In today’s competitive digital landscape, your website’s performance isn’t just about looking good – it’s about functioning efficiently. One of the most important factors that impact your website’s search engine rankings is Core Web Vitals, which are a set of metrics introduced by Google to measure user experience (UX) and overall site performance.
As we move into 2025, improving these core metrics has never been more critical for local businesses looking to boost their online visibility and attract more customers.
Whether you’re considering a website redesign or just want to optimize your current site, understanding Core Web Vitals and how to improve them can make a significant difference in your SEO and user engagement. In this post, we’ll break down what Core Web Vitals are and provide actionable steps you can take to improve them for better SEO.
What Are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are three key performance indicators that Google uses to assess user experience and the overall health of your website:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures how long it takes for the largest visible content (such as an image, video, or text block) to load.
- First Input Delay (FID): Measures the time it takes for a user to interact with the site for the first time (e.g., clicking a button or link).
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures how much the content on your site shifts during loading, causing a poor user experience when elements unexpectedly move.
All three of these metrics play a vital role in user experience and are a critical ranking factor in Google’s algorithm. Improving them can significantly enhance your website’s SEO, especially for local search results.
Why Core Web Vitals Matter for SEO in 2025
In the last few years, Google has increasingly prioritized user experience in its rankings. A fast, responsive, and stable website is crucial for maintaining user engagement, reducing bounce rates, and improving conversions – all of which Google considers when ranking websites.
For local businesses, the impact is even more significant. When potential customers search for services like “plumbers near me” or “best café in [City Name],” your website needs to load quickly, be easy to navigate, and offer a smooth browsing experience. If your site falls short on these Core Web Vitals, you risk losing valuable search engine rankings and potential customers to competitors with better-performing websites.
Steps to Improve Your Core Web Vitals for Better SEO
If you’re looking to redesign your website or just optimize your existing site, here are some practical steps you can take to improve your Core Web Vitals:
1. Optimise Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
The faster your website loads, the better. LCP measures how quickly your website’s main content becomes visible to users. A good LCP time is 2.5 seconds or less.
Tips for improving LCP:
- Optimize Images: Compress large images and use modern formats (like WebP) to reduce load time.
- Leverage Browser Caching: Store static files on users’ devices so they don’t need to load every time they visit your site.
- Improve Server Response Time: Choose a reliable hosting provider and consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve content faster.
- Minimize Render-Blocking Resources: Ensure that CSS and JavaScript files don’t block the rendering of your main content.
2. Reduce First Input Delay (FID)
First Input Delay measures the time it takes for your site to respond to user interaction. A low FID score is critical, as a delay in interaction can frustrate users and hurt your SEO.
Tips for improving FID:
- Minimize JavaScript Execution: Large, complex JavaScript files can slow down your website’s responsiveness. Consider deferring non-essential JavaScript and prioritizing critical scripts.
- Use Efficient CSS and JavaScript Libraries: Use lighter, faster alternatives to minimize the time it takes for the browser to process them.
- Avoid Long Tasks: Break up long tasks into smaller ones to ensure users can interact with the website without delay.
3. Minimise Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
Cumulative Layout Shift is all about stability. If your website elements (like buttons, images, or text) shift around as the page loads, it can lead to frustrating experiences for users and drive them away.
Tips for improving CLS:
- Set Size for Images and Videos: Always define width and height for images and media to avoid layout shifts when they load.
- Avoid Injecting Content Above Existing Content: Be mindful of dynamic content like ads or pop-ups, which can unexpectedly shift elements down the page.
- Use Font Loading Strategies: Fonts can sometimes cause a “flash of invisible text” or shifting, so ensure your fonts load properly.
Is It Time for a Website Redesign?
If your website’s Core Web Vitals are still falling short despite optimization efforts, it may be time for a website redesign. A redesign focused on performance and user experience can improve your Core Web Vitals significantly, ensuring your website ranks higher in search results and provides a seamless experience for visitors.
At AMA Websites, we specialise in creating SEO-friendly, user-focused websites for local businesses. Whether you need a full website redesign or just a few tweaks to improve performance, we can help you optimise your Core Web Vitals and boost your SEO rankings.
Conclusion: Improve Your Core Web Vitals for 2025 SEO Success
As 2025 approaches, optimising your Core Web Vitals is no longer optional – it’s a necessity. By improving the performance, responsiveness, and stability of your website, you not only enhance the user experience but also improve your chances of ranking higher in local search results.
If you’re looking for expert help with your website redesign and want to ensure your site is optimized for the latest SEO standards, contact Abi on 07818 058 158 today. Let’s make sure your website is ready to compete in the increasingly competitive online market.