How to Improve Core Web Vitals in Shopify for Google Rankings

The best way to find out how your site is doing in terms of Core Web Vitals and how to measure them is to look online. When it comes to Shopify, though, there is a dearth of practical guidance on how to boost these metrics. Here we’ll look at some ways to make your Shopify store’s Core Web Vitals score higher. While we’re working hard to ensure that you won’t need a developer to put these suggestions into action, there are a few that might require some technical know-how.

Here, we’ll dissect each Core Web Vital metric, define what variables influence their performance, and demonstrate how to optimize each metric for any Shopify store.

What Are Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics Google uses to measure web page performance and user experience. For each metric, URLs are marked as either “Green – Good”, “Amber – Needs Improvement”, or “Red – Poor.”

Core Web Vitals scores directly impact search engine rankings. The three main metrics are:

Metric	Description
LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)	Measures how long it takes the largest element on your page to render on the screen.
CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)	Assesses how much the page layout shifts during loading.
FID (First Input Delay)	Evaluates how long it takes for the page to respond to interactions.

How Core Web Vitals Are Calculated on Shopify

Improving your site significantly requires knowing how Google determines Core Web Vitals scores. The data for these metrics comes from CrUX data, which measures performance for real website visitors using the Chrome web browser. This is referred to as ‘field data.’

For each CWV metric, there’s a minimum average score to avoid being marked as ‘Poor.’ This score is based on the average measurements recorded against groups of pages. Crucially, each URL on your Shopify site is assessed separately, not the entire site.

If your Shopify store fails on a Core Web Vitals metric, the Search Console will show a sample of affected URLs. This helps you identify where issues lie so you can apply targeted improvements. Before starting any optimization work, determine which areas of improvement will yield the most significant results to avoid wasting time on ineffective efforts.

Shopify Core Web Vital Metric Optimization Tips

Improving Core Web Vitals is all about delivering your important content and resources as quickly as possible. Page speed optimization is not a one-time task; it requires a culture where speed impacts all decision-making processes. For every enhancement you consider for your store, evaluate the trade-offs regarding page speed.

How to Improve LCP on Shopify

LCP refers to the largest element on your page and the time it takes the browser to load and render it. This element is typically an image, but it may also be a text block. Here are some ways to improve the LCP:

• Optimize Images: Before uploading images to your store, compress and resize them. Use modern formats such as WebP to achieve better compression without sacrificing quality.
• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN can serve your images faster by caching them near the user’s location.
• Prioritize Critical Content: Load the essential elements first. Consider lazy loading for off-screen images to prioritize content visible in the viewport.

How to Improve CLS on Shopify

CLS measures how much the layout changes as the page loads. To minimize layout shifts

• Specify Size for Images and Videos: Always specify the width and height attributes for image and video elements. This allows the browser to allocate the appropriate amount of space while loading.
• Avoid Injecting Content Above Existing Content: Only load content above the fold that you are confident will not change size.
• Use Stable UI Elements: Verify that buttons and menus are consistently sized and do not change dynamically.

How to Improve FID on Shopify

FID assesses how quickly your page responds to user interactions. To enhance FID

• Reduce JavaScript Execution Time: To make your site more interactive, minimize JavaScript. Remove all unnecessary libraries and scripts.
• Defer Unused JavaScript: Use the defer attribute on script tags to load JavaScript files after the initial HTML has been parsed.
• Optimize Third-Party Scripts: Limit the use of third-party scripts that have the potential to block the main thread. If necessary, load them in asynchronous mode.

Shopify Core Web Vitals Apps

Consider using Shopify apps designed to improve Core Web Vitals. Here are a few popular options:

App Name	Description
PageSpeed Optimizer	Automatically optimizes images and JavaScript for faster loading times.
Lazy Load	Delays loading of off-screen images to improve initial load speed.
SEO Image Optimizer	Compresses images and adjusts sizes to enhance LCP scores.

By focusing on these actionable steps, you can significantly improve your Core Web Vitals on Shopify, resulting in a better user experience and possibly higher search engine rankings. Remember that optimization is an ongoing process; therefore, you should constantly monitor your metrics and make adjustments as needed.

In the field of web performance, two critical metrics frequently come into play: first input delay (FID) and total blocking time (TBT). Understanding these metrics and how to improve them is critical to providing a consistent user experience on your Shopify store.

What is FID?

First Input Delay (FID) Measures how long it takes a webpage to respond to the first user interaction, such as a click or tap. This metric is critical because a long delay can cause user frustration and abandonment of your website.

What is TBT?

Total Blocking Time (TBT), On the other hand, it measures the amount of time the main thread is blocked and unable to respond to user interactions. It is measured in a laboratory setting, providing a theoretical picture of how your site might perform under various conditions.

Key Differences Between FID and TBT

Metric	Definition	Measurement Type	Source of Data
FID	Time from the first interaction to when the browser can begin processing it	Field data (real users)	Real user interactions
TBT	Total time the main thread is blocked from responding to user inputs	Lab-measurable	Controlled environment testing

FID is difficult to measure during testing because it is based on real-world user data. Thus, TBT is a useful proxy for assessing potential FID issues.

Optimizing for Better FID

To improve FID and provide a more responsive user experience, consider the following strategies:

1. Reduce the Impact of Third-Party Code

Third-party JavaScript can have a significant impact on performance, particularly if it blocks the main thread for an extended period.

• Use Lighthouse to detect problematic scripts.
• Set non-essential scripts to load using async or defer attributes.

2. Reduce JavaScript Execution Time

Long-running JavaScript can result in poor FID scores.

• Analyze scripts with Lighthouse to identify execution time issues.
• Identify, optimize, or eliminate scripts that take more than 2 seconds to execute.

3. Implement Code Splitting

Delivering all of your JavaScript in a single file can slow down page performance.

• Separate code into smaller, page-specific chunks.
• Collaborate with developers to incorporate this approach into the initial development of your Shopify theme.

4. Minify and Compress Your Code

Minification reduces file size by removing unnecessary characters, and compression reduces file size even further.

• Ensure that your JavaScript is minified; most Shopify themes do this automatically.
• To further reduce the size, use compression techniques such as Gzip or Brotli.

5. Minimize Thread Work

The main thread’s workload has a direct impact on TBT.

• Purchase a premium Shopify theme known for its performance, or collaborate with skilled developers who understand Shopify’s optimization requirements.
• Optimize your theme to reduce complex computations and DOM manipulations.

How to Measure Core Web Vitals Performance

Understanding and improving your Core Web Vitals is critical for improving the user experience and optimizing your Shopify store for search engines. After you’ve made changes to improve your Core Web Vitals, the next step is to track your progress. This guide will cover a variety of tools and methods for effectively assessing your store’s performance.

1. Google Search Console

Google Search Console provides the quickest way to see how your Shopify store is currently performing in terms of Core Web Vitals. It analyzes your site’s performance, identifies areas for improvement, and lists affected URLs.

How to Access

1. Log in to your Google Search Console account.
2. Navigate to the Core Web Vitals report from the left menu.
3. Review the data displayed, which includes:
   • Performance overview.
   • Breakdown of Core Web Vitals issues.
   • Sample of affected URLs.

2. PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse

PageSpeed Insights is a free Google tool that lets you test the speed of any web page, including your Shopify store. It provides a detailed breakdown of performance metrics, as well as suggestions for how to improve your score.

How to Use

1. Go to PageSpeed Insights.
2. Enter your Shopify URL and click “Analyze.”
3. Review the results, which will include:
   • Performance score (0-100).
   • Key metrics such as LCP, FID, and CLS.
   • Suggestions for improvement.

3. CrUX Report

The Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX) is Google’s collection of speed and performance metrics for millions of real-world web pages. The Google CrUX Data Studio Dashboard allows you to access CrUX data for your Shopify store.

How to Access

1. Go to the Google CrUX Dashboard.
2. Enter your Shopify URL to see a detailed breakdown of performance metrics over the past 16 months.
3. Analyze trends and identify areas needing attention.

4. Understanding Core Web Vitals Terminology

As you progress through Core Web Vitals, you will encounter a variety of technical terms. This is a brief explanation of key terms.

Term	Definition
Preload	Prompts the browser to prioritize downloading a specific resource.
DNS-Prefetch	Resolves the domain name before resources are needed.
Prefetch	Instructs the browser to load a resource before the user requests it, improving future loading times.
Preconnect	Suggests the browser establish a connection to an origin before downloading resources.
Defer	Delays loading of a script until after the page has fully loaded.
Async	Loads a script as soon as it is reached but continues loading the rest of the page.

5. Core Web Vitals Shopify Apps

There are numerous Shopify apps available that promise to improve Core Web Vitals scores. While some may effectively improve performance, the results will vary depending on the specific store conditions.

Important Considerations

• No Guaranteed Results: The Core Web Vitals scores are unique to each Shopify store. If your online store’s problems stem from a specific theme issue, an app may not make a significant difference.
• Test Performance Before and After To determine whether an app has a positive impact, measure your store’s performance before and after using it.

Read More Relevant Articles

Shopify Store Design Tips To Attract More Customers: Best Tips For Entrepreneurs
Shopify Store Design: Creating an Aesthetic and User-Friendly Website
How to Increase Conversions with Shopify Theme Store Options
Tips for Optimizing Your Shopify Store for Better Conversions
Best Shopify Store Template: SEO Optimization in 2024
Shopify Theme Store: Innovative Designs for Future

The Final Line

Measuring your Core Web Vitals performance is important for determining how well your Shopify store is doing and identifying areas for improvement. Use tools like Google Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, and the CrUX report to track your progress and make informed decisions. To ensure that your store runs smoothly, stay up to date on the latest metrics and improvements.