People expect websites to load quickly, respond fast, and not jump around while they’re reading – these features are all indicators of your Core Web Vitals.
In May 2020, Google introduced these key performance measures to check how smooth and user-friendly a website is.
If your site performs well for Core Web Vitals, it can help you rank higher on Google and improve visitor experience. But if your website is slow or unstable, users may have a frustrating experience with your website, increasing bounce rate and reducing conversions.
Contents
- What are Core Web Vitals?
- Why are Core Web Vitals Important?
- How Can I Check My Core Web Vitals?
- What do the Results Mean?
- Common Fixes for Core Web Vitals Issues
- Summary
- FAQs
What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are three key things Google looks at to see if your website is fast and user-friendly:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures how long it takes for the main content on a page to load.
- First Input Delay (FID) / Interaction to Next Paint (INP): Measures how quickly your site responds when someone clicks a button or types something.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Checks how stable the page is (e.g. user tries to click a button, but the page shifts, resulting in clicking something else by mistake – this is what CLS tries to prevent).
Why are Core Web Vitals Important?
Better User Experience
People expect websites to be fast and smooth. If a site takes too long to load or shifts around while they’re using it, they’ll leave. A website with strong Core Web Vitals is more likely to keep visitors happy and engaged.
Helps with SEO & Google Rankings
Google ranks websites based on how useful they are. If your site is slow or difficult to use, Google may push it down in search results. By improving your Core Web Vitals, you increase your chances of showing up higher in search rankings.
Improves PPC Performance
If you run paid ads (like Google Ads), a slow website can cost you money. Google prioritises websites that load quickly, so if your landing pages are slow, you might find it harder to appear for key searches and pay more for clicks.
How Can I Check My Core Web Vitals?
There are some free tools to see how your website is performing:
What do the Results Mean?
When you check your Core Web Vitals, you’ll see three colours:
- Green (good): Your website is fast and user-friendly.
- Orange (needs improvement): Some things are slowing down your site, but they can be fixed.
- Red (poor): Your site has serious issues that need urgent attention.
Common Fixes for Core Web Vitals Issues
If your website isn’t performing well, here are some simple ways to fix it:
Speed Up LCP (page load time)
- Compress large images so they load faster.
- Use fast, reliable website hosting.
- Reduce unnecessary content that slows things down.
Fix INP (make your site more responsive)
- Avoid too many pop-ups or heavy animations.
- Minimise unnecessary code or third-party scripts (like extra widgets).
- Use caching to store data and speed things up.
Reduce CLS (stop page jumping around)
- Set fixed sizes for images and videos so they don’t suddenly change.
- Avoid ads or banners that shift content unexpectedly.
- Test your site on different devices to see how stable it is.
Summary
Core Web Vitals are just Google’s measure, but they can make your website better for real people.
A faster, more user-friendly site can give you:
- Better search rankings
- More engaged visitors
- More visibility and lower ad costs
- A smoother browsing experience
Regularly checking and improving your Core Web Vitals will help your website stay competitive in search results and ensure visitors have a positive experience on your site.
Need help improving your website’s performance? Get in touch with the experienced website team at Atelier.
FAQs
What are Core Web Vitals?
They measure website performance:
- LCP: Page load speed.
- INP: Response time to clicks.
- CLS: Page stability (prevents shifting).
Why do they matter for SEO?
Google ranks fast, user-friendly sites higher in search results.
How do they affect PPC?
Slow sites cost more per click and can lower ad visibility.
How can I check Core Web Vitals?
Use Google PageSpeed Insights, Search Console, or Lighthouse.
What do the results mean?
- Green: Good.
- Orange: Needs improvement.
- Red: Poor, fix urgently.
How can I improve Core Web Vitals?
- LCP: Compress images, use fast hosting.
- INP: Reduce pop-ups, remove unused code.
- CLS: Set fixed sizes for images/videos.
How often should I check Core Web Vitals?
Regularly, especially after updates or design changes.