KPI ExamplesFirst Input Delay

First Input Delay

First Input Delay (FID) measures the delay between a user’s initial action on a webpage and the moment the browser starts processing this action. This metric gives a quantifiable measure of a web page’s speed and responsiveness.
First Input Delay

Enhance User Experience

Analyze FID to improve the overall user experience and ensure smooth website interactions.

Ensure SEO Optimization

Use FID data to enhance search rankings and overall SEO performance.

Benchmark FID Performance

Compare scores against competitors to gauge performance and make improvements.

Link To Conversions

Correlate FID with conversion rates to understand how response time impacts user actions.

Responsiveness in Focus

Why First Input Delay Is Important

FID is an early indicator of a user's experience and overall satisfaction. A low FID means a website is responsive and engaging from the outset. Even split-second delays lead to frustration. That means a FID score makes all the difference between a user staying or exiting.

Additionally, FID is particularly important for websites that prioritize interactive features. In such contexts, a high FID hampers the user experience and may signal underlying site optimization issues. 

FID is all about enhancing site responsiveness and ensuring the seamless loading of website elements. Ultimately, a good FID leads to a more positive user experience.

Why KPIs are Important

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Web Performance Spotlight

How First Input Delay Relates To Other KPIs

FID is closely intertwined with several key performance indicators, such as Page Load Time. If a page takes too long to render in its entirety, it leads to a higher FID and a slower user experience. 

Furthermore, FID influences metrics like Bounce Rate and Conversion Rate. A high FID often increases Bounce Rates as users will likely exit unresponsive pages. This leads to a negative impact on Conversion Rates. 

Alternatively, a low FID time may enhance Engagement Rate, leading to more interaction and higher conversion opportunities. In essence, FID is a critical metric in understanding and optimizing a website user's journey.

Image Illustrating How KPIs Interact
Influencing Performance

Key Factors Impacting First Input Delay

First Input Delay, a core web vitals metric, is key to measuring the time between user input and browser response. It's a direct measure of input latency, crucial for understanding how quickly a web page will process user input. For example, the complexity of JavaScript code on a page significantly influences the First Input Delay score. Heavier JavaScript blocks the browser's main thread, leading to increased input delays.

Additionally, the type of user interaction plays a role. Whether it’s a click, scroll, or keystroke, the nature of the first user interaction will affect the input delay scores. Pages with complex or numerous elements usually take longer to respond to these interactions.

KPI Definitions - Other Factors to Consider
Formula

How To Calculate First Input Delay

Measuring FID means capturing the time difference between a user's first interaction with a page and the browser's response. Considered as one of the top core web vitals metrics, First Input Delay scores are typically recorded in milliseconds. Tracking FID under real-world conditions is essential, as it varies based on different factors like device type and network conditions. Tools like Google's Lighthouse help measure FID automatically.

First Input Delay Formula Example

First Input Delay
=
Time of response to interaction
-
Time of user's first interaction

What Is a Good Time for First Input Delay?

A good FID time is typically under 100 milliseconds from when a user interacts with a web page. This benchmark indicates a responsive and user-friendly website where interactions are processed almost instantaneously. 

Achieving a low FID score positively contributes to user experience and engagement. Aim for this range to ensure that users encounter a minimal delay while increasing the likelihood of positive interactions.

What Is a Bad Time for First Input Delay?

A poor FID time is over 300 milliseconds, which means there’s a lag in website responsiveness. This delay often leads to negative user experiences, higher Bounce Rates, and reduced Engagement Rates.

A high FID time should be immediately addressed to improve site performance. Improving FID involves optimizing key elements like JavaScript, server response, and images. 

How To Set First Input Delay Benchmarks and Goals

To set benchmarks and goals for FID, start with industry standards–below 100 milliseconds is ideal, and above 300 milliseconds is poor. Analyze historical FID data to establish a realistic baseline, then set incremental goals for gradual improvement (e.g., moving FID from 400ms to 300ms).

Segment FID data by device type, location, and demographics for more custom targets. Also, correlate FID with other KPIs like Conversion Rate to understand its impact on revenue. Over time, continuously monitor and update FID targets to ensure they stay relevant.

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Why First Input Delay Matters to Clients

FID is a critical metric that directly impacts the user experience on client websites. Since First Input Delay measures the responsiveness of a page, a low FID is ideal since it indicates a seamless interaction. A smooth, fast-loading website encourages users to stay longer, explore more, and take desired actions (e.g., fulfilling an online purchase). 

It’s especially important since any time delay–even a few milliseconds–may lead to lost engagement or revenue.

Why KPIs Matter to Clients
Responsiveness in Focus

Why First Input Delay Matters to Agencies

For agencies, a low FID showcases expertise in optimizing website performance. It demonstrates technical proficiency in creating fast and responsive websites. FID is also a useful diagnostic tool to guide technical optimizations, inform content strategies, and uncover other areas for improvement. Optimizing FID helps agencies to drive more traffic while setting the stage for meaningful user interactions. This leads to more tangible results and builds agency-client relationships in the process.

Why Marketing KPIs Matter to Agencies

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Best Practices When Analyzing and Reporting on First Input Delay

Effective reporting on FID is necessary for understanding website performance–here are a few best practices to follow.

1

Segment by Device Type

Differentiate FID data across mobile devices, tablets, and desktops. Use this to understand how the website performs on various platforms.

2

Incorporate User Feedback

Combine quantitative FID data with qualitative user feedback to gain a comprehensive view of the user experience.

3

Include Geographic Segmentation

Break down FID by region to identify location-specific performance issues. FID discrepancies could be tied to server locations or local internet speeds.

4

Analyze Impact on Key User Journeys

Focus on how FID affects critical user paths, such as the checkout process or sign-up flows.

5

Highlight Correlation With Conversion Rates

Draw connections between FID improvements and changes in Conversion Rates. This approach shows the impact of a responsive site.

6

Recommend Actions for FID Enhancement

Offer clear, practical steps for improving FID times (e.g., optimizing image sizes or changing servers).

AgencyAnalytics helps us make informed, data-driven decisions about website performance by providing us with real-time data and analytics. This allows us to optimize our strategies and tactics more effectively, leading to better results for our clients and agency.
Daniel Dye, Native Rank
Reporting on First Input Delay

Google Lighthouse Dashboard Example

Explore the Google Lighthouse dashboard in AgencyAnalytics to see FID in a reporting context. Google’s Core Web Vitals–First Input Delay, Largest Contentful Paint, and Cumulative Layout Shift–are visually displayed in an interactive graph. This real-time dashboard provides an in-depth look at website performance along with other key metrics. Scroll down to the detailed summary of website errors and their respective categories for a more granular breakdown. Customize this dashboard by rearranging widgets, adding notes, and importing data from across 80 different platforms.
Google Lighthouse KPI Dashboard Example
Helpful Tips

How To Improve First Input Delay

Enhancing FID is crucial for a better user experience and website performance–here are three targeted strategies to adopt.

1

Optimize Server Response

Improve server response times by revisiting configurations, using efficient database queries, and implementing caching.

2

Remove Unnecessary Scripts

Evaluate and remove non-essential third-party scripts that significantly slow down website response times.

3

Implement Lazy Loading

Utilize lazy loading for images and non-critical content. This ensures that these elements are loaded only when needed.

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