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What Core Web Vitals are

Core Web Vitals are three speed and usability signals that Google uses as part of page experience. They track loading, visual stability, and input responsiveness. Better scores help users and can support rankings when pages are similar in quality.

The three metrics (current targets)

• LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): how fast the main content appears. Good: ≤ 2.5 s. Poor: > 4.0 s.
• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): how much the layout jumps as it loads. Good: ≤ 0.1. Poor: > 0.25.
• INP (Interaction to Next Paint): how fast the page responds to taps/clicks. Replaced FID in 2024. Good: ≤ 200 ms. Poor: > 500 ms.

You can see field data in Chrome UX reports and in Search Console’s “Core Web Vitals” report. Lab tools like Lighthouse help you diagnose issues before users see them.

How to check your site

• Open Search Console → Experience → Core Web Vitals for field data.
• Test key pages with PageSpeed Insights to get lab and field numbers.
• Run Lighthouse locally for repeatable lab tests as you fix things.

Fixing LCP (make the main content load fast)

LCP is usually an image, a hero background, or a large text block. Your goal is to deliver that element quickly.

• Optimize the hero image: Use modern formats (WebP/AVIF), right-size it, and compress it.
• Preload the LCP resource: Add <link rel="preload" as="image" href="..."> for the hero image.
• Cut render-blocking CSS/JS: Inline critical CSS for the fold; defer non-critical scripts.
• Reduce third-party scripts: Remove unused trackers, heavy sliders, and extra fonts.
• Use a CDN and caching: Serve static assets close to users with long cache lifetimes.

Fixing CLS (stop layout jumps)

CLS issues come from elements loading without reserved space or from late-injected UI.

• Always set width and height (or aspect-ratio) on images and embeds.
• Reserve space for ads and iframes with fixed containers.
• Avoid late-loading web fonts that change text width; use font-display: swap.
• Do not insert banners above content after load; open them in reserved areas.

Fixing INP (make taps feel instant)

INP measures how long it takes the page to react to a user action. Heavy JavaScript is the usual cause.

• Trim JavaScript: Remove unused code, split bundles, and lazy-load non-critical features.
• Avoid long tasks: Break up work with requestIdleCallback or smaller async chunks.
• Use passive event listeners for scroll and touch when safe.
• Defer analytics and widgets until after the first paint and input.
• Keep UI simple: Fewer effects, fewer heavy components.

Webflow-specific quick wins

• Compress and resize hero images; prefer WebP.
• Limit custom code in the head; move non-critical scripts to the end.
• Reduce third-party embeds on the homepage; move extras below the fold.
• Minify CSS and JS, and enable Webflow’s asset optimizations.

Mobile first checks

• Test on a budget Android device over a slow network profile.
• Keep hero images small; avoid auto-playing background video.
• Use one main font family with two weights to cut font overhead.

How to test fixes without guesswork

1. Run Lighthouse and note LCP/CLS/INP and main offenders.
2. Fix one class of issues (e.g., hero image preload + size).
3. Retest. If LCP drops, keep the change and move on to the next area.
4. Push to staging, test again, then deploy to production.
5. Watch field data in Search Console over the next weeks.

Common pitfalls

• Adding heavy sliders and carousels in the hero.
• Using full-screen background videos as LCP elements.
• Loading five analytics tags on every page.
• Injecting banners after the page loads without reserving space.

Small checklist you can keep

LCP- Preload hero image- Compress to WebP/AVIF- Inline critical CSS- Defer non-essential JSCLS- Set width/height on images- Reserve space for embeds/banners- Use font-display: swapINP- Trim JS and split bundles- Break up long tasks- Defer non-critical scripts

Final note

Core Web Vitals are not magic. They are a reminder to load the main thing fast, keep the layout steady, and respond to taps right away. Tackle them in this order and your site will feel better and perform better in search.