Google ranks websites based on user experience metrics. Here's how to improve your Core Web Vitals and climb the rankings.
What Are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are performance metrics Google uses to evaluate user experience. Since 2021, they've been an official ranking factor.
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) — how fast main content loads. Target: under 2.5s.
- INP (Interaction to Next Paint) — responsiveness to interactions. Target: under 200ms.
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) — visual stability. Target: under 0.1.
Why They Matter
Poor Core Web Vitals mean lower rankings, higher bounce rates, and fewer conversions. Improving LCP from 10s to 2s can increase conversions by up to 74%.
How to Improve
LCP: Optimize/compress images (WebP), use server-side rendering, use a CDN, improve server response.
INP: Minimize JavaScript, break up long tasks, use efficient event handlers.
CLS: Set explicit dimensions on images/videos, avoid inserting content above existing content, use CSS transforms for animation.
Testing Tools
- Google PageSpeed Insights
- Google Search Console (Core Web Vitals report)
- Chrome DevTools Lighthouse
Our Performance Promise
Nexora Web Studio guarantees 90+ PageSpeed scores using Next.js, image optimization, CDN delivery, and code splitting. Want a free performance audit? Contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good Core Web Vitals scores?
LCP under 2.5 seconds, INP under 200 milliseconds, and CLS under 0.1. Hitting all three in the 'good' range helps your Google rankings.
Do Core Web Vitals affect Google rankings?
Yes. Core Web Vitals have been an official Google ranking factor since 2021, as part of the page experience signals.