Strategies to Mitigate Cumulative Layout Shift: Content Piece by a Web Design Agency for Travel Agents
If you’ve ever visited a website and found that things move around unexpectedly, you’ve experienced Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). This can be more than just an annoyance. On a travel agent’s website, it can interfere with bookings, discourage users from further exploring your offerings, and might even drive them away. Delight users with a seamless, consistent, and stable webpage. That’s where a knowledgeable Web Design Agency can make a difference.
Understanding the basics of CLS is important. It involves any visible movement of content that changes frame-by-frame. For so many users on a travel site, who are planning experiences or making bookings, these shifts aren’t just irksome; they might lead to inadvertently clicking on wrong links or buttons. Let’s explore some practical actions you can take to reduce CLS, improve your user experience, and keep travellers coming back.
Stabilise Your Images and Media Elements
Image dimensions are often the unseen force behind layout shifts. Ever loaded a page and watched text or buttons backtrack as images finally slot into place? Solving this is straightforward. Always include width and height attributes in your images’ HTML tag. This pre-allocates space so that when images load, they’re not bumping content around. Utilize aspect ratios to more effectively allocate real estate in advance.
Optimising Font Loading
Web fonts are visually appealing, but they can cause noticeable shifts if not handled properly. Employ font loading strategies that don’t affect layout. Use ‘font-display: swap;’ in your CSS rules. This tells the browser to display a fallback font until the custom font is ready. Also, watch out for flash of invisible text (FOIT), which can lead to consumers waiting to see your content. Preload critical fonts for instant impressions.
Handle Ad Content Gracefully
Adverts can be a major contributor to layout shifts. Allocate a designated area for ads to reduce on-the-fly layout changes. Consider implementing placeholder containers for elements like ads. This ensures your content’s integrity when these elements eventually load. Consistently monitor and audit ads for their loading patterns and impact.
Deploy Skeleton Screens
Skeleton screens provide a snapshot of how content will eventually look, guiding users while pages load. Implementing a skeleton screen instead of a spinner or loading icon lets users know what stays where. This visually stable approach keeps potential holidaymakers engaged while waiting for the full experience to reveal itself.
Leverage Lazy Loading for Off-Screen Elements
You may have content that isn’t immediately visible when a page loads. Lazy loading images and other non-crucial elements will reserve their impact for later moments when they come into view. Thus, conserving bandwidth and reducing layout shifts at the top of your pages, ensuring a smooth, satisfying scroll as users explore.
Check Your Third-Party Widgets
Widgets from third-party services, like chat boxes or booking tools, can interfere if not optimized. Always evaluate their impact on your CLS scores. If a widget contributes to shifts, consider counterbalancing the disturbance with static elements or employing a staggered load that presents content reliably.
Review and Measure Your Efforts
Understanding and consistently monitoring your CLS score is key. Use tools like Lighthouse in Chrome DevTools to track changes and improve. Regular review sets a proactive maintenance rhythm, ensuring you adapt to shifting web standards and consumer expectations. Prioritise consistency and lean into expert guidance when needed.
Whether you’re building a fresh travel booking site or revamping your current one, these steps are vital for a smooth, shift-free user experience. If it sounds like a bit much, consider consulting with a professional. Learn more about getting expert help with Web Design for Travel Agents for guidance and insight tailored to your business needs.
