Are you trying to improve your website’s performance but not sure where to start? Core Web Vitals are crucial indicators of how well your site performs for real users in terms of speed, responsiveness and visual stability.
These metrics measure how quickly your content becomes visible, how soon users can interact with your page, and how smoothly your layout behaves as it loads. They directly reflect the quality of experience visitors have when browsing your website.
However, many site owners overlook how much poor Core Web Vitals can affect search rankings, bounce rates and user satisfaction. In this blog, we’ll explore what are core web vitals and how to improve yours, why they matter for your online success and provide practical steps to optimise them for better performance and SEO results.
What Are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are a set of specific performance metrics that assess the quality of user experience on a website. They focus on three key areas: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) for loading speed, First Input Delay (FID) for interactivity and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) for visual stability.
These metrics help determine how quickly your site loads, how responsive it feels and how smoothly elements display during the loading process. Core Web Vitals provide a standardised way to measure site performance and are essential for improving both user satisfaction and search engine rankings.
What Are the Components of Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals is made up of a total of three metrics or components. Each one focuses on a different aspect of user experience, from loading speed to responsiveness and visual stability.
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
LCP calculates the overall loading performance of a webpage. It is the largest visible item or element that loads. The largest element can be text or image, which loads before the actual page content loads.
For example, if you visit any webpage, you might see that the images and buttons load first before the page’s actual content to keep the LCP scores to a minimum.
LCP can be any large element on the page, like:
- <h1> element
- <img> element
- <video> element
- Background images and videos
- Heavy blocks of text
It is recommended that all websites have an LCP score of 2.5 seconds or less. If your website has a higher LCP score, you should take steps to fix it.
First Input Delay (FID)
FID measures responsiveness. It measures how long it takes for a user to interact with your webpage. It is recommended to have an FID score of fewer than 100 milliseconds.
Here are a few examples of FID:
- Clicking on a button or link
- Inserting text in the text field
- Navigating menu items
- Clicking on the checkbox or radio buttons
- Selecting dropdown items
For example, if you click on a link or button on the webpage, the time your browser takes to complete the request is the First Input Delay or the FID.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
CLS measures the visual stability of your web page. It should be less than 0.1 seconds.
CLS calculates how stable your page is and how the elements move around on the page. It results in a poor page experience if any element on your webpage moves around as the page loads.
Also, as a user, it feels annoying when you want to click on something, but as the page shifts, you end up clicking on something else.
Here are some common causes of CLS:
- Embeds, ads and iframes without dimensions
- Images without dimensions
- Inserting content with JavaScript
How to Improve The Core Web Vitals Score?
Improving your Core Web Vitals score involves implementing specific techniques that enhance your site’s loading speed, responsiveness and visual stability.
Enable Caching
Caching allows browsers to store website resources locally, reducing load times for returning visitors. This improves Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) by speeding up content delivery. Regularly update and configure caching rules for better performance.
Optimise Images
Compress and resize images without compromising quality to reduce load time. Use modern formats like WebP for better efficiency. Optimised images directly improve your LCP score.
Defer Loading of JavaScript
Deferring JavaScript prevents non-essential scripts from blocking the page’s initial rendering. This leads to faster interactivity and a better First Input Delay (FID) score. Use defer or async attributes to manage script loading.
Make Use of CDN
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) distributes your content across global servers. This shortens the distance between users and your website. CDNs help enhance load times and reduce latency.
Eliminate Render-Blocking Resources
CSS and JavaScript that block rendering delay visual content. Minify and combine files or load them asynchronously. Removing render-blockers can significantly improve both LCP and FID.
Use Lazy Loading
Lazy loading delays the loading of off-screen content until users scroll to it. This reduces initial page load size and improves LCP. It’s especially effective for image-heavy pages.
Optimise Fonts
Unoptimised web fonts can cause layout shifts and slow rendering. Use font-display: swap and preload important fonts. This reduces Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) and boosts perceived speed.
Upgrade Server Speed
A faster server ensures quicker content delivery and better TTFB (Time to First Byte). Upgrade hosting plans or switch to dedicated servers if needed. Improved server performance enhances all Core Web Vitals metrics.
Conclusion
Improving your website’s performance starts with understanding what are core web vitals and how to improve yours. By focusing on loading speed, interactivity and visual stability, you can significantly enhance user experience, reduce bounce rates and increase your visibility in search results.
From enabling caching to optimising images and server speed, each optimisation step plays a critical role in boosting your site’s overall performance. Contact us today for a comprehensive audit and customised solutions that boost your rankings and user satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are a set of performance metrics defined by Google to assess user experience on websites. They focus on loading performance (Largest Contentful Paint), interactivity (Interaction to Next Paint), and visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift).
Why are Core Web Vitals important for SEO?
Google uses Core Web Vitals as ranking factors. Websites that meet these performance benchmarks are more likely to rank higher in search results, leading to increased visibility and traffic.
How can I check my website’s Core Web Vitals?
You can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, or the Core Web Vitals report in Google Search Console to assess your site’s performance and identify areas for improvement.
Can improving Core Web Vitals help my SEO rankings?
Yes, Core Web Vitals are part of Google’s ranking factors. A site that loads faster, responds quickly and remains visually stable is more likely to rank higher and provide better engagement metrics.
Do Core Web Vitals affect mobile and desktop differently?
Yes. Mobile devices often have slower connections and less processing power, making Core Web Vitals especially critical for mobile performance. Google also prioritises mobile-first indexing, making mobile optimisation essential.
How long does it take to improve Core Web Vitals?
The timeline varies depending on your site’s structure and current performance. Some changes, like image optimisation or enabling caching, offer quick wins, while others may require development work over weeks.
