Story Based Question
Imagine you’re running an online store where users are looking for a new pair of sneakers. The page loads, but when users tap the “Buy Now” button or try to navigate to a new section, there’s a noticeable delay. They end up tapping multiple times, frustrated with the lag. When you check your website’s Core Web Vitals, you see that First Input Delay (FID) is high. What exactly is FID, and how does it affect both user experience and search rankings?
Exact Answer
First Input Delay (FID) measures the time it takes for a website to respond to the first user interaction, like clicking a button or tapping a link. To improve FID, prioritize reducing JavaScript execution time, optimize third-party scripts, and ensure your website is interactive as quickly as possible.
Explanation
First Input Delay (FID) is one of the Core Web Vitals and focuses on how quickly a page reacts when a user interacts with it for the first time. If a user clicks a button, taps a link, or tries to engage with the page in some other way, but there’s a delay in the response, FID is the time it takes for the browser to start processing that interaction.
Why FID Matters:
- A high FID means users experience a delay before their interactions are processed, which leads to frustration and an overall poor user experience.
- A low FID means the page responds quickly to user interactions, which creates a smooth, frictionless experience and encourages users to stay on your site longer.
- Google uses FID as a ranking factor because it directly correlates with how engaging and interactive a website feels to users.
How FID Affects UX:
- If FID is high, users may feel like the page is unresponsive or slow, leading to impatience and an increased bounce rate. They may try clicking multiple times or exit the page entirely.
- A fast FID creates a seamless experience. For example, a user might click a “Buy Now” button on your store page, and the action is processed immediately, letting them proceed with their purchase without hesitation.
How FID Affects Rankings:
- Google uses FID to measure how quickly a page responds to user interactions. If your FID is low (i.e., your page responds quickly), it signals to Google that your site provides a great experience, which can help your rankings.
- Higher FID scores signal poor user experience, which can hurt rankings and visibility in search results, while a low FID helps increase your chances of ranking higher.
Example
Let’s revisit your online store selling sneakers. Users are landing on your product pages, but when they tap the “Buy Now” button or click on product filters to narrow down their choices, there’s a noticeable delay before the page reacts. Users get frustrated with the lag and may even abandon the page. This delay results in a high FID score.
How to Fix It:
To reduce FID and improve user experience, you can start by optimizing JavaScript and reducing render-blocking scripts:
- Optimizing JavaScript: When a user clicks a button, the browser needs to process JavaScript before the action can occur. If the JavaScript file is large or poorly optimized, it takes longer to execute. By reducing the size of the JavaScript file or breaking it into smaller chunks, the page can respond more quickly.
- Using Web Workers: Web workers allow you to run JavaScript in the background without blocking the main page thread, helping to improve FID.
- Reducing Third-Party Scripts: Many eCommerce sites use third-party scripts (like live chat, analytics, or ads) that can slow down interaction time. Minimizing these or loading them asynchronously (so they don’t block user interactions) can significantly improve FID.
Example in Action:
After optimizing the JavaScript and reducing third-party script loads, your “Buy Now” button now responds instantly when tapped. The user no longer experiences the lag or frustration of tapping multiple times, and the checkout process flows smoothly. As a result, users are more likely to complete their purchase, leading to higher user engagement and lower bounce rates.
Your Google search rankings also improve, as the page now provides a faster, more interactive experience. Google notices the faster response times and boosts your site’s position in search results, increasing organic traffic.
First Input Delay (FID) plays a crucial role in both user experience and SEO rankings. By optimizing JavaScript, reducing third-party script interference, and improving page responsiveness, you can lower FID, creating a smoother, more engaging user experience. This not only keeps visitors on your site longer but also boosts your SEO performance by satisfying Google’s Core Web Vitals criteria.