NEWS
WordPress Gutenberg 10.1 Boosts Core Web Vitals
Gutenberg 10.1 is Released
WordPress announced the release of Gutenberg 10.1 and buried in all the little details of new features was an improvement that publishers have been waiting for.
Google is soon updating their algorithm to give a small ranking boost to sites that have a passing Core Web Vitals score.
Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that collectively describe whether a web page delivers a good or bad user experience when they visit the web page.
There is no in between score. A site can either pass or fail the Core Web Vitals test.
Web publishers have found it increasingly difficult to achieve a passing Core Web Vitals score because many of the issues that need solving are inherent to the content management system (like WordPress) and the themes and plugins that are used.
The official WordPress announcement about the newest version of Gutenberg (10.1) included many improvements but buried deep inside the announcement, in a section labeled Experiments, was this vaguely worded snippet:
“Experiments
Improve loading method for block styles.”
Not particularly descriptive. But those six words described an important update to how the WordPress Gutenberg site editor delivers style sheets on the front end, where it affects site visitors.
What is Gutenberg?
Gutenberg is a new way of building websites that aims to simplify the process of building websites. It’s kind of similar (but not exactly) to a “What You See is What You Get (WYSIWIG)” page builder interface.
The Gutenberg editor sets out to reimagine the website building process as one involving blocks of page elements.
For example, one block can be the header. The next block beneath the header can be the menu section. Beneath that block is the content block, followed by a footer block.
For the content area there are other blocks that can be used to create a huge variety of custom layouts. Gutenberg is a visual way of creating web pages by using pre-made layout pieces called blocks.
So if you need a contact form you can choose to drop in a contact form block. If you want to create columns within the content area you can choose a Columns block.
Screenshot of Gutenberg Content Blocks UI
The page builder interface is a popular way to create websites that will simplify the process. That way more publishers can create websites without having to worry about programming, freeing content publishers to focus more on the content and less on coding and plugins.
The Gutenberg Code Bloat that Was Fixed
Every Gutenberg block has style codes that are specific to each block. The style codes dictate how each block looks.
Previous to this update, sites created with Gutenberg loaded every style code for each block that can possibly be used, on every page of the website.
This meant that a giant file with code for every block was loaded on all pages, regardless if you used that block or not.
Excessive code can cause the page experience to degrade. The slower a page loads the worst the user experience becomes.
Slow loading web pages are frustrating and can cause a site to earn less.
Additionally, because on May 2021, fast web pages will have a slight advantage over slower web pages in the form of a ranking boost in Google, improving page speed performance is a big issue right now.
Gutenberg 10.1 Addresses Code Bloat
The latest version of Gutenberg fixes this problem. According to WordPress, the styling code for each block is relatively small. The solution they chose was to selectively load only the style code necessary for the blocks that are on a web page.
Even better, rather than create numerous style sheets that need to be downloaded for those pages, the necessary style codes are on the web page already.
This is called “inlining” the code and it’s a best practice for speeding up how fast a web page downloads.
WordPress described how they achieved this improvement:
“Since most blocks have fairly small stylesheets, it didn’t make sense to send requests to the server for these bite-sized styles.
To resolve this, the tiny stylesheets were inlined, further improving the performance by including everything the browser needs in a single request. Think of this as sending one text message covering a few topics, rather than writing a bunch of individual messages one after the other.”
Gutenberg 10.1 is a Speed Champ
The results of this small change are notable.
WordPress measure the before and after Core Web Vitals performance scores and the difference was overwhelmingly positive.
These are the Core Web Vitals score before the Gutenberg improvements:
This is a screenshot of the Core Web Vitals scores after improvements:
It’s very apparent that Gutenberg 10.1 represents a significant step forward for improving page speed performance.
The WordPress developers described their achievement like this:
“There is a significant performance boost, and that’s on a simple page with not too many blocks. On more complex structures the effect will be even more pronounced!”
WordPress is Paying Attention to Core Web Vitals
This change is going to be most welcome in the SEO and publishing community. While Gutenberg isn’t completely finished at the moment, it is still ready to be used if publishers choose to.
Most importantly, this update underlines how Gutenberg is not only the future of web publishing but a clear improvement in publishing.
A search of the WordPress.org site previously did not show acknowledgement of Google’s Core Web Vitals.
This announcement not only mentions the SEO challenges, it actually emphasizes how these kinds of improvements benefit site visitors and publishers.
“While a lot of work is put into democratizing publishing in the WordPress project, this kind of work helps democratize delivery, allowing people to get the content they want to consume easier and faster.
With changes coming to Google Search related to the speed of webpages, performance improvements for both the front end and in the editor have never been more timely.”
WordPress Core Web Vitals Boost is Real
While this change to how CSS is delivered can be said to be incremental, the benefit to publishers and users is huge. This update fixes one of the major code bloat issues affecting Gutenberg. With this problem resolved, Gutenberg becomes a more viable content management system.
Citations
Core Editor Improvement: Need for (page/post) Speed
What’s new in Gutenberg 10.1? (3 March)
Improve Loading Method For Block Styles
NEWS
OpenAI Introduces Fine-Tuning for GPT-4 and Enabling Customized AI Models
OpenAI has today announced the release of fine-tuning capabilities for its flagship GPT-4 large language model, marking a significant milestone in the AI landscape. This new functionality empowers developers to create tailored versions of GPT-4 to suit specialized use cases, enhancing the model’s utility across various industries.
Fine-tuning has long been a desired feature for developers who require more control over AI behavior, and with this update, OpenAI delivers on that demand. The ability to fine-tune GPT-4 allows businesses and developers to refine the model’s responses to better align with specific requirements, whether for customer service, content generation, technical support, or other unique applications.
Why Fine-Tuning Matters
GPT-4 is a very flexible model that can handle many different tasks. However, some businesses and developers need more specialized AI that matches their specific language, style, and needs. Fine-tuning helps with this by letting them adjust GPT-4 using custom data. For example, companies can train a fine-tuned model to keep a consistent brand tone or focus on industry-specific language.
Fine-tuning also offers improvements in areas like response accuracy and context comprehension. For use cases where nuanced understanding or specialized knowledge is crucial, this can be a game-changer. Models can be taught to better grasp intricate details, improving their effectiveness in sectors such as legal analysis, medical advice, or technical writing.
Key Features of GPT-4 Fine-Tuning
The fine-tuning process leverages OpenAI’s established tools, but now it is optimized for GPT-4’s advanced architecture. Notable features include:
- Enhanced Customization: Developers can precisely influence the model’s behavior and knowledge base.
- Consistency in Output: Fine-tuned models can be made to maintain consistent formatting, tone, or responses, essential for professional applications.
- Higher Efficiency: Compared to training models from scratch, fine-tuning GPT-4 allows organizations to deploy sophisticated AI with reduced time and computational cost.
Additionally, OpenAI has emphasized ease of use with this feature. The fine-tuning workflow is designed to be accessible even to teams with limited AI experience, reducing barriers to customization. For more advanced users, OpenAI provides granular control options to achieve highly specialized outputs.
Implications for the Future
The launch of fine-tuning capabilities for GPT-4 signals a broader shift toward more user-centric AI development. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, the demand for models that can cater to specific business needs, without compromising on performance, will continue to grow. OpenAI’s move positions GPT-4 as a flexible and adaptable tool that can be refined to deliver optimal value in any given scenario.
By offering fine-tuning, OpenAI not only enhances GPT-4’s appeal but also reinforces the model’s role as a leading AI solution across diverse sectors. From startups seeking to automate niche tasks to large enterprises looking to scale intelligent systems, GPT-4’s fine-tuning capability provides a powerful resource for driving innovation.
OpenAI announced that fine-tuning GPT-4o will cost $25 for every million tokens used during training. After the model is set up, it will cost $3.75 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. To help developers get started, OpenAI is offering 1 million free training tokens per day for GPT-4o and 2 million free tokens per day for GPT-4o mini until September 23. This makes it easier for developers to try out the fine-tuning service.
As AI continues to evolve, OpenAI’s focus on customization and adaptability with GPT-4 represents a critical step in making advanced AI accessible, scalable, and more aligned with real-world applications. This new capability is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI across industries, creating a new wave of AI-driven solutions tailored to specific challenges and opportunities.
This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update
Here’s what happened in the world of Google and search engines this week:
1. Google’s June 2024 Spam Update
Google finished rolling out its June 2024 spam update over a period of seven days. This update aims to reduce spammy content in search results.
2. Changes to Google Search Interface
Google has removed the continuous scroll feature for search results. Instead, it’s back to the old system of pages.
3. New Features and Tests
- Link Cards: Google is testing link cards at the top of AI-generated overviews.
- Health Overviews: There are more AI-generated health overviews showing up in search results.
- Local Panels: Google is testing AI overviews in local information panels.
4. Search Rankings and Quality
- Improving Rankings: Google said it can improve its search ranking system but will only do so on a large scale.
- Measuring Quality: Google’s Elizabeth Tucker shared how they measure search quality.
5. Advice for Content Creators
- Brand Names in Reviews: Google advises not to avoid mentioning brand names in review content.
- Fixing 404 Pages: Google explained when it’s important to fix 404 error pages.
6. New Search Features in Google Chrome
Google Chrome for mobile devices has added several new search features to enhance user experience.
7. New Tests and Features in Google Search
- Credit Card Widget: Google is testing a new widget for credit card information in search results.
- Sliding Search Results: When making a new search query, the results might slide to the right.
8. Bing’s New Feature
Bing is now using AI to write “People Also Ask” questions in search results.
9. Local Search Ranking Factors
Menu items and popular times might be factors that influence local search rankings on Google.
10. Google Ads Updates
- Query Matching and Brand Controls: Google Ads updated its query matching and brand controls, and advertisers are happy with these changes.
- Lead Credits: Google will automate lead credits for Local Service Ads. Google says this is a good change, but some advertisers are worried.
- tROAS Insights Box: Google Ads is testing a new insights box for tROAS (Target Return on Ad Spend) in Performance Max and Standard Shopping campaigns.
- WordPress Tag Code: There is a new conversion code for Google Ads on WordPress sites.
These updates highlight how Google and other search engines are continuously evolving to improve user experience and provide better advertising tools.
Facebook Faces Yet Another Outage: Platform Encounters Technical Issues Again
Uppdated: It seems that today’s issues with Facebook haven’t affected as many users as the last time. A smaller group of people appears to be impacted this time around, which is a relief compared to the larger incident before. Nevertheless, it’s still frustrating for those affected, and hopefully, the issues will be resolved soon by the Facebook team.
Facebook had another problem today (March 20, 2024). According to Downdetector, a website that shows when other websites are not working, many people had trouble using Facebook.
This isn’t the first time Facebook has had issues. Just a little while ago, there was another problem that stopped people from using the site. Today, when people tried to use Facebook, it didn’t work like it should. People couldn’t see their friends’ posts, and sometimes the website wouldn’t even load.
Downdetector, which watches out for problems on websites, showed that lots of people were having trouble with Facebook. People from all over the world said they couldn’t use the site, and they were not happy about it.
When websites like Facebook have problems, it affects a lot of people. It’s not just about not being able to see posts or chat with friends. It can also impact businesses that use Facebook to reach customers.
Since Facebook owns Messenger and Instagram, the problems with Facebook also meant that people had trouble using these apps. It made the situation even more frustrating for many users, who rely on these apps to stay connected with others.
During this recent problem, one thing is obvious: the internet is always changing, and even big websites like Facebook can have problems. While people wait for Facebook to fix the issue, it shows us how easily things online can go wrong. It’s a good reminder that we should have backup plans for staying connected online, just in case something like this happens again.
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