March, 2024 | Software Development Company – Software Development Firm

Why Interaction to Next Paint (INP) score Matters for Your E-Commerce?

Posted on by Ketan Patel

Introduction

In today’s world, the speed of your website is the foundation of your eCommerce store. Many experts have argued that a mere five to ten-second delay in page load time can make a huge difference in user experience and cause significant bounce rates.

Consumers today desire a lightning-fast navigation experience that allows them to browse easily, add to a cart, and checkout. Therefore, your e-commerce website development must take measures and steps to fix this problem. This is where Google’s new Core Web Vital metric comes in handy: Interaction to Next Paint (INP) Score.

In this blog, we highlight the importance of a good INP score for your website development and methods to optimize and improve your INP score for eCommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Big Commerce, PresthaStore, and Magento.

Understanding INP

Google’s new metric, INP, measures the time it takes for your E-commerce website to respond visually to a user’s first interaction on the page. This includes many clicks such as add to cart, more options, pay, checkout, etc.

It is the successor to Google’s First Input Delay (FID), which was launched in May 2020. FID mostly tracks delays only after noticeable actions like clicks or taps. Scrolls and zooms don’t affect FID.

Google has redeemed itself by launching the INP score as it offers a nuanced outlook on web responsiveness. It not only considers the JavaScript execution time but also the browser’s rendering pipeline to make sure your website is fully optimized.

The INP score is based on the duration of your web pages’ “most user interactions.” Depending on how long your website takes to update visually, the score will show ‘Good’, ‘Needs Improvement’, or ‘Poor’.

Why INP Matters For Your E-commerce Site?

For e-commerce stores, INP is crucial to make sales, and during the website development, you must keep testing and monitoring. A low-hanging, sluggish website responsiveness with a high INP translates to a frustrating user experience.

For example, a desperate consumer is in a hurry and eager to purchase. However, he encounters only delays when clicking on product details or adding items to his cart. This frustration often results in cart abandonment and, ultimately, no purchase. This might be the last time the consumer comes to your site.

Here’s why INP matters even more:

Conversion Rate: The direct correlation between website speed and conversion rates makes a good INP score necessary. A seamless website experience leads to happier customers who are more likely to complete their purchases and return for more.
SEO: While it is too early to speculate, Google’s commitment to improving overall user experience only tells us that INP might play a role in search rankings. A well-optimized website with a low INP will definitely go straight up in the rankings.
Retention: A speedy, Flash-like website creates a positive brand perception. Customers who experience a responsive website will keep returning to you, ultimately fostering customer loyalty.

How to Improve/Optimize INP Score E-commerce Platforms?

The measures, tips, and techniques you can implement during your website development and testing to improve your INP score differ as they are primarily based on your chosen platform.

We will shed light on some platform-specific strategies to optimize your INP score:

Shopify

Shopify helps millions of businesses by offering a user-friendly interface service to online stores and providing robust tools for inventory management, payment management, and CRM.

Some optimization techniques for Shopify stores to improve your INP stores are:

Image Management: Images with high resolutions can slow your webpage’s load time and impact your INP score. You must utilize image compression tools and consider implementing a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to deliver images faster without affecting the quality of your website’s images.
Third-Party Applications: Too much dependence on several outsourcing applications and software can slow your page. Hence, you must reduce your reliance on third-party apps, especially those causing performance bottlenecks.
Theme Management: For your webpage design, you must choose themes that require a clean, lightweight codebase. You can also purchase the custom theme development if you are not satisfied with the pre-made options.

Magento

Magento is renowned for its flexibility and scalability for your various e-commerce needs. It offers extensive customization options, advanced marketing tools, and seamless integration capabilities.

To optimize and improve your INP score on Magento, consider the following measures:

Code Minification: Complex coding and unsupervised and heavy file size often lead to lower INP Score. You must keep monitoring and reviewing your codebase for any inefficiencies that might be lagging your website. Consider minifying and combining JavaScript and CSS files to reduce the number of HTTP requests.
Caching: Sometimes, your caching mechanism is inefficient in accelerating page rendering when it goes live. Hence, you must put server-side caching systems in place to reduce the load on your server and improve page load times. You can make use of caching plugins or extensions exclusively designed for Magento.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce has gained popularity as a WordPress plugin. It offers a good balance of flexibility and ease of use in thousands of e-commerce stores, demanding efficient INP optimization.

To enhance INP score on WooCommerce:

Image Optimization: Like Shopify, WooCommerce can make your user experience difficult if images are too heavy and not optimized. To ensure fast image delivery, consider utilizing image compression tools and an effective CDN.
Plugin Selection: We often forget to choose compatible and well-updated plug-ins for the online store. You must analyze your needs and plug-in offerings before selecting any plug-in software or application for your website.

Choose well-maintained plugins coded with performance and specifically designed for WooCommerce. And keep updating your plug-in every now and then.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is one of the most efficient ecommerce platforms with built-in scalability. However, there are many things that can hinder INP.

The optimization techniques for BigCommerce stores you can use are:

CDN Integration: CDN is one of the most important aspects of page-load delivery. If it is not well incorporated, it often slows down your screen. You must integrate a CDN to offer static content (images, JavaScript, CSS) from geographically distributed servers that are closer to your user base. This can significantly improve the INP score for customers in different locations.
Coding mechanisms: Like other e-commerce platforms, you can minify and optimize your code to reduce file sizes and improve webpage loading. And guess what? BigCommerce has built-in minification features. You can also use plugins for further optimization.

PrestaShop

PrestaShop is an open-source E-commerce solution platform suitable for businesses of all sizes. Its easy-to-use features offer a range of customizable themes, modules, etc.

To boost INP on PrestaShop:

Module Range: Not compatible and poorly coded modules have often been the main reason behind slow page loads. Therefore, you must choose modules that are well-coded, secured, actively maintained, and optimized for performance.
Server Improvisation: When selecting a hosting plan, you must ensure your provider offers a server environment that can manage and take your PrestaShop store demands and needs. Consider upgrading your hosting plan or migrating to a provider specializing in e-commerce hosting.
Lazy Loading: You can change the “not too important yet too heavy content” to enhance your INP score. For instance, you can initiate lazy loading for non-critical content, such as images below the fold or content related to SEO. This ensures faster initial page load times and a smoother user experience.

You can optimize database queries in PrestaShop by using efficient SQL queries and minimizing database interactions, resulting in faster responses on your website.

Universal INP Optimization Measures (For All Platforms):

Here are some general tips that you can apply to all e-commerce platforms to improve your INP score, regardless of your platform choice:

JavaScript Execution: You must invest in efficient JavaScript execution and code minification to reduce website load times. You can consider code splitting and asynchronous loading for non-critical files.
Browser Caching: Browser caching mechanisms store frequently accessed resources (like images and CSS) locally on the user’s device.
Critical Resources Approach: To satisfy the internal audit and page load systems, you must first analyze and then prioritize critical resources that need to load to render the page content. This ensures a faster first impression for your visitors.
Image Sizes: As mentioned earlier, image optimization is crucial for all platforms. Use image compression tools extensively and consider different image formats (like JPEG or WebP) depending on the image type.
Monitor Regularly: You can also utilize Google PageSpeed Insights or several other website performance testing options to test and monitor your website’s INP score regularly. This allows identify areas for improvement and track the progress of your efforts.

Enhance your e-commerce site’s user experience with our professional web development services. Learn how optimizing the INP score can boost your site’s performance and customer satisfaction. Click here for expert tips and insights!

How Can Dedicated WeDoWebApps Developers Make A Difference?

While implementing the above-mentioned general tips and platform-specific techniques to improve your INP score often works. But INP optimization often delves deeper. It involves complex code analysis, server configuration pulls, platform-specific enhancement, etc.

This is where partnering with a dedicated and committed team of developers like WeDoWebApps, specializing in e-commerce platforms, becomes invaluable.

We can help you achieve a good INP score because:

Experience: Our team of experienced developers has many years of collective experience and possesses in-depth knowledge of optimizing INP for various e-commerce platforms. We can identify limitations, follow best practices, and ensure your website performs at lightning speed.
Strategic Approach: We at WeDoWebApps often take a holistic yet strategic approach to INP optimization, beyond code or themes. We’ll first understand your specific needs and traffic patterns to develop a customized optimization strategy.
Continuous Support: We provide ongoing support to ensure your website remains optimized and delivers a consistently smooth user experience at all times. Hence, we keep testing and monitoring the INP scores and revisit our optimization measures to send you the report card regularly.

Conclusion

It is 2024, and a good INP score is no longer a choice but a necessity for your e-commerce success. Customers across the globe crave a seamless, fast, and responsive digital shopping experience.

By putting your INP optimization needs first, you create a website that is not only user-friendly but also translates to higher conversions and improved sales and retention.

Contact WeDoWebApps today for an INP audit of your e-commerce website. By partnering with us, you can easily focus on increasing your sales while we manage and mitigate the technical complexities and risks of INP optimization.

Get Your Website Ready for Google’s Update in March 2024!

Posted on by Mike

Introduction

Are you worried that your website might get affected by the latest Google algorithm updates? Is your website not yet ready to face the after-effects of Google algorithm 2024 updates? We are here to help you understand how you can overcome this hurdle. In this post, we are going to discuss all about Google algorithm updates in March 2024 to help you match the standards without any difficulty.

We all know how Google’s algorithm is constantly evolving to better understand user intent and provide the most useful information to searchers. In March 2024 we will see another important algorithm update as Google makes changes to further prioritize user experience. This guide provides an overview of past Google algorithm updates and dives into what changes website owners can expect from the March 2024 update. Let’s get updated.

Google Algorithm Updates: History And Overview

Google’s algorithm has evolved quite significantly from its inception. Early updates focused on basic factors like keyword spam and link manipulation to surface more authentic and relevant results. Over time, user signals like click-through data began guiding the algorithm.

In 2010, Google introduced its initial PageRank algorithm that assessed over 200 signals to understand websites.
Subsequent major updates included Panda (2011) and Penguin (2012), which targeted low-quality, duplicate, and thin content sites.
Mobilegeddon (2015) heralded the rise of mobile and brought responsive design into focus.
Core updates (2017) incorporated user behavior data while passing authority to help/harm relationships between pages.
Recent years saw a shift towards experience with updates factoring speed, interactivity, and security.
Google’s Page Experience Update launch was quite a significant milestone. It evaluated whether pages were helpful, harmless, and honest for users.
Metrics like Core Web Vitals and page experience signals took centerstage.
Moving ahead, Google is focused on building “helpful, harmless, and honest” experiences for searchers.

What Is the Google Algorithm Update in March 2024 All About?

In March 2024, Google will make Interaction to Next Paint (INP) its third Core Web Vitals metric instead of First Input Delay (FID). As of March 12, FID will no longer be considered in page experience evaluation. According to Google’s timeline, INP has been in the experimental phase since early 2022 and will now be fully implemented.

INP measures the time between a user’s first interaction with a page and when its visual content finishes rendering or draws its next visual change. Higher INP values imply slower responses for user interactions like clicks, taps, or screen swipes. Google recommends websites aim for an INP under 300 milliseconds.

Along with Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), INP will assess interactivity and how responsive pages feel to users. Sites failing to optimize for this updated Core Web Vitals metric may see rankings and traffic impacted if the experience is not up to Google’s standards. The transition gives website owners more than two months to address INP issues.

So, the March 2024 Google algorithm update will wrap up the shift to INP as a Core Web Vitals standard. Speed, responsiveness and interactivity will take on heightened importance for search and user experience moving forward. Optimization work is recommended to meet Google’s INP guidelines and thresholds.

What is the latest Google update in 2024? Is It Real?

Websites made with Google Business Profiles will be turned off – In March 2024, websites created using Google Business Profiles will stop functioning. Businesses need to update their profiles with new custom websites.

Chat with a Live Agent’ snippet –

Google may introduce a new rich result formatted as a ‘Chat with a Live Agent’ button for customer support pages to provide instant assistance to users. Businesses must ensure proper implementation of chat plugins and markup.

Updated SEO Starter Guide –

Google’s annual SEO starter guide is expected to be revised with new recommendations and best practices based on ongoing algorithm changes and user behavior trends. It will help optimize websites for upcoming changes.

New ways to search –

Google may introduce novel search techniques like conversational search using advanced AI capabilities. Businesses need to optimize for such evolving search patterns.

Focus on user experience –

Google will likely emphasize quick loading times, intuitive designs and seamless interactions to enhance the overall user experience on websites. Proper UX optimization will thus gain more importance.

Mobile-first indexing –

Google will continue expanding mobile-first indexing where the mobile version of a website gets primacy in search results. Ensuring an optimized responsive design is crucial.

Page Experience Update –

As per the January 2024 article, Google may further strengthen the previously introduced Page Experience signal by March 2024. Factors like Load Speed, Interactivity and Site UX will be critical ranking determinants.

So, these are the aspects that are going to be covered in the Google algorithm update in 2024. If you are thinking how you can optimize your website according to these updates, then the below segment can make things easy for you. Read on.

Steps To Optimise Your Website According to Google’s Algorithm 2024

Below pointers can help you understand how to optimise your website according to Google’s algorithm updates in 2024. Read on.

Keyword Research:

Identify priority long-tail keywords relevant to intent and search volume for optimal targeting.

High-Quality Content:

Develop at least 1500 words of educational, unique, and keyword-optimized content per page describing business products/services.

Mobile-Friendliness:

Implement a responsive web design testing across devices for seamless navigation and reading experience on mobile.

On-Page SEO:

Optimize page titles, meta descriptions, headings, internal linking, etc. tailored for users and search engines.

Secure and Accessible Website:

Ensure HTTPS implementation, compliance with ADA accessibility standards, and streamlined site architecture.

Page Speed:

Minify code, optimize images, leverage a content delivery network, and remove unnecessary plugins to load pages within 2 seconds.

Backlink Building:

Get natural, contextual links from authoritative sources to pass PageRank and strengthen domain authority.

Content Updates:

Publish at least 2-3 well-optimized blog posts monthly to maintain freshness and engagement.

Local SEO:

Claim, verify and optimize business profiles across local directories and maps for local visibility boost.

Comply with Google Guidelines:

Avoid deceptive practices, ensure transparency, and provide a positive user experience as per Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.

Monitoring and Analysis:

Regular audits of log files, analytic reports and search console to identify flaws and implement improvements.

How to Find Out If The Website Is Affected By Google Algorithm?

There are a few ways to check if a website has been impacted by a Google algorithm:

Search analytics tools like Semrush or Ahrefs show traffic/ranking fluctuations.
Google Search Console reports indicating traffic/impression drops and new
manual penalties.
Analytics platform showing a decrease in organic sessions from Google.
Logs showing crawl errors that were previously absent.
Pages vanishing/reappearing from SERPs unpredictably.
Feedback from links/traffic sources about technical issues or outdated content.
Symptoms like lower click-through rates and longer time-to-first-byte impact user experience.

Regular monitoring and comparison against past benchmarks can provide early alerts to investigate algorithm effects and correct issues promptly.

Factors That Impact Google Search Ranking Results 2024

There are several crucial factors that determine how Google will rank websites in its algorithm updates:

Meaning:

Google aims to understand the true intent and meanings behind searches to surface most helpful information. Optimizing for intent through keyword research and naturally written content helps rank higher.

Relevance:

Landing pages must answer user queries comprehensively with appropriately titled informative sections. Irrelevant pages confuse users and receive lower scores.

Quality:

Well-researched, unique material comprised of factual statements and quality external sources establishes authority and trust. Low-quality spammy pages rank poorly.

Usability:

Intuitive information architecture, streamlined navigation and well-segmented content boosts usability. Difficult-to-use sites undermine the search experience.

Context:

How pages relate to and contribute value within their topical domains and industries matters a lot. Isolated pages lacking context fail to impress algorithms.

With continual refinements, Google aims to reward websites delivering positive experiences aligned with its guiding principles. Maintaining expertise through high rule compliance gains an edge.

Conclusion

The March 2024 Google algorithm update will focus extensively on user-centric factors to assess website quality and relevance. Businesses need thorough technical and content-based optimizations as per the recommendations provided. Regular monitoring and analysis help stay updated with changes. Maintaining best practices meeting evolving search behaviors and technologies ensures sustainable organic visibility in the long run.

Technical Agile Testing Methodology – Life Cycle, Benefits, and Best Practices

Posted on by Ketan Patel

Agile Testing Methodology is a dynamic and iterative approach to software testing that aligns closely with the principles of agile software development. It emphasizes flexibility, team collaboration, and customer satisfaction. This comprehensive guide delves into the life cycle of Agile testing, outlines its numerous benefits, and shares best practices to enhance your testing process.

Introduction to Agile Testing Methodology

In fast software development, Agile Testing is an example of efficiency and adaptability. Agile Testing is not like traditional testing. It is woven into Agile development. It fosters seamless collaboration between developers and testers. This approach improves the final product. It also ensures it fits the customer’s changing needs.

The Agile Testing Life Cycle

Pre-Sprint Activities

Before the sprint, Agile testing involves planning. We prepare test cases based on user stories. This phase is crucial for setting the stage for a successful sprint.

Sprint Activities

During the sprint, testing occurs in parallel with development. Testers and developers work together. They ensure quick identification and resolution of issues.

Post-Sprint Activities

After the sprint, the focus shifts to retesting. We will also explore any issues left unresolved. This ensures that the software remains robust and reliable.

The Agile Software Testing Life Cycle

Understanding the Agile Software Testing Life Cycle is pivotal for any software development team striving for excellence. This cycle, often referred to as the Test Life Cycle in Agile, is not a standalone phase but rather a series of activities that align with the Agile methodology’s iterative nature. Let’s break down these activities to gain a full understanding of the process.

Pre-Sprint Testing Activities

Before the sprint commences, the testing life cycle in Agile methodology starts with a preparatory phase. Here, test plans are created based on user stories, ensuring that the team has a clear understanding of the requirements and the testing scope for the upcoming sprint.

Sprint Testing Activities

Once the sprint begins, the core of the software testing life cycle Agile teams follow kicks into high gear. During this phase, testing and development proceed hand in hand in a continuous and collaborative manner. Daily stand-ups and frequent communication ensure that the sprint’s objectives are met with quality and efficiency.

Continuous Integration and Testing

A cornerstone of the Agile Software Testing Life Cycle is the practice of continuous integration, where code changes are automatically tested as they are integrated into the repository. This approach minimizes the integration issues that can occur and underscores the testing life cycle in Agile as an ongoing, dynamic process.

Release and Regression Testing

At the end of the sprint, the focus shifts to regression testing—ensuring new changes haven’t adversely affected existing functionality. The test life cycle in Agile emphasizes that regression testing is crucial for maintaining product integrity before release.

Post-Sprint Review and Retrospective Testing

Following the sprint, Agile teams engage in retrospectives to reflect on the testing processes used. They discuss what went well and what could be improved, demonstrating that the testing life cycle in Agile methodology is not just about executing tests but also about continual learning and process enhancement.

By adhering to these stages of the Agile Software Testing Life Cycle, teams can ensure a robust, responsive, and efficient approach to testing that complements the Agile framework’s fast-paced and customer-centric nature.

Core Principles of Agile Testing

Continuous Feedback: Agile Testing thrives on feedback. It’s the lifeline that ensures the product is moving in the right direction. It meets both the team’s and customers’ expectations.

In Agile Testing, barriers between developers and testers dissolve. This fosters a culture of unity and shared responsibility.

Adaptability: The ability to adapt to changes is at the heart of Agile Testing. This flexibility allows teams to pivot . They do so in response to customer feedback or project shifts.

Benefits of Agile Testing Methodology

Enhanced Quality

Agile Testing integrated testing throughout the development cycle. It ensures a higher quality product. We find and fix issues early.

Faster Time to Market

Agile Testing speeds up development. It allows faster releases and quicker responses to market demands.

Increased Stakeholder Engagement

Agile Testing encourages stakeholder involvement. It ensures the product meets their needs.

Best Practices in Agile Testing

Implementing Test Automation

Automation is key to Agile Testing. It frees up time for complex, exploratory testing.

Fostering a Collaborative Team Environment

Creating a culture is vital. In this culture, every team member feels responsible for product quality. This is essential for Agile Testing success.

Emphasizing Continuous Improvement

Agile Testing is not about finding bugs. It’s about always seeking ways to improve processes, tools, and team dynamics.

Agile Testing Strategies

Using strategies like TDD, BDD, and ATDD ensures that testing is part of development. They boost quality and efficiency.

Tools and Technologies for Agile Testing

The right tools can improve Agile Testing. Automation tools streamline testing. Collaboration tools enhance team communication.

Challenges in Agile Testing

Agile Testing has benefits. But, it also presents challenges. These include managing changing requirements and ensuring test coverage. Understanding and addressing these challenges is key to successful Agile Testing.

Case Studies: Agile Testing in Action

Real-world examples of Agile Testing show it works. It delivers high-quality software products and offers valuable lessons and insights.

The Future of Agile Testing

The software development landscape keeps changing. Agile Testing will adapt and work with new trends like DevOps. It will play a key role in the future of software development.

Conclusion

Agile Testing Methodology is more than a testing approach. It’s a mindset that stresses flexibility, collaboration, and customer satisfaction. By embracing its principles and adopting best practices, teams can overcome its challenges. They can achieve higher quality, faster deliveries, and greater stakeholder satisfaction. The testing team is instrumental in realizing these benefits, embodying the principles of Agile Testing in their day-to-day work.