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August 21.2025
3 Minutes Read

How Lazy Loading Can Delay Your Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and What to Do About It

Podcast cover on lazy loading and SEO impact with Google branding.

Understanding Lazy Loading and Its Impact on User Experience

In the fast-paced digital landscape, optimizing website performance is paramount for ensuring a smooth user experience. Recently, Google's Martin Splitt emphasized the complexities surrounding lazy loading—especially regarding its effect on Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), a significant metric in measuring webpage loading speed. Lazy loading, a technique that delays loading images until they are needed, can inadvertently push back the rendering time for crucial visual elements if misapplied. When large images above the fold are set to load lazily, they can disrupt your perceived loading performance, leading to frustration among visitors.

Why LCP Matters for SEO

LCP is not just a technical standard; it's a crucial factor in SEO. Websites that load slowly can suffer in rankings, impacting visibility and driving potential customers away. Splitt revealed that default settings in certain content management systems can lead to settings that prioritize loading scripts and styles over visible images, making LCP a genuine concern for developers. A slower LCP not only harms user satisfaction but can lead to significant drops in traffic.

Real-World Implications of Lazy Loading

A case study provided by Splitt highlights the impact of lazy loading on Google’s own developers' site. Here, the default setting caused critical above-the-fold images to delay in fetching, significantly raising the LCP time. This scenario serves as a cautionary tale for other developers who might be tempted to apply lazy loading indiscriminately. The consequence? A jumble of images loading late that could lead users to abandon the site in frustration.

Strategies for Effective Image Management on Websites

To counter the risks associated with lazy loading, Splitt recommends utilizing native loading attributes inherent in modern browsers, which effectively manage resource priority without the overhead of complex JavaScript. This key insight points towards prioritizing images crucial for user engagement over merely following outdated practices of universal lazy loading.

Checking Your Site for Best Practices

Developers are urged to utilize Google's Search Console's URL Inspection tool to confirm that their above-the-fold images load correctly and are recognized by search engines. This simple step can ensure that images are being requested with the right priority, potentially saving countless hours of troubleshooting. Splitt's advice to avoid relying on the visual screenshot has powerful implications—true verification requires looking at the actual HTML rendered by Google.

Fostering Better Practices in Web Development

As technology continues to evolve, understanding the nuances of performance metrics can provide developers with the tools they need to optimize their websites for both user experience and search engine visibility. By prioritizing images that enhance user interaction and leveraging native browser capabilities for lazy loading, developers can strike the vital balance between speed and functionality.

This evolving conversation on lazy loading and LCP is just a glimpse into the larger world of technical SEO strategies. By actively engaging with these trends and employing best practices, web developers can better manage performance and maintain positive user experiences. As we move into a more digital age, understanding these elements will be crucial in staying competitive in the tech landscape.

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10.31.2025

Agentic Browsers Are Revolutionizing Digital Marketing: What You Need to Know

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How to Manage Stakeholders Through Google Algorithm Updates

Learn practical strategies for managing stakeholders during Google algorithm updates while ensuring long-term SEO success.

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Google Chrome Will Warn Users Of Insecure HTTP Sites: What to Expect

Update Chrome’s New Security Protocol: What You Need to Know In a significant step towards enhancing web security, Google has announced that Chrome will automatically enable the "Always Use Secure Connections" feature starting October 2026. This means that users will receive warnings before accessing any public website that does not use HTTPS encryption. The move comes as part of Google's ongoing initiatives to bolster online safety and protect users from potential threats associated with unencrypted HTTP connections. Why HTTPS Matters HTTPS, which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, ensures that communications between your web browser and the website are encrypted. This encryption is crucial for protecting sensitive data from potential hijackers and other malicious entities looking to exploit vulnerabilities in unsecured networks. Studies show that HTTPS adoption has increased markedly, with 95-99% of web sessions on Chrome using secure connections. However, the remaining fraction still represents millions of unsecured navigations that could lead to serious security risks. User Experience Under the New Protocol With the implementation of the new warning system, Chrome will not bombard users with repeated warnings for sites they frequently visit, instead limiting notifications to less frequently accessed pages. This approach reduces annoyance while still keeping users informed of potential security risks. Approximately, users will only see a couple of warnings per week, striking a balance between ensuring security and maintaining a smooth browsing experience. Future Implications for Website Owners For website owners operating HTTP-only sites, the clock is ticking. By October 2026, all website operators will need to assess their security protocols and migrate to HTTPS to prevent security warnings that could deter visitors. Google’s push for HTTPS adoption aims to close invisible security gaps, especially since many websites still use HTTP primarily for redirects. Testing the New Security Feature Website developers and IT professionals are encouraged to enable the “Always Use Secure Connections” feature in Chrome settings today to get familiar with potential impacts on site traffic. By doing this, users can identify sites that may need immediate attention before the official rollout in 2026. This proactive approach not only enhances user safety but also reflects well on reputations, as a secure site fosters trust among visitors. Looking Ahead: A Safer Browsing Environment As digital threats continue to evolve, Google’s decision to make secure connections the default setting signifies a broader trend towards prioritizing user safety in the online environment. While currently the move targets public websites, discussions are ongoing to improve HTTPS adoption even for private sites, making it critical for everyone involved in digital platforms to stay aware of these changes.

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