6 Core Web Vitals Tweaks to Improve Google Rankings

Google's Core Web Vitals

Let’s face it — nobody likes a slow website. Especially not your customers. Or Google.

If you’ve noticed fewer clicks, lower conversions, or even a drop in search rankings, your Core Web Vitals might be to blame. These are three performance metrics that Google uses to decide how user-friendly (or frustrating) your site is.

Here’s what’s going on — and how to fix it without needing a degree in web development.

What Are Core Web Vitals?

Google’s Core Web Vitals are like a health check for your website’s user experience. They focus on three things:

  • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): How long it takes the biggest thing on your page (usually a hero image or big text block) to load.

  • First Input Delay (FID): How quickly your site responds when someone tries to click or tap something.

  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Whether your page jumps around while it loads — you know, like when you’re about to click a button and it moves? Yeah, that.

Google now uses these as ranking factors. So if your scores are bad, you’re likely losing traffic and trust.

Problem 1: “My Website Feels Slow”

That sluggish feeling often comes from a poor LCP score. The biggest content on your page takes too long to appear.

Fix it:

Problem 2: “Customers Say the Site is Unresponsive”

If users are tapping buttons but nothing happens right away, you’ve got a First Input Delay issue.

Fix it:

  • Reduce the amount of JavaScript running on your site.

  • Defer non-essential scripts so they don’t block interaction.

  • Break long tasks into smaller ones — your developer will know what this means, promise.

More responsive sites = happier users = more conversions.

Problem 3: “Why Does Everything Jump Around When My Page Loads?”

That’s Cumulative Layout Shift in action — and it frustrates users more than you think.

Fix it:

  • Always set fixed height and width for images and videos.

  • Reserve space for ads or dynamic content.

  • Avoid surprise content pushing everything down the page (like popups or banners that load late).

A stable site keeps your brand looking polished — and Google notices.

How to Check Your Core Web Vitals

You don’t need to be a developer to get started. Use tools like:

They’ll score your site and tell you what’s holding it back.

Bonus: Think Mobile-First

Most people visit your site on their phones. So:

  • Use a mobile-responsive design.

  • Minimize what’s loaded on mobile.

  • Preload important assets so the page renders quickly.

If your site loads slowly on mobile, Google sees that — and might bump you down in search.

Keep It Going

Core Web Vitals aren’t set-and-forget. They’re evolving, just like SEO. For instance, starting in 2024, Interaction to Next Paint (INP) will replace FID as a more accurate way to measure responsiveness.

So do a quick audit every few months. Or whenever you make big changes to your site. Staying ahead of this now saves you costly SEO drops later.

Final Thought: Speed = Trust

You’ve worked hard to bring people to your site. Don’t lose them because it takes too long to load or acts clunky. With a few fixes — most of which your web person can handle easily — you’ll deliver a smoother experience that Google rewards and users love.

Not sure where to start? Run your site through PageSpeed Insights, then contact Saltech Systems for a free consultation. We’ll help you make sense of the results and turn them into real improvements.