User experience (UX) is no longer just a “nice-to-have” — it’s a ranking factor.
In June 2021, Google launched the Page Experience Update, which placed heavy emphasis on how users interact with your site. And that was just the beginning — it’s safe to expect more UX-focused ranking signals in the future.
One of the biggest outcomes of that update was the introduction of Core Web Vitals — a set of performance metrics that directly impact your visibility in search.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Measures loading performance.
Aim for: under 2.5 seconds
How to improve: Use a fast host, optimize image sizes, and defer or eliminate slow-loading scripts.
- First Input Delay (FID)
Measures interactivity speed — how fast the page responds when users first click.
Aim for: under 100 milliseconds
How to improve: Reduce server response time and clean up bulky JavaScript.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Measures visual stability — things like buttons or images shifting while the page loads.
Aim for: less than 0.1
How to improve: Avoid inserting new content above existing content and limit layout-shifting scripts.
UX is now baked into Google’s ranking systems — not optimizing for it puts your site at a disadvantage.
User experience (UX) is no longer just a “nice-to-have” — it’s a ranking factor.
In June 2021, Google launched the Page Experience Update, which placed heavy emphasis on how users interact with your site. And that was just the beginning — it’s safe to expect more UX-focused ranking signals in the future.
One of the biggest outcomes of that update was the introduction of Core Web Vitals — a set of performance metrics that directly impact your visibility in search.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Measures loading performance.
Aim for: under 2.5 seconds
How to improve: Use a fast host, optimize image sizes, and defer or eliminate slow-loading scripts.
- First Input Delay (FID)
Measures interactivity speed — how fast the page responds when users first click.
Aim for: under 100 milliseconds
How to improve: Reduce server response time and clean up bulky JavaScript.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Measures visual stability — things like buttons or images shifting while the page loads.
Aim for: less than 0.1
How to improve: Avoid inserting new content above existing content and limit layout-shifting scripts.
UX is now baked into Google’s ranking systems — not optimizing for it puts your site at a disadvantage.
