If you’re managing a website, you will no doubt be aware that user experience is a critical factor for success. Google’s Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure real-world user experience for loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability of the page. In 2025, these metrics are more important than ever for your SEO strategy. In this guide, we show you how to conduct a comprehensive Core Web Vitals audit to identify and fix issues that could be harming your site’s performance and search rankings.
What are Core Web Vitals and Why Do They Matter?
Simply put, Core Web Vitals are a subset of factors that Google considers important in a webpage’s overall user experience. They are made up of three specific page speed and user interaction measurements: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): This measures how long it takes for the largest single element to become visible in the viewport. A good LCP is 2.5 seconds or less.
- Interaction to Next Paint (INP): This assesses your page’s responsiveness to user interactions. A good INP is 200 milliseconds or less.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): This measures the visual stability of your page. A good CLS score is less than 0.1.
A strong performance in Core Web Vitals can lead to better search engine rankings, lower bounce rates, and higher engagement. Let’s take a look at how to audit them.
How to Conduct a Core Web Vitals Audit
A thorough audit will help you understand your website’s performance and identify areas for improvement. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
Step 1: Gather Data with Key Tools
The first step here is to collect both “field data” (from real users) and “lab data” (from a controlled environment). Several tools can help with this:
- Google PageSpeed Insights: This is the best place to start. It provides both lab and field data for a single URL, along with specific recommendations for improvement.
- Google Search Console: The Core Web Vitals report in Search Console gives you an overview of your entire site’s performance based on field data. It groups similar URLs together, which is great for identifying site-wide issues.
- Chrome DevTools: For a deeper dive, the Performance panel in Chrome DevTools allows for a detailed analysis of your page’s loading and runtime performance.
- Third-Party Tools: Tools like Screaming Frog, Semrush, and Auditzy can also provide valuable insights.
Step 2: Identify and Address Common Issues
Once you have your data, it’s time to diagnose the root causes of any poor scores. Whether you’re a developer or a marketer, we’ve got you covered with these common culprits:
Fixing Poor LCP Scores
If you’re using large images or videos, they are often the cause of a slow LCP. Here are some common fixes:
- Optimize your images by compressing them and using next-gen formats like WebP.
- Defer non-critical JavaScript and CSS to speed up rendering.
- Improve your server response time by using a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
Improving INP Responsiveness
A low INP score is often caused by long-running JavaScript tasks. Here’s how to address it:
- Break up long JavaScript tasks into smaller, asynchronous chunks.
- Optimize event handling and avoid unnecessary re-renders.
- Be mindful of third-party scripts that can interfere with main thread responsiveness.
Reducing Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Unexpected layout shifts are a common frustration for users. To improve your CLS score, look for:
- Images, ads, and embeds without defined dimensions. Always include width and height attributes.
- Dynamically injected content that pushes existing content down the page.
- Web fonts that cause a “flash of unstyled text” (FOUT) or “flash of invisible text” (FOIT).
Step 3: Implement and Monitor Your Fixes
After you’ve identified the issues and implemented fixes, it’s crucial to monitor your Core Web Vitals scores over time. Use PageSpeed Insights and the Search Console report to ensure your changes have had a positive impact. This means that you can stay ahead of any new issues that may arise.
Conclusion
As a result of following this guide, you should now have a clear understanding of how to conduct a Core Web Vitals audit. By regularly monitoring and improving these metrics, you’ll not only improve your search rankings but also create a better, faster, and more stable experience for your users. The future of SEO is user-centric, and a strong Core Web Vitals performance is a key part of that future.