‍What Are Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals are a set of three performance metrics introduced by Google to measure a website’s speed and user experience. They focus on how fast your site loads, how quickly users can interact with it, and how stable the layout is as it loads.

Why Core Web Vitals Matter for Your Website

Google considers Core Web Vitals a key ranking factor. This means if your site performs poorly, it may not appear as high in search results. But beyond SEO, a slow or clunky website frustrates visitors—causing them to leave and reducing potential sales or leads.

A well-optimised site:
✅ Loads quickly and keeps users engaged
✅ Provides a smooth, frustration-free experience
✅ Increases conversions and reduces bounce rates

Breaking Down the Three Key Core Web Vitals Metrics

1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – Measures Load Speed

• What it is: How long it takes for the largest visible content (like an image or text block) to load.
• Ideal score: Under 2.5 seconds.
• How to improve:
  
  • Optimise images (use WebP format).
  • Enable browser caching.
  • Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN).

2. First Input Delay (FID) – Measures Interactivity

• What it is: The time between when a user first interacts (clicks a button, types in a form) and when the site responds.
• Ideal score: Under 100 milliseconds.
• How to improve:
  
  • Minimise JavaScript execution.
  • Use browser caching to speed up loading.
  • Reduce third-party scripts (like tracking codes).

3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – Measures Visual Stability

• What it is: How much content moves around unexpectedly as the page loads.
• Ideal score: Less than 0.1.
• How to improve:
  
  • Define image and video dimensions.
  • Avoid inserting ads or pop-ups that push content down.
  • Use a properly structured CSS grid.

How to Measure Core Web Vitals

There are several tools to check your website’s Core Web Vitals scores:

🔹 Google PageSpeed Insights – Analyses your site and gives suggestions.
🔹 Google Search Console – Provides real-world Core Web Vitals data.
🔹 Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools) – Helps diagnose specific issues.
🔹 GTmetrix – Tests site speed and provides optimisation tips.

Run your website through one of these tools to see where improvements are needed.

Practical Ways to Improve Website Speed and User Experience

🚀 Optimise Images – Compress and use next-gen formats (WebP).
⚡ Enable Lazy Loading – Load images only when they’re needed.
💨 Use a CDN – Speeds up page delivery worldwide.
🧹 Minify Code – Remove unnecessary JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.
🔄 Reduce Third-Party Scripts – Limit ads, trackers, and unnecessary plugins.
📌 Choose Fast Hosting – Invest in a high-performance web host.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Core Web Vitals (and How to Fix Them)

🚫 Too Many Large Images – Use compressed images and proper formats.
🚫 Excessive Plugins & Scripts – Remove unnecessary scripts and plugins.
🚫 No Browser Caching – Enable caching to store site elements locally.
🚫 Poor Mobile Optimisation – Ensure a responsive design for mobile users.

Tools to Help You Optimise Website Performance

Here are some must-have tools to speed up your website:

🛠️ Google PageSpeed Insights – Grades your site’s performance.
🛠️ GTmetrix – Tests speed and suggests fixes.
🛠️ Cloudflare – Provides CDN and caching services.
🛠️ WP Rocket – A caching plugin for WordPress sites.
🛠️ TinyPNG – Compresses images for faster loading.

Final Thoughts on Core Web Vitals

If your website is slow or frustrating to use, you’re likely losing visitors and potential sales. By focusing on Core Web Vitals, you improve user experience, increase engagement, and give your site the best chance of ranking higher on Google.

Start by testing your website speed, identifying weak points, and making small improvements—your visitors (and Google) will thank you for it!

FAQs

Q: How often should I check my Core Web Vitals?
A: Regular monitoring is important. Aim to check your Core Web Vitals monthly, especially if you’ve made changes to your website’s design or structure.

Q: Will improving Core Web Vitals guarantee a higher ranking on Google?
A: While improving Core Web Vitals is crucial for SEO, it’s just one factor influencing ranking. However, good scores will significantly improve user experience, which in turn can help your ranking.

Q: How does mobile performance differ from desktop?
A: Core Web Vitals often vary between mobile and desktop due to network speed, device performance, and screen size differences. Optimising for both platforms is essential, with a focus on mobile-first performance.

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This guide is written by Hedgehog, a DIY digital marketing consultancy specialising in small and medium businesses in Australia. We offer digital marketing consulting, coaching, and training. 🚀

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