How To Fix Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) Issue In WordPress

If you’re a website owner, you’ll know how crucial it is to ensure that your website is not only attractive and user-friendly but also optimized for search engines.

One of the key factors that can affect your website’s search engine rankings is its Core Web Vitals, which includes metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).

Among these metrics, CLS is especially important, as it can greatly affect user experience on your website. In this article, we’ll discuss How To Fix Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) Issue In WordPress 2023.

 

What is Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)?

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is a Core Web Vital metric that measures the stability of a web page’s layout as it loads. CLS occurs when elements on a web page shift or move around as the page loads, which can be distracting and frustrating for users. This can lead to a poor user experience, as users may find it difficult to read or interact with the page.

CLS is calculated based on the amount of layout shift and the distance the element has moved and is measured on a scale from 0 to 1, where 0 indicates no shifting, and 1 indicates significant shifting.

In simple terms, CLS measures how much the elements on a web page move or shift as it loads, and how much this affects the user experience. A high CLS score indicates that the page layout is unstable, which can lead to a poor user experience, while a low CLS score indicates that the page layout is stable and easy to use.

 

How do I find CLS issues?

To find CLS issues on your WordPress website, you can use several tools that analyze your website’s performance and provide insights on potential CLS issues. Here are a few tools you can use:

Google Search Console: Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google that can help you identify CLS issues on your website. Simply log in to your account, navigate to the “Enhancements” section, and look for any CLS issues that are reported.

Google Search Console provides details about the specific URLs and pages that are affected, as well as suggestions for how to fix the issues.

CLS Common issues:

• cls issue more than 0.25 (desktop)
• cls issue more than 0.1 (mobile)

 

Google PageSpeed Insights: Google PageSpeed Insights is a free tool that analyzes your website’s performance and provides insights on potential CLS issues. Simply enter your website’s URL, and the tool will analyze your website and provide a report with a CLS score and recommendations to improve it.

GTmetrix: GTmetrix is a tool that provides a comprehensive analysis of your website’s performance, including CLS. After entering your website’s URL, the tool will analyze your website and provide a report with a CLS score, along with recommendations to improve it.

Lighthouse: Lighthouse is an open-source tool that can help you identify CLS issues on your website. It can be run as a standalone application or as part of the Chrome DevTools. Simply run Lighthouse on the page you want to analyze, and it will provide a report that includes the CLS score, along with suggestions for improving it.

WebPageTest: WebPageTest is a free tool that provides a detailed analysis of your website’s performance, including CLS. After entering your website’s URL, you can select the location and device you want to test on, and the tool will provide a report with a CLS score and recommendations to improve it.

Chrome DevTools: Chrome DevTools is a built-in tool in Google Chrome that allows you to analyze your website’s performance, including CLS. Simply open Chrome DevTools by pressing F12, and select the Performance tab. After recording a performance trace, you can view the CLS score and a detailed breakdown of the layout shifts that occurred during the page load.

By using these tools, you can identify potential CLS issues on your WordPress website and take action to address them. It’s important to regularly monitor your website’s performance and take steps to optimize it for a better user experience.

 

What causes CLS issues in WordPress?

There are several reasons why Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) issues can occur on WordPress websites. Some common reasons include:

Large or unoptimized images: Images that are too large or not properly optimized can cause layout shifts as they load. This is because the browser needs to allocate space for the image, and if the image is larger than the space allocated, the layout will shift.

Third-party scripts: Third-party scripts such as advertising, analytics, or social media widgets can also cause layout shifts as they load. These scripts are often hosted on external servers, which can cause delays in loading, resulting in layout shifts.

Lazy loading: Lazy loading is a technique used to defer the loading of certain elements until they are needed. However, if not implemented properly, lazy loading can cause layout shifts. This is because the browser may not allocate enough space for the unloaded elements, resulting in layout shifts when they are loaded.

Dynamic content: Dynamic content such as pop-ups or overlays can also cause layout shifts. This is because these elements are often loaded after the page has already started loading, which can cause the layout to shift.

It’s important to note that CLS issues can also be caused by other factors such as font loading, CSS animations, and responsive design. However, the above factors are some of the most common causes of CLS issues in WordPress.

 

What is the biggest problem for a CLS?

The biggest problem with CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) is that it can cause a poor user experience. When elements on a web page unexpectedly move or shift while the user is interacting with it, it can be frustrating and disorienting. This can lead to a negative impression of the website and decrease user engagement and retention.

In addition, CLS can also have negative consequences for website owners and businesses. Websites with high CLS scores may be penalized by search engines, which can hurt their visibility and ultimately their traffic and revenue.

Another problem with CLS is that it can be difficult to diagnose and fix. Unlike other performance metrics like load time or page size, CLS issues can be caused by a variety of factors, including images, videos, ads, and other third-party content.

This can make it challenging for web developers and site owners to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem and implement effective solutions.

Overall, CLS is a significant issue for website owners and users alike, and it’s important to take steps to reduce it in order to provide a better user experience and ensure the long-term success of your website.

 

Does Cumulative Layout Shift affect SEO?

Yes, Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) can affect SEO, as Google has recently announced that it is incorporating CLS as a ranking factor in its search algorithm. This means that websites with a higher CLS score may rank lower in search results, as they are considered to provide a poorer user experience.

Google has identified user experience as a key factor in determining search rankings, as it seeks to provide the best possible search results for its users. Poor user experience, including issues with layout stability, can lead to lower engagement and increased bounce rates, which can negatively impact search rankings.

To address this, Google has introduced Core Web Vitals as a new set of metrics that measure website performance and user experience. In addition to CLS, Core Web Vitals includes other metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and First Input Delay (FID), which measure loading speed and interactivity, respectively.

By incorporating CLS and other Core Web Vitals metrics into its search algorithm, Google is encouraging website owners and developers to prioritize user experience and performance when building and optimizing websites. This means that reducing CLS issues and improving layout stability can have a positive impact on both user experience and search rankings.

 

How to fix CLS issues in WordPress?

Now that we know what causes CLS issues in WordPress, let’s discuss how to fix them.

Optimize images: One of the main causes of CLS issues in WordPress is unoptimized or large images. To fix this, you can use a plugin like Smush or ShortPixel to optimize your images. These plugins will compress your images without compromising on quality, which will help to reduce the size of your pages and prevent layout shifts.

Defer third-party scripts: Third-party scripts such as advertising, analytics, or social media widgets can also cause layout shifts as they load. To fix this, you can defer the loading of these scripts until after the page has finished loading. You can do this using a plugin like WP Rocket or Asset Cleanup.

Implement lazy loading: Lazy loading is a technique used to defer the loading of certain elements until they are needed. This can help to reduce the initial load time of your pages and prevent layout shifts. To implement lazy loading in WordPress, you can use a plugin like Lazy Load or A3 Lazy Load.

Avoid using pop-ups or overlays: Dynamic content such as pop-ups or overlays can also cause layout shifts. To prevent this, you should avoid using pop-ups or overlays that appear above the main content of your pages.

Use a caching plugin: Caching plugins can help to speed up your website by caching static content such as images, CSS, and JavaScript files. This can help to reduce the number of layout shifts that occur as your pages load. Some popular caching plugins for WordPress include WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, and WP Fastest Cache.

Minimize CSS and JavaScript files: Large CSS and JavaScript files can also cause layout shifts as they load. To prevent this, you should minimize your CSS and JavaScript files by removing any unnecessary code or

Use a responsive design: Responsive design ensures that your website looks good and functions properly on all devices. This can help prevent layout shifts caused by different screen sizes.

 

Conclusion