Fix LCP Issue: Longer than 4s (Mobile)
In today’s world, website speed is critical for user experience and search engine optimization. The Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is an important metric that measures how fast a webpage loads.
LCP is the loading time for the largest image or text block that appears on the screen. An LCP issue can cause a slow-loading webpage, resulting in a poor user experience and decreased search engine ranking. In this article, we will explore how to fix the LCP issues: longer than 4s (mobile) and improve your website’s performance.
Understanding LCP issue: Longer than 4s (Mobile)
Before we dive into fixing the LCP issue, we need to understand what it is and why it occurs. LCP issue occurs when the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) takes longer than 4 seconds to load on mobile devices. The LCP is the largest image, video, or text block that appears on the screen. A slow LCP means that the user has to wait longer to see the important content, which can lead to a poor user experience.
Tools to Check LCP Issue
Before we can fix the LCP issue, we need to identify the problem. There are several tools available that can help you check your website’s LCP issue. Some of the popular tools are:
- Google PageSpeed Insights
- GTmetrix
- WebPageTest
Steps to Fix LCP issue: Longer than 4s (Mobile)
Now that we know what the LCP issue is and how to check it let’s dive into the steps to fix it.
Optimize Images
One of the major causes of the LCP issues is oversized images. The larger the image size, the longer it takes to load. You can use image compression tools to optimize the images without compromising their quality. Some popular image compression tools are:
- TinyPNG
- JPEG Optimizer
- Kraken.io
Minimize Render-blocking Resources
Render-blocking resources are the scripts, stylesheets, and fonts that prevent the webpage from loading quickly. You can minimize the render-blocking resources by:
- Removing unused CSS and JavaScript files
- Using asynchronous loading for scripts and stylesheets
- Deferring the loading of non-critical resources
Use Lazy Loading
Lazy loading is a technique that loads only the content that is visible to the user. This technique can significantly reduce the loading time of the webpage. You can use lazy loading for images, videos, and iframes.
Reduce Server Response Time
The server response time is the time taken by the server to respond to the user’s request. A slow server response time can lead to a slow-loading webpage. You can reduce the server response time by:
- Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- Upgrading to a faster web hosting service
- Minimizing HTTP requests
Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers located in different parts of the world. A CDN can help reduce the server response time and improve the loading time of the webpage. You can use popular CDNs like Cloudflare, Akamai, or Amazon CloudFront.
Minimize Third-party Scripts
Third-party scripts like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and others can significantly slow down the webpage. You should only use the scripts that are necessary for your website and remove the unnecessary ones.
Optimize Web Fonts
Web fonts can also slow down the webpage. You can optimize web fonts by:
- Using a limited number of fonts
- Compressing the fonts
- Hosting the fonts on your server
LCP issue Google search console
Google Search Console is a valuable tool for identifying and fixing LCP issues on your website. By using the Core Web Vitals report, you can see how your website’s LCP time compares to Google’s recommended threshold of 2.5 seconds or less. If your website has an LCP issue, the report will provide suggestions for how to fix the problem, such as optimizing images, reducing render-blocking resources, or using a CDN.
Additionally, Google Search Console can show you which pages on your website have the highest LCP time, allowing you to prioritize your efforts and focus on fixing the most critical issues first. By regularly monitoring your website’s LCP time and making necessary improvements, you can improve your website’s user experience and search engine ranking.
Conclusion
The LCP issue is a common problem that can significantly affect the user experience and search engine ranking of a website. By optimizing images, minimizing render-blocking resources, using lazy loading, reducing server response time, using a CDN, minimizing third-party scripts, and optimizing web fonts, you can fix the LCP issue and improve your website’s performance on mobile devices.
Regularly checking your website’s LCP issue using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or WebPageTest can help you identify and fix the problem quickly. With these steps, you can ensure that your website loads fast and provides an excellent user experience for your visitors. If you have any website issues please DM us for help.