Have you ever visited a website that took hours to load? Most likely, it had a Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) issue. Poor LCP performance on your website can harm your Google rankings and overall website success, in addition to being frustrating for users.

LCP is one of Google’s Core Web Vitals, which determines how user-friendly your website is. A slow LCP implies that your page takes too long to load, resulting in higher bounce rates and lower conversions.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about LCP, including what causes difficulties, how to resolve them, and how to prevent future issues, ensuring your site runs smoothly.

Understanding Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

What Is LCP?

LCP measures the time it takes for the page’s largest visible content (such as an image, text block, or video) to load fully. Unlike other performance indicators, LCP is based on what visitors see, making it one of the most critical aspects of actual page speed.

Why Does Google Care About LCP?

Google aims to make sure that websites provide speedy, seamless experiences for users. A slow LCP might annoy visitors, resulting in increased bounce rates and less engagement. To encourage improved performance, Google employs LCP as a ranking element.

LCP and Core Web Vitals

Google’s Core Web Vitals include LCP, as well as:

First Input Delay (FID) – Measures interactivity

• A measure of visual stability is Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
• A good LCP score is 2.5 seconds or less, while anything more than 4 seconds is considered poor.

Common Causes of LCP Issues

1. Slow Server Response Times

If your server is slow, your website will not load quickly. This could be because of:

• A terrible web hosting provider.
• Unoptimised database queries.
• Lack of caching and CDN utilisation

2. Unoptimized Images and Media Files

Large photos and videos take longer to load, which impacts LCP. Using outdated formats, such as PNG instead of WebP, could worsen the problem.

3. Render-blocking JavaScript and CSS

Excessive JavaScript (JS) and CSS files might slow down the rendering of your page, preventing vital content from loading fast.

4. Slow Client-Side Rendering

JavaScript-heavy websites frequently have delayed rendering because the browser must analyse sophisticated scripts before displaying content.

How to Measure LCP Performance

There are several tools you can use to check your LCP score:

• Google PageSpeed Insights (Click here)
• Google Search Console: Core Web Vitals Report
• Lighthouse for Chrome DevTools

Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing LCP Issues

1. Improve Server Response Time

• Select a fast hosting company with high performance.
• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve content more quickly.
• Optimising database queries can help reduce Time to First Byte (TTFB).

2. Optimise Images and Videos

• Convert photos to WebP or AVIF formats.
• Use sluggish loading to postpone offscreen pictures.
• Compress videos to minimise file size.

3. Reduce Render-Blocking Resources

• Minify JavaScript and CSS.
• Defer non-essential JavaScript.
• Use crucial CSS to load vital styles first.

4. Optimise Client-Side Rendering

• Limit the use of third-party scripts.
• Optimise JavaScript execution to avoid excessive processing.
• To store static files, enable browser caching.
• Proactive strategies to prevent future LCP issues.
• Conduct regular audits of website performance.
• Optimise for mobile-first indexing.
• Keep up to know with Google algorithm adjustments.

How Does LCP Affect SEO and Google Rankings

LCP directly affects search rankings and user engagement. Websites with fast LCP scores tend to have:

• Higher ranking in Google search
• Lower bounce rates.
• Improved conversion rates 

Conclusion

LCP is a crucial performance statistic that affects both SEO and the user experience. You can increase your website’s speed and rank by addressing the LCP issue with server optimisation, image compression, and script management.