Atlanta, GA | July 17, 2023 – It’s great to hear that WordPress is working on improving Core Web Vitals SEO scores, specifically with regards to Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), in their upcoming release 6.3 scheduled for August 2023.
Page speed, although a small ranking factor in Google’s algorithm, plays an important role in overall website performance. Faster page load times can contribute to higher sales, increased ad views, and improved click-through rates. It directly impacts user experience and can significantly influence how long users engage with a website, whether they recommend it to others, and if they return in the future.
User experience is indeed crucial for cultivating popularity and success. When users search for information on Google, they expect relevant and valuable results that provide a positive experience. Google’s search results aim to deliver on those expectations by presenting websites that offer the best user experience for a given query.
By prioritizing user experience and optimizing factors such as page speed and Core Web Vitals, website owners can improve their chances of ranking higher in search results, attracting more visitors, and achieving their goals.
Understanding Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Before delving into the improvements introduced by WordPress 6.3, it’s important to grasp the concept of Largest Contentful Paint (LCP). LCP is a crucial metric used by search engines to measure the perceived loading speed of a webpage. It signifies the time it takes for the largest content element, such as an image or a block of text, to become visible to the user. By optimizing LCP, websites can provide a better user experience, ultimately leading to improved SEO performance and higher rankings.
Upcoming Features and Improvements in WordPress 6.3
- Simplifying the process of editing website content.
- Establishing a stronger connection between the template and content.
- Introduction of new sections in the site editor:
- Navigation: This section will offer various options based on the number and complexity of your menus.
- Pages: You will find all the pages of your website, allowing you to conveniently edit and manage them directly from the site editor.
- Styles: This section will also be incorporated into the site editor, enabling easy adjustments to the appearance of your website.
- Theme Previews: This section will facilitate a quick preview of your website on different themes, eliminating the need to make them live on your website.
- Library: You can save and reuse blocks and template parts in this area.
- Effortless management of fonts will also be introduced in WordPress 6.3.
These are just a few of the many features to implement in WordPress 6.3.
WordPress 6.3 Update Will Not Override Related Custom Optimization
One thoughtful aspect of the WordPress 6.3 update is that it will not override any custom optimizations related to fetchpriority and lazy load attributes. This means that if website owners have already implemented custom settings or configurations for these attributes, the update will not automatically change or override them.
This is beneficial because it allows website owners to have control over their specific optimizations. They can tailor the settings according to their unique needs and preferences, ensuring that the update doesn’t disrupt any customizations they have already implemented.
By preserving custom applications of fetch priority and lazy load, WordPress acknowledges the importance of allowing website owners to have flexibility and autonomy in optimizing their websites for performance and user experience.
This approach ensures that the update works in harmony with any existing customizations, providing a smooth transition and allowing website owners to continue benefiting from their personalized optimization efforts.
WordPress 6.3 introduces a range of enhancements aimed at improving LCP SEO performance. The optimizations collectively contribute to faster page loads and better LCP scores. By utilizing WordPress 6.3, website owners can provide an improved user experience, enhance their SEO rankings, and stay ahead of the competition.