ELK Digital: fixes and posts

Your PageSpeed score isn't the number Google uses

Unknown — Mon, 16 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Why Amazon scores 66 and still passes

When this was checked on 12 Nov 2026, amazon.co.uk scored 66 in the lab test, with a lab LCP of 5.5 seconds. Its real visitors, over the previous 28 days, got their main content in 1.6 seconds and passed all three Core Web Vitals.

The circle is one page load on an emulated mid-range phone over a throttled connection. The top section is what millions of real visits actually got. When they disagree, the top section is the one that reflects your visitors, and it's the one Google's page experience signals use.

A high score is still a decent sign, and a low one is worth looking into. Don't chase 100 at the expense of things your visitors use.

How to get more Google reviews with your review link

Unknown — Fri, 13 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A message template

Change the parts in brackets and paste your own review link at the end.

Hi [name], thanks for choosing us for [the job]. If you have a minute, a short Google review helps other people find us. It doesn't need to be long, and honest feedback is welcome, good or bad. [your review link]

Thanks, [your name]

Send it to every customer, the same day if you can, while the job is fresh. Don't add an offer, a discount or a prize draw to it.

If a review comes in that you don't like, reply calmly and say what you've changed. Asking Google to remove it only works when it breaks Google's policy, not because it's negative.

How to get your business into Google's map pack

Unknown — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The map pack usually shows three businesses, but the layout changes with the search and the device.

Distance is the part you can't change. Someone searching from the other side of town may see a different three.

If you go to customers and don't have a shop they visit, set your service areas and hide your address. Google's help page on service areas explains how.

Set up GA4 so it stops counting you as a customer

Unknown — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Data retention only changes Explorations, not the standard reports, and it isn't backdated, so set it on day one.

The data filter only works on data collected after it's Active. It doesn't clean what GA4 has already recorded.

If you work from home, your broadband IP can change. Check the rule now and then, or add a rule for each address you work from.

The Search Console reports show up once the link is made and the Search Console collection is published in the Library.

Stop the page scrolling behind an open popup

Unknown — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:00:00 +0000

dialog[open] matches the browser's own <dialog> element. If your popup comes from a plugin or page builder, swap in the class it adds when it opens, for example body:has(.modal.is-open).

Some themes scroll on html, not body. If the page still moves, put the same rule on html.

Stop one word sitting alone on the last line of a heading

Unknown — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Use it on headings, not body text. Chrome and Edge only balance blocks of up to six lines, so long paragraphs are left as they are. For paragraphs, text-wrap: pretty is the newer option; fewer browsers support it so far.