Addressing Cumulative Layout Shift Effectively: Blog Update by a Web Design Business for Law Firms
You’re working hard on your law firm’s website, and suddenly, everything shifts. The content jumps around as the page loads, making it tricky for clients to click and read without frustration. That’s cumulative layout shift (CLS) for you. This can drive visitors away faster than you can say “back button”. CLS isn’t just an annoyance; it affects your site’s user experience and even your search ranking. For a profession like law, where trust is your currency, a smooth and stable website matters more than you might think.
Before you dive into fixing CLS on your law site, it helps to know what’s causing the problem. Whether it’s images without set dimensions or ad spaces loading late, each issue needs addressing. This guide goes through what CLS is, why it matters, and how you can take action. If you need more help beyond this guide, consider reaching out to an experienced Web Design Agency who know the ins and outs of law firm marketing.
Understand What Causes CLS
The first step in tackling CLS on your website is grasping what’s behind it. All unplanned layout shifts during a loading cycle count towards CLS. Think oversized images, slow-loading elements, or dynamic content that doesn’t reserve space before loading. Understanding these causes helps you know where to focus your improvement efforts.
Get to Know Your Web Vitals
Not only should you look at CLS, but also get familiar with Web Vitals. Core Web Vitals help you see how your website’s performance stacks up. You can check scores using Google’s PageSpeed Insights. Look at metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and First Input Delay (FID) too — all are crucial for the full picture of your site’s health.
Optimise Your Images
Images may look great, but if they cause content to jump, they’re part of the CLS problem. You can set width and height attributes on your images to ensure they take up the correct space before they load. If your site uses different sized images, consider CSS solutions like aspect-ratio boxes to maintain layout stability on different devices.
Nail Down Your Fonts
When a fancy font doesn’t load and switches mid-read, it throws everything off balance. You might want to serve system fonts first or use Web Font Loader to control how fonts load. By reducing the FOIT (Flash of Invisible Text) and FOUT (Flash of Unstyled Text), you can help settle the user’s experience quickly.
Prioritise Ad Placement
Adverts are tricky. They need their spots but shouldn’t mess with your layout once they appear. Plan where ads will land and block adequate space for them as your page loads. Work closely with your marketing team to ensure the placement makes sense and doesn’t impact the usability of your site.
Correct Layout Shifts with CSS
CSS can be your best mate here. Consider applying transforms to stable elements when they load up. Doing so prevents them from bumping around when other content is brought onto the page. CSS Grid or Flexbox can offer flexible but stable layout options, maintaining the design and flow you intended.
Keep Scripts in Check
Scripts that load later can lead to unexpected shifts. Manage your scripts by deferring non-essential ones to ensure they load after the main content. Prioritise scripts that can’t be deferred so features your users need are ready when they arrive.
Test and Monitor Regularly
Once you’ve made your changes, put them through tests. Tools like Google Lighthouse can help you see if your adjustments work. Ongoing monitoring lets you stay on top of any shifts that sneak back in. Regular checks help maintain a consistent and reliable user experience over time.
If working through these steps feels overwhelming, or you need professional help, you might consider investing in Web Design for Law Firms. Experts can help optimise your site to keep users engaged and on your pages, making your online presence a powerful tool in your client acquisition strategy.
