Have you ever visited a website that took too long to load or kept shifting around while you tried to read something? It can be frustrating, right? Google wants to make sure websites offer a good experience to users, so they introduced Core Web Vitals. These are a set of important factors that measure how well a website performs in terms of speed, responsiveness, and stability.
If you own a website or manage one, understanding Core Web Vitals is important. It can help you improve your site’s ranking on Google and provide a better experience for visitors. In this article, we will explain what Core Web Vitals are, why they matter, and how you can improve them.
What Are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are three key metrics that measure how fast and smooth a website feels to users. Google considers these as part of its ranking factors. Here are the three Core Web Vitals:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – Measures how fast the main content of a page loads.
- First Input Delay (FID) – Measures how quickly a website responds when a user interacts with it.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – Measures how stable a page is while it loads.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
Related: PageSpeed Insights: Easily Monitor Your Website’s Speed
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
LCP measures how long it takes for the main content of a page to load. This is usually the largest image, text block, or video on the page. If this takes too long, users may leave before the page finishes loading.
Good LCP Score: Less than 2.5 seconds
First Input Delay (FID)
FID measures how quickly a website responds when a user clicks a link, taps a button, or interacts with the page. If the response time is slow, the website may feel sluggish or unresponsive.
Good FID Score: Less than 100 milliseconds
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
CLS measures how stable a webpage is while loading. Have you ever tried to click something on a webpage, but then the layout shifted, and you ended up clicking the wrong thing? That’s a sign of poor CLS.
Good CLS Score: Less than 0.1
Why Do Core Web Vitals Matter?
Google uses Core Web Vitals as ranking signals. That means if your website scores well on these metrics, it has a better chance of appearing higher in search results. Here’s why Core Web Vitals are so important:
1. Better User Experience
A fast and stable website keeps users happy. If your site is slow or keeps shifting around, people will leave and go to a competitor.
2. Higher Search Rankings
Google favors websites that provide a good experience. If your site has good Core Web Vitals, it is more likely to rank higher on Google.
3. Increased Conversions
Faster websites with smooth performance lead to higher sales and sign-ups. Users are more likely to trust and interact with a site that loads quickly and works well.
How to Measure Core Web Vitals
Before improving your Core Web Vitals, you need to measure them. Here are some tools that can help:
| Tool | Description |
| Google PageSpeed Insights | Provides Core Web Vitals scores and suggestions for improvement. |
| Google Search Console | Shows a report on how different pages of your website perform. |
| Lighthouse | A free tool in Chrome Developer Tools that tests website performance. |
| Web Vitals Extension | A browser extension that provides real-time feedback on Core Web Vitals. |
How to Improve Core Web Vitals
Now that you understand Core Web Vitals, let’s explore how to improve them.
Improving Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
To improve LCP, focus on making your website load faster. Here are some tips:
- Optimize Images – Use compressed images and modern formats like WebP.
- Use a Fast Web Hosting Service – A slow server can increase load times.
- Enable Lazy Loading – Load images only when they are about to be seen by the user.
- Minimize JavaScript and CSS – Too much code can slow down your site.
Reducing First Input Delay (FID)
A slow FID means your site takes too long to respond to user actions. Here’s how to fix it:
- Minimize JavaScript Execution – Too much JavaScript can delay responses.
- Use Browser Caching – Save frequently used resources so the browser doesn’t have to load them again.
- Remove Unnecessary Third-Party Scripts – Some external scripts can slow down your site.
Improving Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
CLS issues happen when elements on a page move around unexpectedly. Here’s how to fix them:
- Use Set Dimensions for Images and Videos – This prevents layout shifts when media loads.
- Avoid Injecting Ads or Pop-Ups Above Content – This can push content around.
- Use System Fonts or Preload Fonts – Custom fonts can cause text shifts when they load.
Common Mistakes That Hurt Core Web Vitals
Even if you are trying to improve your Core Web Vitals, certain mistakes can make them worse. Avoid these common errors:
- Too Many Large Images or Videos – These slow down the LCP score.
- Heavy JavaScript Files – Too much JavaScript affects both FID and LCP.
- Not Optimizing for Mobile – Many websites perform worse on mobile, which impacts Core Web Vitals.
- Using Too Many Third-Party Scripts – Ads, analytics, and tracking scripts can slow down your site.
The Future of Core Web Vitals
Google continuously updates its algorithms, and Core Web Vitals will likely evolve. Staying updated with Google’s recommendations will help keep your website optimized.
What to Expect in the Future:
- Google may introduce new Core Web Vitals metrics.
- Mobile-first indexing will become even more important.
- More focus on real-world user experience, not just lab data.
Core Web Vitals are essential for a good user experience and higher rankings on Google. Improving your LCP, FID, and CLS will help your website perform better and attract more visitors.
If you’re a website owner, start by measuring your Core Web Vitals, identifying problem areas, and applying the improvements listed in this guide. With regular monitoring and updates, your website can provide a seamless experience to users while staying competitive in search rankings.
Have you checked your website’s Core Web Vitals yet? If not, now is the time!
