The lag time before JavaScript content becomes visible to search engines, sometimes delaying indexing.
Why a JavaScript Execution Delay Matters
A JavaScript execution delay is a major SEO problem because it directly impacts a website’s crawl budget and rendering budget. A search engine has a finite amount of time and resources to crawl a site. If a search engine crawler visits your website and finds that every page requires a significant amount of time to execute JavaScript, it may simply not get to all of your pages. This can lead to a long delay in indexing new content and a failure to re-index important updates to existing pages. A well-optimized JavaScript site is one that uses its rendering budget efficiently, ensuring that all its important pages are rendered and indexed.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of a JavaScript execution delay depends on your CMS and how you build your site.
WordPress
WordPress’s default structure is not a JavaScript-heavy site, so it is naturally SEO-friendly. However, if you are building a custom front-end with a JavaScript framework on top of a WordPress backend, you must use a server-side rendering (SSR) approach to ensure that your pages are crawled and indexed without any delay.
Shopify
Shopify’s standard themes are also not JavaScript-heavy, which is great for SEO. If you are using a headless commerce approach with a JavaScript framework, you must use a server-side rendering approach to ensure all your product pages are crawled and indexed without any delay.
Wix
Wix has a closed system, so you typically don’t have to worry about a JavaScript execution delay. The platform’s system is designed to handle its dynamic content in a way that is compliant with search engine guidelines.
Webflow
Webflow generates clean, semantic HTML that is highly SEO-friendly. While you can add your own JavaScript, the core content is always rendered on the server, which prevents a JavaScript execution delay from becoming a major issue.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control and can build a system that is perfectly optimized for a search engine’s rendering budget by using a server-side rendering (SSR) approach. This is the most effective way to ensure that all your pages are rendered and indexed without any delay.
Across Different Industries
A JavaScript execution delay is a concern for all industries that use dynamic content.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites often use a JavaScript framework for a fast and modern user experience. It is crucial to ensure that all your product and category pages are rendered and indexed, as a failure to do so can lead to a significant loss of organic traffic and sales.
Local Businesses
Local businesses may use a JavaScript framework for their website to create a fast and seamless user experience. It is crucial to ensure that their key pages, like their location, hours, and contact information, are easily crawlable and indexable for local search.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies often use a JavaScript framework for their marketing pages and dashboards. It is crucial to ensure that their marketing pages are rendered and indexed, while their user dashboards can remain a client-side rendered application.
Blogs
Blogs built with a JavaScript framework can suffer from a limited rendering budget. It is critical for all articles to be rendered and indexed, which is a major factor in organic traffic.
Do’s and Don’ts for a JavaScript Execution Delay
Do’s
- Do use a server-side rendering (SSR) or pre-rendering solution. This is the gold standard for JavaScript SEO.
- Do use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console. This tool will show you how Google sees your pages and how long it takes to render them.
- Do use async and defer attributes. These attributes can help improve your page speed by loading your JavaScript files asynchronously.
Don’ts
- Don’t use a pure client-side rendering (CSR) approach. This is the number one mistake and can lead to a page having little to no visibility in search results.
- Don’t use JavaScript to hide your content. This can lead to a penalty and a loss of organic traffic.
- Don’t use a JavaScript-only pagination. This can lead to a significant portion of your content being invisible to search engines.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- A lack of server-side rendering (SSR) or pre-rendering: This is the most common and devastating mistake.
- Having a slow rendering speed: A slow rendering speed can lead to a limited rendering budget.
- Failing to check for JavaScript errors: A single JavaScript error can prevent a search engine from rendering your page.
FAQs
How does a JavaScript execution delay affect my website’s crawl budget?
A JavaScript execution delay affects your crawl budget because a search engine has a finite amount of time and resources to crawl your site. If a search engine crawler spends too much time rendering your pages, it may not get to all of them, which can lead to a lower indexation rate.
What is the difference between a JavaScript execution delay and page speed?
Page speed is the time it takes for a page to load for a user. A JavaScript execution delay is the time it takes for a search engine to render a page. They are related, but not the same.
What are the key differences between JavaScript Execution Delay and Crawl Budget?
A JavaScript execution delay is the time it takes for a search engine to render a page. Crawl budget is the number of pages a search engine will crawl in a given period. A JavaScript execution delay can lead to a lower crawl budget.
How can I test for a JavaScript execution delay?
You can use the URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console to see how long it takes for a search engine to render your page. You can also use a tool like Google PageSpeed Insights to see how long it takes for your pages to load.
What is the best way to prevent a JavaScript execution delay?
The best way is to use a server-side rendering (SSR) or a pre-rendering solution. This ensures that a search engine crawler always receives a fully-formed HTML page.
