How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in the UK in 2026?
How much does a small business website cost in the UK? Explore illustrative budgets, one-off and ongoing costs, and what to check before requesting a quote.
Articles by Chris Giles
Entries by Chris Giles
Why Every Blackpool Business Needs a Professional Website in 2026
Blackpool businesses face more competition than ever in 2026. Tourists and locals alike turn to the internet first when looking for shops, restaurants, services, and attractions. A professional website gives Blackpool businesses the credibility and visibility they need to compete in today’s digital marketplace. Without a website, potential customers cannot find basic information like opening […]
How to Boost Website Traffic
Tools and Metrics for Improving Website Traffic Rankings and Website Hit Rankings Getting more people to visit a website is one of the main goals for any business online. Knowing which tools to use and which numbers to watch can help boost website traffic and improve how a site ranks against others. By understanding the […]
The 6 Best Marketing Tools For Business Websites 2025
Maximising Online Growth Choosing the right marketing tools for a business website has become essential in 2025, as competition grows and technology evolves. The best marketing tools help companies improve visibility, increase engagement, and boost sales—all while saving time and effort. With so many available options, finding the most effective tools can be challenging for […]
Can AI Content Rank on Google?
AI-generated content is increasingly recognised within digital marketing for its role in boosting search engine optimisation (SEO). A comprehensive analysis involved selecting random keywords and examining the top Google search results to understand how AI generated content performs against traditional human-created text. This investigation showed that AI and human text can achieve similar ranking positions, […]
The Art Of War and Local Business SEO
When thinking about timeless wisdom on strategy and conflict, “The Art of War” is a powerful read that always comes to mind. We’ve just explored the deluxe silkbound edition, which offers a stunning presentation and insightful content that resonates through the ages. The book’s luxurious cover makes it a wonderful addition to any bookshelf and […]
Six Thinking Hats for Local Business Marketing
In local business marketing, finding the right approach can be daunting. Edward De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats gives you a framework to make decisions. By using each hat to look at different aspects, you can improve your marketing and make better choices. The Six Thinking Hats method looks at different angles of a problem. This […]
Legal Requirements for a UK Business Website: A Comprehensive Guide
Creating a business website in the UK involves more than just design and content. Businesses must ensure their websites comply with legal standards. Every UK business website must prominently display key information such as the business name, physical address, and contact details. These elements not only promote transparency but also align with legal obligations.
Data protection and privacy are crucial for online operations. Businesses must adhere to laws protecting user data, like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Transparency about how user data is collected and used is essential, with clear privacy policies made accessible to all site visitors.
Websites need to be user-friendly and accessible to all potential customers, meeting both usability standards and legal requirements. This includes ensuring that terms and conditions are clear and that users understand their rights when engaging online. Maintaining legal compliance helps build trust with customers and fosters a positive business reputation.
Key Takeaways
- UK websites must display their business name, address, and contact information.
- Adhering to data protection laws like GDPR is essential.
- Websites should be accessible and follow legal compliance standards.
Businesses must present specific data on their website, ensuring transparency and compliance. Key legal requirements include displaying the registered office address, company registration number, VAT number, business name, and legal structure.
Registered Office Address and Contact Information
Every UK business website must clearly show its registered office address. This is crucial as it serves as the official location for receiving legal documents. Often, this address may appear on the contact page, footer, or an “About” section of the website.
Alongside the office address, websites should provide valid contact details like a phone number or an email address. This ensures customers can easily reach out with any inquiries or issues.
Company Registration Number and VAT Number
Displaying the company registration number is mandatory for businesses structured as limited companies. It’s issued during the incorporation process by Companies House, confirming the legal status of the business.
For businesses required to be VAT registered, the VAT number must also be included. This is vital for transparency in transactions and comforting customers about the authenticity of the business. It also aids in tax verifications and efficient bookkeeping.
Business Name and Legal Structure
The company’s official name must be visible on the website, often alongside the registered number and office address. This helps identify the legal entity operating the website.
Businesses must disclose their legal structure, whether they are partnerships, sole traders, or limited companies. This information aids users in understanding who they are interacting with. Limited companies must state details such as “Limited” or “Ltd” as part of their name, as required by the Companies Act 2006.
Presenting these details ensures legal compliance and builds trust with site visitors.
Data protection and privacy laws in the UK ensure that personal data is handled with care. Key elements include adherence to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), having a clear cookie policy with user consent, and a comprehensive privacy notice explaining data collection.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides a framework for data protection and privacy in the UK. It mandates that businesses must process personal data lawfully and transparently. Information should only be collected for legitimate purposes and minimised to what is necessary.
The GDPR also emphasises data security. Organisations must put appropriate measures in place to protect data against breaches. It gives individuals the right to access their own data and request corrections or deletions.
Non-compliance with GDPR can result in significant fines. To avoid this, businesses should regularly review their data protection policies and processes. They should ensure these policies align with UK GDPR as outlined in the Data Protection Act 2018.
Cookie Policy and Consent
A cookie policy is essential for websites that use cookies to track user activity. The policy should inform users about what types of cookies are used and their purpose. Consent must be obtained before any cookies are placed on the user’s device, except for strictly necessary cookies.
Clear and simple options should be provided for users to opt in or out of non-essential cookies. Websites should not make consent a condition of use. Transparency about data collected through cookies builds trust with users.
It’s recommended to use cookie consent tools that comply with legal standards. Regularly updating the cookie policy ensures it reflects changes in data collection practices.
Privacy Notice and Data Collection
A privacy notice is a public statement of how a business manages personal data. It must clearly describe the types of personal data collected, the purpose for collection, and how it is processed or shared. The notice needs to be accessible and easy to understand.
The privacy notice should also inform users about their rights under the GDPR, including how to access their data and request changes. Businesses must ensure data is kept secure and only retained for as long as necessary.
Regular reviews of the privacy notice help maintain compliance and transparency. It’s crucial for building user confidence and proving the company’s commitment to data protection.
Businesses in the UK must comply with specific legal requirements on their websites. These involve clear terms and conditions, adherence to consumer protection laws, and proper handling of returns. Understanding these areas ensures businesses operate lawfully while protecting consumer rights.
Terms of Service and Accessibility Statements
Every UK business website must have clear Terms and Conditions. These outline the rules for using the site and any services or products offered. They should include payment, delivery, and cancellation terms. Ensuring accessibility is also crucial. Websites must comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which help make online content usable for people with disabilities, as supported by the Equality Act 2010.
Consumer Protection and Distance Selling Regulations
UK businesses are required to follow the Consumer Protection laws, especially when dealing with online sales. Distance Selling Regulations, which apply to selling goods and services without face-to-face contact, mandate that consumers receive clear information before a purchase. This includes details about the goods, the seller, and cancellation rights. Compliance helps prevent unfair practices and protects consumer interests.
Returns Policy and Consumer Rights Act
A clear Returns Policy is essential for any UK online business. It should state how consumers can return products, under what conditions, and within what time frame. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 further supports consumers by ensuring products are as described and of satisfactory quality. If not, consumers have the right to a refund, repair, or replacement. This builds trust and promotes fair trade practices.
In the UK, website accessibility is a crucial aspect of digital compliance. Accessibility requirements are governed by laws like the Equality Act 2010 and regulations including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. These guidelines insist that websites must be accessible to everyone, including users with disabilities.
For a business website, it is essential to ensure usability for all customers. This involves making sure text is readable, contrast is sufficient, and navigation is easy to understand. Multimedia must include captions and alternative text for images should be provided, enhancing the site for those using screen readers.
Electronic Commerce Regulations play a role in ensuring that online services are accessible. Businesses need to comply by providing services that meet accessibility standards and by publishing an accessibility statement. This document informs users about the accessibility features of a website and any parts that might not be fully accessible.
To improve usability, businesses can use tools and resources that assess website accessibility. Simple adjustments like improving the website layout and adding text description can make a significant difference. Regular audits and updates ensure compliance and enhance the overall user experience.
By adhering to these standards, businesses not only meet legal requirements in the UK but also provide a more inclusive and user-friendly website. This commitment to accessibility benefits both the company and its customers.
Ensuring that a UK business website meets all legal requirements is crucial for protecting both the business and its users. Key aspects include handling copyright and intellectual property, adhering to e-commerce laws, and providing appropriate content disclaimers.
Copyright and Intellectual Property Information
A UK business website must respect copyright laws. This includes ensuring that images, text, and other content are not used without permission. Businesses should consider obtaining licences for any intellectual property they use. Additionally, it’s important to inform users about their rights regarding content they submit to the website. Clear terms of use can prevent misunderstandings and legal issues related to copyright infringement.
Compliance with E-commerce Regulations
UK e-commerce websites must comply with relevant e-commerce regulations. This includes providing clear information about the seller, including their business name and address. Websites should also outline shipping details, return policies, and terms of sale. Adhering to the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations involves informing users about cookie usage and obtaining consent. Proper compliance builds trust with customers and ensures smooth transactions.
Defamation and Content Disclaimer
Defamatory content must be avoided to ensure the website’s integrity. Websites should include a content disclaimer to clarify that any opinions expressed are those of the authors. This protects the business from potential defamation claims. It’s wise to moderate user-generated content to prevent the spread of harmful or false information. By proactively managing content, a business can uphold its reputation and maintain compliance with legal standards.
Google’s New Support for AVIF Images
AVIF, or AV1 Image File Format, is a new image format that offers better compression and image quality than older formats like JPEG and PNG. Developed by the Alliance for Open Media, AVIF uses the AV1 video codec to deliver high-quality images at smaller file sizes. This makes it perfect for websites where speed and […]
Purchasing the Perfect Domain Name
How should you go about purchasing the perfect domain name for your business? A domain name is the internet address of your website. It’s what people type into their browser to visit your site. Just like you need a street address to find a building, you need a domain name to find a website with […]
Google Business Profile Video Verification
Google Business Profile (GBP) video verification is a method used by Google to confirm the authenticity of a business. This process involves creating a video that showcases the business location, signage, and operations. This helps Google verify that the business is legitimate and functioning as claimed. Why Video Verification Matters for Your Business Video verification […]
Marketing for Law Firms in 2024
In today’s fast-paced digital world, law firms must adapt their marketing strategies to stay competitive and relevant. The legal industry is no exception to the digital revolution, and firms that embrace modern marketing techniques will thrive. We explore the top marketing strategies for law firms in 2024, providing actionable insights to enhance your firm’s online […]
Reducing Website Bounce Rate
Reducing website bounce rate can greatly affect online success. Understanding and managing bounce rate is key to improving the online presence for small—to medium-sized business owners, entrepreneurs, and local tradesmen in Blackpool, Lancashire. This blog post explains what bounce rate is, why it matters, and how to reduce it. Understanding Bounce Rate What is Bounce […]
Transform Your Website’s Landing Pages
First impressions matter a lot online. When someone visits your page, you have just a few seconds to grab their attention. A good landing page can turn visitors into customers. But what makes a landing page good? First, it should be clear. Your landing page should quickly show what your business offers. This means having […]
How Much Should You Budget for SEO Services?
In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or a local tradesman in Blackpool, Lancashire, knowing how to budget for SEO services can greatly impact your online success. This guide will explain everything you need to know about SEO […]
Google’s June 2024 Spam Update
Unveiling Google’s June 2024 Spam Update: Essential Insights for Business Owners In the world of digital marketing, it’s important to keep up with search engine updates. Google’s June 2024 spam update is a significant change that aims to improve the quality of search results by targeting websites that violate spam rules. This article explains the […]
Unlocking the Power of Schema Markup for SEO
In the fast-changing world of digital marketing, staying ahead is key. One great way to make your website more visible and improve your search engine rankings is through schema markup. This tool can make your web pages stand out in search results, giving users more detailed and useful information. But what is schema markup, and […]
Why Your Website Isn’t Showing Up on Google
This guide will explain Why Your Website Isn’t Showing Up on Google and provide you with easy steps to fix it. Having a website is incredibly important for any business today. However, just having a website isn’t enough. If your site isn’t appearing on Google, you’re missing out on a lot of potential visitors and […]
Website Design and Development Strategy Can Future-Proof Your Website
Today, a website is more than just an online placeholder; it is the face of your brand and a key tool for engaging with customers. Research shows that users form an opinion of your brand in just 0.05 seconds based on your website. So, having the right design and development strategy is crucial to keeping […]
The Problem with Duplicate Content
In the realm of digital marketing, local SEO is crucial for businesses aiming to be discovered online. One contentious topic in this field is duplicate content. Generally, Google frowns upon duplicate content as it can disrupt search rankings. However, Google’s John Mueller recently clarified when duplicate content is permissible, especially for local SEO. This article […]
Boosting Your Google Ads Conversion Rates
Google Ads is a powerful tool for businesses to reach their target audience. However, just running ads isn’t enough; you need to turn those clicks into real results. This guide will show you simple ways to improve your Google Ads conversion rates, ensuring your money is well spent. Understanding Google Ads Conversion Rates What is […]
Survey: 54% of People Look Through More Search Results Compared to 5 Years Ago
Search engines are a significant part of how we find information online. A recent survey by Scorpion and Dynata shows that 54% of people now look through more search results than they did five years ago. This article explores what the survey found, including why people are frustrated, how ads play a role, and how […]
Google’s New Mobile-First Indexing Policy
Google has announced that starting 5th July 2024, it will no longer index websites that do not work on mobile devices. This means if your website can’t be accessed on a phone or tablet, it won’t show up in Google search results. This change is part of Google’s plan to make the internet more mobile-friendly. […]
The Importance of Local SEO for Swindon Businesses
In the digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses looking to attract local customers and thrive in their community. For businesses in Swindon, harnessing the power of local search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for increasing visibility, driving foot traffic, and ultimately, boosting sales. Local SEO helps businesses in Swindon connect […]
Harnessing the Power of Google Gemini for Enhanced Local SEO
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for businesses looking to enhance their online presence. One of the latest advancements in this arena is Google Gemini. This article delves into the significance of Google Gemini in the context of local SEO, particularly for businesses in Blackpool. Google Gemini’s […]
Google Clarifies Local Services Ads Ranking: Proximity No Longer Key
In a recent update to the Local Services Ads (LSA) help document, Google has made a significant change, shifting the focus away from the proximity of businesses to potential customers as a ranking factor. This adjustment suggests a refined strategy in how LSAs determine the most relevant service providers for user queries. Previously, the help […]
Unlocking High ROI: Strategic Steps for Powerful Digital Marketing Campaigns
In the dynamic world of business, digital marketing stands out as an essential component for success, particularly in terms of connecting with your target audience and driving meaningful conversions. However, indiscriminately investing in digital marketing without a clearly defined strategy can lead to wasted resources and minimal impact. Crafting an effective digital marketing campaign is […]
How to Get Leads for Your Local Business
Generating leads for a local business is an essential component of a successful growth strategy. In an increasingly digital world, connecting with potential customers through various online channels has become vital for local businesses. Effective lead generation takes advantage of digital tools and traditional methods to attract and engage a local customer base, building relationships […]
Buy a Local Landline Phone Number: The Benefits and How to Get One
Local Phone Numbers When out and about, you’ll see some local businesses advertising a mobile phone number for you to call to enquire about their services. Whilst a mobile number allows people to make that call, it’s true that more people are likely to call a business if they have a landline number. Studies have […]
How Checkatrade Boosts Local Business Enquiries
Checkatrade is a platform that allows local businesses to connect with potential customers and grow their customer base. By creating a profile on Checkatrade, businesses can showcase their services and credentials to a wide audience, increasing their chances of getting enquiries and winning new business. In this article, we will explore how Checkatrade can help […]
Blackpool SEO Expert
Blackpool SEO Expert: Boosting Your Online Visibility Blackpool SEO Expert – Blackpool is a famous seaside town situated in Lancashire, UK. The town is home to many businesses, both small and large, that are looking to establish and grow their online presence. However, with the ever-increasing competition in the digital world, it has become challenging […]
Google Screened For Local Businesses: What You Need to Know
Google Screened is a verification process initiated by Google that helps professional service firms and providers build trusted reputations online. The screening process is free of charge for service providers and helps ascertain that the service provider’s insurance, licenses, and reputation are valid and in good standing. The program is designed to pre-screen applicants before […]
Google Guarantee for Local Businesses: What You Need to Know
What You Need to Know, How to Get it, How it Helps Google Guarantee is a certification program that aims to increase customer confidence in local businesses. It is a badge given to businesses that pass a Google screening and verification process through Local Services Ads or its partners. This program informs customers that Google […]
The Top SEO Tools for 2023: Boosting Your Rankings with Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Screaming Frog
In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) remains a critical component of success. To excel in SEO, you need the right tools in your arsenal, and today, we’ll explore the best apps for SEO that can help you achieve your online goals. These tools are indispensable for improving your website’s visibility, […]
How to Choose an SEO Agency: A Guide for Blackpool Businesses
How to Choose an SEO Agency: A Practical Guide for Businesses In today’s digital landscape, having a solid online presence is crucial for businesses looking to stand out among their competitors. One way to improve discoverability is to invest in search engine optimisation (SEO). If you are comparing providers, start by understanding the work involved; […]
The Benefits of Partnering with a Local Blackpool Web Design Firm
The Benefits of Partnering with a Local Blackpool Web Design Firm: Boost Your Online Presence Efficiently Your business needs an online presence to thrive in today’s digital world. A well-designed website is crucial for attracting and maintaining customers and is essential to your overall marketing strategy. Partnering with a local Blackpool web design firm such […]
Are Google Ads Effective for Small Business Marketing?
Are Google Ads Effective for Small Business Marketing? A Comprehensive Analysis Google Ads can be a valuable tool for small businesses looking to increase their online visibility and attract more customers. With the ability to target specific audiences and track ROI, Google Ads can effectively reach potential customers who are already searching for products or […]
KoalaWriter Review: The Best AI Writing Tool Around
KoalaWriter: A Comprehensive Review KoalaWriter Review: Why we love it! KoalaWriter is an AI-powered writing tool that has been designed to help content creators produce high-quality, SEO-friendly articles in a matter of minutes. With its advanced algorithms, KoalaWriter can generate helpful outlines, write content, and suggest your article’s headings and subheadings. This makes it an […]
LinkWhisper: The SEO Tool Pros Keep Secret
LinkWhisper: The SEO Tool Pros Keep Secret LinkWhisper is a powerful SEO tool that is making waves in the industry. Its innovative approach to internal link building has quickly become a favourite among webmasters and SEO professionals. But despite its effectiveness, many pros are keeping it under wraps, making it one of the best-kept secrets […]
Tackling the Modern Age: How SEO Agencies Utilise the Power of AI
How SEO Agencies Utilise the Power of AI Most businesses that want to get ahead in the realm of digital marketing enlist the aid of search engine optimisation (SEO) specialists. SEO has been a staple of digital marketing tactics since the dawn of the internet, and it has grown to become one of the best […]
Optimizing Your Mobile Design: 4 Essential User Testing Strategies to Bolster Engagement
Statistics make for stark reading when it comes to welcoming mobile users online. 53% of visitors browsing on mobile devices bounce back from a website in less than three seconds–undermining the impact of a landing page before it even has a chance. From poor loading times to accessibility issues, these bounce rates can be caused […]
Online Payment Processing for Home Businesses
Options for Online Payment Processing for Home Businesses Do you wish to take credit cards online for your home business? But you’re not sure where to begin? Getting a merchant account is simple if you know what to search for and what you want for your company. If you run a home-based business, don’t be […]
Feeling The Squeeze: Why You Should Rethink Cutting Off New Employees
Feeling The Squeeze: Why You Should Rethink Cutting Off New Employees It is easy to see the rocky path ahead for businesses in the UK. With the cost of living taking a grip and many starting to struggle – according to recent government figures, 2,000 registered businesses closed in England and Wales in August alone, […]
How To Deal With Negative Reviews
How to deal with negative reviews? As more and more businesses take the step to market online through websites and social media, the risk of incurring negative reviews increases. These days it is very easy indeed for anyone to leave a negative review for a business on Google, Facebook and other online platforms. Most reviews […]
What Should You Expect From A Local SEO Agency?
Whether you manage a small or large company, you’ll need a variety of local SEO deliverables. Here’s what you can anticipate from your marketing firm. We consider some of the KPI’s you may want to set and some of the most basic strategies you should expect from any professional Local SEO agency. Effective local SEO […]
SEO Tip – Spend Some Time on SERPS (Search Engine Results Pages)
One of the key steps of any good keyword research that often gets overlooked is to actually spend some time in Google performing searches. You can use all the tools you want to research search volumes, competition, etc., but none of them will give you a great picture of the search intent for a keyword or what is really going on in the SERP (Search Engine Results Page).
They also won’t tell you what kind of results Google is showing in the SERPs. Without looking at the actual SERPs and the results on page one, it’s tough to get a good picture of the actual problems users are trying to seek out an answer to when searching for a particular query.
Whenever you pick out a new keyword to target or decide to go back to an old piece of content to refresh it, take a look at what kind of results Google is showing.
You want to pay attention to a few things.
Look for Google featured snippets.
If Google is displaying a featured snippet at the top of the search results, you want to take a close look at the query and the featured snippet.
Does it fully answer the query? If it does, chances are the search results below, even the first organic position, are not getting very much traffic. Keep this in mind. If you do not replace that featured snippet, the keyword is probably not going to bring much traffic.
A simple example of what I’m talking about would be a search such as “How tall is Mount Everest”… Google immediately shows the answer of 29,032 feet.
This is a simplistic example, but there are plenty of other queries to think about like this. Someone might search for something like “What size X should I use for Y”. If the answer to that is simple and doesn’t require any additional explanation, a featured snippet is going to solve it. Very few results below are going to get clicks.
You also want to pay attention to what type of content is ranking.
Is it product listings? Tutorials? Lists? Service pages? This will give you a good indication of what Google has decided is the most common search intent for the query and what it is favouring for search results. What kind of sites are ranking? Is it mostly news sites? Local businesses? Directories? Blog pages?
This can also give you some clues into what Google has determined to be the search intent. For example, if you look at a search result and see a lot of directories, that can be an indicator that the search intent is to find a list of places that can offer a solution. This is common for a lot of local searches.
How far do you have to scroll before you see the first organic search result?
This is often the answer when people are confused as to why their high ranking page is not bringing them more traffic.
If you see a featured snippet, followed by ads, followed by a ‘people also ask’ box, and then the organic results, keep that in mind. Even if you rank #1 in the organic results, you are probably not going to get the usual 45-70% of clicks you could expect from a #1 ranking.
All of those other things are going to siphon away clicks.
Do this on both a desktop and mobile device.
Today we are obsessed with the user experience on our websites, but few of us take the time to check out the user experience of the SERPs.
Try to look at a SERP without bias.
What are the common themes you see in the search results? How could your page better serve searchers? Again, forget about your own bias and what you think might be best. How can your page better fit into what Google thinks is best?
This process can be useful when trying to identify ranking drops.
Sometimes the user intent for a search query changes over time, or more precisely, based on new data Google’s interpretation of it changes.
If you see traffic drops, it can be because suddenly Google is showing a featured snippet when they weren’t before. Maybe a ‘people also ask’ box popped up in the search results.
If you see ranking drops, inspect the SERPs compared to what they looked like previously. Maybe over time, the search results have shifted from showing tutorials to show more products and services, or the search intent has shifted in another way.
Ranking and traffic drops are not always because you did something wrong or just because competitors overtook you. Sometimes they are because of new ‘features’ showing up in the SERPs ahead of you or because the search intent is shifting.
Some time in the SERPs can make your job easier.
Google Core Web Vitals – How will this affect Local Business Websites?
Google announced in 2020 that ‘Core Web Vitals’ will become a bigger part of their user experience algorithm which helps to rank websites in their search engine. It intended to implement this from May 2021, but has now pushed it back to start from June, with updates continuing until August 2021. What is ‘Core Web Vitals’, how can you check your Local Business Website, and what do you need to do?
What are 'Core Web Vitals'?
Essentially, Core Web Vitals are a collection of data that helps to measure the performance of user experience on a website. Core Web Vitals are part of Google’s overall evaluation of ‘Page Experience’. Data collected currently includes such things as how fast a page loads on a user’s screen and how quickly a user can interact with it. Websites with a poor score will fail the test and may slip down the search engine rankings.
Getting your Core Web Vitals right is not just for organic search engine rankings. It can also improve the efficiency of Pay Per Click Google Ads by raising your Landing Page performance score.
Core Web Vitals is constantly being revised. The current measurements being used are;
- LOADING – Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
- INTERACTIVITY – First Input Delay (FID)
- VISUAL STABILITY – Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Don’t worry too much about exactly what these terms mean, as we have easy ways for you to measure them yourself!
Other Web Vitals
Other web vitals that form part of Google’s current Page Experience score include;
- Mobile Friendliness – your website needs to perform well on mobile devices. Check yours here using the Google Mobile-Friendly Test.
- Safe Browsing – your website needs to be free of malware which could compromise users
- HTTPS – Your website must have an SSL Certificate (the URL should start with ‘https://’).
- No Intrusive Interstitials – Pop-ups which prevent users being able to view or access the site, with the exception of cookies pop-ups or legal requirements such as age-verification.
How to measure a website's 'Core Web Vitals'
If you have access to your website’s Google Search Console (GSC), you’ll find the ‘Core Web Vitals’ report under the ‘Enhancements’ section.
If not, just go to Google’s free tool, Pagespeed Insights, and enter your website’s address. You can even punch in some competitor websites to compare your website to theirs.
Pagespeed Insights will give 2 scores. One is for Mobile performance, one is for Desktop performance. Both are scored out of 100. Ideally, your site should be 80+ for each.
Mobile Pagespeed Insights score on www.cgain.co.uk – 22/02/2021
Desktop Pagespeed Insights score on www.cgain.co.uk – 22/02/2021
What determines a Website’s speed?
There are several factors, including the following…
Hosting
The quality of hosting can have a dramatic effect on a website’s speed. Many Local Business Websites are set up on a budget and on cheap shared hosting (where hundreds of websites live on the same server). Virtually all of the ‘build-you-own’ website services do this, including WIX, GoDaddy, Fasthosts, IONOS and others – although all do usually offer a paid upgrade to something better.
The majority of our client websites are on fast dedicated servers. This costs a little more but is well worth it.
Website Structure
Many websites can be over-stuffed with unnecessary code and plugins. Most WordPress websites have this issue! Whilst that shiny new theme might look pretty, it has probably not been designed with Core Web Vitals in mind!
Adding a new feature or plugin can also have an adverse effect. Beware, for example, of adding ecommerce to a website hosted on a cheap shared server as it will probably struggle with limited processing power and slow the whole site down.
Image Sizes
Many web designers (and business owners, especially) add lots of images to a website. There’s nothing wrong with this, except when thay are straight off a modern mobile phone and up to 10mb or more in size!
Huge images on a webpage take time to render and display. All images should be optimised (resized) before uploading.
How to Improve Core Web Vitals
Use the Measurement Tools
Use the Measurement Tools we recommend above and test your own website. If you pass, then no problem!
If not, each tool will suggest fixes if you feel technical enough to sort these yourself.
In addition, websites can also be built using fully optimized WordPress animated theme.
Obtain Professional Advice
Here at CGain we can analyse your website’s Core Web Vitals (amongst other factors) and come up with a solution at a competitive cost. Solutions can be on a fixed monthly rate to include hosting, backups, updates and basic (or advanced) SEO.
Reasons Why Your Website Traffic Has Dropped
Is your website traffic dropping or are your rankings plummeting? Here are some possible reasons why your website might be tanking… Websites exist to be visited, but visits can mean different things for different sites. For media sites, for example, traffic can be a source of income from advertisements. For e-commerce retailers, traffic translates to […]
How Does SEO Work? A Beginner’s Guide to SEO
How much do you already know about SEO? Choose your level for a quick explanation tailored to you. You can change your choice at any time. No knowledgeA little knowledgeDecent knowledge SEO explained simply SEO stands for search engine optimisation. It helps search engines like Google, Bing, and AI tools understand your website so that […]
Use Online Directories to Promote Your Business Website
Should you spend your time adding your website to the hundreds of business listing directories available? Well, our answer is yes and no. OK, we know that it is not like us to sit on the fence, but the evidence does speak for itself. We’ll start by making this clear – the vast majority of […]