~ 1 min read

How to Improve Cumulative Layout Shift in Shopify.

How to Improve Cumulative Layout Shift in Shopify

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding Cumulative Layout Shift
  3. Common Causes of Cumulative Layout Shift
  4. Strategies to Improve Cumulative Layout Shift
  5. Monitoring and Testing Your Changes
  6. Conclusion
  7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Introduction

Have you ever tried to shop online, only to find that the product you were about to click on suddenly shifted out of place? This frustrating experience can be attributed to a phenomenon known as Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). In fact, according to Google, a poor CLS score can significantly affect user experience, leading to higher bounce rates and lower conversion rates. For e-commerce businesses using Shopify, understanding how to improve cumulative layout shift is not just a technical challenge; it's a necessity for enhancing user satisfaction and boosting sales.

Cumulative Layout Shift measures how much a webpage shifts unexpectedly during its loading phase. This metric is crucial because it directly impacts how users interact with a site. If elements on the page move as it loads—such as images, buttons, or text—users may find themselves clicking the wrong item or losing their place while reading. This not only frustrates potential customers but can also diminish their trust in your brand.

In this blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of CLS, explore its common causes, and provide actionable strategies for improving this essential metric on your Shopify store. From ensuring that images have designated space to optimizing third-party applications, we’ll cover everything you need to know to enhance your site's performance. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively minimize CLS and create a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

Let’s embark on this journey to better understand how to improve cumulative layout shift in Shopify and ultimately enhance your online store's user experience.

Understanding Cumulative Layout Shift

Cumulative Layout Shift is part of Google's Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics designed to evaluate the user experience of a website. CLS specifically measures the visual stability of a page. A high CLS score indicates that elements on the page shift during loading, which can lead to a negative user experience.

Why CLS Matters

  1. User Experience: A high CLS score can frustrate users, leading to a negative perception of your brand and potentially causing them to abandon their shopping cart.

  2. SEO Performance: Google uses CLS as a ranking factor in search engine results. Poor performance can affect your visibility and organic traffic.

  3. Conversion Rates: A seamless user experience correlates with higher conversion rates. If users can’t interact with your site smoothly, they’re less likely to make a purchase.

Measuring Cumulative Layout Shift

To measure CLS effectively, you can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, or the Web Vitals Chrome extension. These tools provide insights into your site's performance and highlight specific areas that need improvement.

Common Causes of Cumulative Layout Shift

Understanding the root causes of CLS is crucial for implementing effective solutions. Here are the most common factors that contribute to a high CLS score:

1. Images Without Dimensions

When images load on a page without defined width and height attributes, the browser does not know how much space to reserve for them. As a result, once the image loads, it pushes other elements down, causing a layout shift.

Solution: Always specify width and height attributes for images. If you’re using Shopify, consider leveraging the Liquid image_tag, which automatically includes these attributes in the HTML.

2. Injected Content

Many Shopify sites utilize third-party applications to add features like promotional banners or payment options. If these elements are loaded via JavaScript without predefined space, they can cause unexpected shifts in the layout.

Solution: Reserve space for injected content by applying CSS rules that set minimum heights or specific dimensions for these elements.

3. Late-Arriving CSS

If your CSS files are loaded asynchronously or only when required, it can lead to layout shifts as the styles are applied after the HTML content has rendered.

Solution: Ensure that critical CSS is loaded synchronously to prevent shifts. Avoid patterns that load CSS files asynchronously, especially for above-the-fold content.

4. Improper Animations

Animations that adjust the position of layout elements can lead to significant CLS. For example, a button expanding on hover can cause surrounding content to shift.

Solution: Use CSS transforms for animations, as they do not trigger layout recalculations. This method allows for smoother transitions without affecting the page’s layout.

5. Font Swapping

When web fonts are loaded and replace fallback fonts, it can lead to shifts in text layout, especially if the two fonts have different sizes.

Solution: Use font-display: swap in your CSS to control how fonts are displayed during loading. This practice helps maintain layout stability while fonts are being fetched.

Strategies to Improve Cumulative Layout Shift

Improving CLS requires a multifaceted approach. Here are some effective strategies that you can implement in your Shopify store to address the issues discussed above:

1. Specify Image Dimensions

Always define the width and height for all images. This practice helps the browser allocate the correct amount of space before the image loads.

  • Implementation: In your Shopify theme, ensure that every <img> tag includes width and height attributes. You can also use CSS to define maximum dimensions.

2. Reserve Space for Dynamic Content

For any third-party apps that inject content into your pages, make sure to define a minimum height or width.

  • Implementation: Use CSS to set a min-height for app blocks. For example:
.shopify-app-block {
    min-height: 50px; /* Adjust based on your app's content */
}

3. Optimize CSS Loading

Ensure that your CSS files are loaded in a way that minimizes layout shifts.

  • Implementation: Review your theme's CSS loading strategy and avoid lazy-loading for critical CSS. Instead, load essential styles upfront.

4. Refine Animation Techniques

Review how animations are applied to your site and ensure they do not affect the layout.

  • Implementation: Use CSS transforms instead of changing top, left, or margin properties for animations:
.element {
    transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}

5. Use Consistent Font Fallbacks

Select fallback fonts that closely match your web fonts to minimize shifts when the page loads.

  • Implementation: Define a similar fallback font in your CSS using the font-family property.
body {
    font-family: 'YourWebFont', 'Arial', sans-serif; /* Arial is a similar fallback */
}

Monitoring and Testing Your Changes

After implementing the improvements, it’s crucial to continuously monitor your site’s performance. Utilize tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and WebPageTest to assess your CLS score and track improvements over time. Make it a regular practice to test your site, especially after significant updates or changes in third-party apps.

Conclusion

Improving Cumulative Layout Shift is vital for enhancing user experience, boosting SEO rankings, and ultimately increasing conversion rates on your Shopify store. By understanding the common causes of CLS and implementing the strategies outlined in this post, you can create a smoother, more engaging shopping experience for your customers.

Investing time and resources into optimizing your site will not only satisfy your existing customers but also attract new ones, fostering long-term growth for your e-commerce business.

If you need assistance with implementing these strategies or wish to optimize your Shopify store further, consider consulting with Praella. Our team specializes in user experience and design, web and app development, and growth strategies tailored to enhance your online presence. Together, we can transform your store into a high-performing platform that meets both user expectations and business goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Cumulative Layout Shift?
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is a web performance metric that measures the visual stability of a webpage. It quantifies how much content shifts unexpectedly during loading.

2. Why is CLS important for my Shopify store?
A high CLS score can lead to user frustration, higher bounce rates, and lower conversion rates. It also affects your site's SEO performance, as Google considers CLS a ranking factor.

3. How can I measure my site's CLS score?
You can measure your site's CLS score using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, and the Web Vitals Chrome extension. These tools provide insights into your site's performance and highlight areas for improvement.

4. What are some quick fixes for improving CLS?
To quickly improve CLS, ensure that images have specified dimensions, reserve space for injected content, avoid lazy-loading CSS, and refine animations to prevent layout shifts.

5. Can Praella help me optimize my Shopify store?
Yes! Praella offers a range of services, including user experience and design, web and app development, and growth strategies tailored to enhance your online store's performance. Visit Praella's services for more information.


Previous
How to Improve Visual Stability on Shopify
Next
How to Improve Largest Contentful Paint on Shopify