of March 2024.

INP stands for Interaction to Next Paint.

What is INP, and why is it replacing FID?

INP (Interaction to Next Paint) measures the time from a user's interaction with a page (like a click or key press) to the time when the browser is able to start processing event handlers in response to that interaction. This metric goes beyond just measuring the input delay; it also accounts for processing time and presentation delay.

FID (First Input Delay – the metric that is being replaced), on the other hand, only captures the delay in processing the first input. While useful, it doesn't provide a complete picture of the user's experience on a page, especially after the initial load.

The introduction of INP aims to offer a more comprehensive measure of interactivity. It will observe all interactions within a page view and report on the longest interaction, encouraging websites to ensure that all interactions are optimised.

Impact on rankings and preparing for the update

The introduction of INP will start affecting Google search rankings from March 2024. Websites need to focus on improving interactivity beyond the initial load of the site.