More Than Just a Score

Lighthouse is a powerful, open-source tool developed by Google. It is used to audit your web pages quality by taking into account its performance, accessibility, use of best practices and search engine optimisation. It's like a comprehensive health check, assigning an overall score to your website.

While Google hasn't explicitly confirmed Lighthouse score as a direct ranking factor the correlation is undeniable. A website that loads fast, is accessible, and follows best practices inherently offers a better user experience. And Google prioritises user experience.

How to Generate Your Lighthouse Score

There are several ways to generate your Lighthouse score, but here are the two most common options.

• Using Chrome DevTools. This is the most common method. Open Chrome DevTools (usually by right-clicking anywhere on the page and selecting "Inspect") and navigate to the Lighthouse tab. You can then choose to audit the entire page or specific elements.
• PageSpeed Insights. This free tool from Google allows you to analyse any web page directly in your browser. Simply enter the URL you want to test and click "Analyse."

Core Web Vitals

A key component of Lighthouse is its assessment of Core Web Vitals - a set of metrics that directly impact user experience.

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP). How quickly the main content of a page loads
• First Input Delay (FID). How responsive a page is to user interactions
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). How stable the page is visually

Google has explicitly stated that Core Web Vitals are a ranking factor. By optimising for these metrics, which Lighthouse evaluates, you're directly influencing your website's search visibility.

The Broader Benefits of Lighthouse

A high Lighthouse score isn't just about SEO, it's about creating a better website for your end users. Faster loading times, improved accessibility, and smooth interactions all contribute to a more satisfying and engaging experience for visitors, which can lead to higher conversions (more purchases or sign-ups).

Additionally, optimising for performance with Lighthouse can result in cost savings through reduced server load and bandwidth usage. The positive impact extends to your brand reputation as well, with a well-performing website reflecting positively on your business.

How to Leverage Lighthouse for Success

By making Lighthouse a core part of your website optimisation strategy, you're not just chasing a higher ranking, you're building a better website that delivers exceptional user experiences and drives business growth.

Remember, While Lighthouse is a valuable tool, it's essential to combine it with other SEO best practices and a deep understanding of your target audience.