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Have you ever wondered why some websites rank higher in Google search results than others? It’s not always because they have better content or a more popular website. Often, it comes down to something called “cumulative layout shift” and how well your website is able to avoid it.
What is cumulative layout shift? In short, it’s when the layout of your website (or individual pages on your website) starts to move away from the original design that was intended. This can happen for a number of reasons, but the end result is always the same: your website becomes less visible in search engine results pages (SERPs).
What is Cumulative Layout Shift in SEO?
What Causes Cumulative Layout Shift in SEO?
How to Fix Cumulative Layout Shift in SEO
Conclusion
Cumulative layout shift is a relatively new concept, but it’s already having a major impact on the way that Google and other search engines rank websites. Here’s everything you need to know about cumulative layout shift in SEO, including what causes it and how you can fix it.
1. What is Cumulative Layout Shift in SEO?
As we mentioned above, cumulative layout shift is when the layout of your website starts to move away from the original design that was intended. This can happen for a number of reasons, but the most common cause is because of changes in the size or position of elements on your website.
For example, let’s say you have a website with a header at the top, followed by a main content area, and then a footer at the bottom. If the header suddenly shrinks in size or moves to the side, that’s going to cause the layout of your website to shift. The same is true if the main content area suddenly expands or the footer moves up.
Cumulative layout shift can also be caused by changes in the order of elements on your website. For example, if you have a blog post with several images and each image is followed by a caption, then changing the order of those images is going to cause a layout shift.
2. What Causes Cumulative Layout Shift in SEO?
There are a number of factors that can cause cumulative layout shift on your website, but the most common cause is because of changes in the size or position of elements on your website. This can happen for a number of reasons, but the most common cause is because of changes in the size or position of elements on your website.
For example, let’s say you have a website with a header at the top, followed by a main content area, and then a footer at the bottom. If the header suddenly shrinks in size or moves to the side, that’s going to cause the layout of your website to shift. The same is true if the main content area suddenly expands or the footer moves up.
Cumulative layout shift can also be caused by changes in the order of elements on your website. For example, if you have a blog post with several images and each image is followed by a caption, then changing the order of those images is going to cause a layout shift.
3. How to Fix Cumulative Layout Shift in SEO?
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to fix cumulative layout shift on your website. The most important thing is to make sure that all of the elements on your website are sized correctly and in the correct position. This can be tricky, especially if you’re using a lot of images or other media on your website.
Another way to fix cumulative layout shift is to make sure that the order of elements on your website is consistent. This means using the same order for images, captions, and other elements on every page of your website. By doing this, you can minimize the chances of a layout shift occurring.
Finally, you can also use a tool like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to help you identify potential issues with cumulative layout shift on your website. Once you’ve identified the issue, you can then take steps to fix it.
4. Conclusion
Cumulative layout shift is a relatively new concept, but it’s already having a major impact on the way that Google and other search engines rank websites. By understanding what it is and how it can impact your website, you can take steps to fix any issues and ensure that your website is ranking as high as possible.
Jamie Fallon is an SEO expert who lives life to the maximum, redlining every day on a rollercoaster straight to the grave.
In an SEO career of almost ten years, he’s seen it all, he’s done it all, and he’s not impressed: from white text on a white background to today, when you can have robots paint or write for you like some kind of sick science fiction come true.
No matter what life throws at him, Jamie always manages to come out on top. He’s an expert at seeing the silver lining in every cloud and making the best of every situation. His positive attitude and unshakable faith in himself have seen him through tough times. For some people, success goes to their heads; but Jamie never forgets what got him to wherever he thinks he is.
When he’s not busy gaming the system, you can find him writing angry thinkpieces on how Google is ruining everything good about the internet, or hanging out with his wife (pictured).