Core Web Vitals are both a ranking factor and a conversion factor. A faster site ranks better and turns more visitors into customers. Here is a practical checklist that covers most of the wins.
The three metrics
- LCP (loading): the largest element should render in under 2.5 seconds.
- INP (interactivity): the page should respond to input in under 200 milliseconds.
- CLS (stability): content should not jump around as it loads.
The highest-impact fixes
- Compress and correctly size images, and serve modern formats.
- Set explicit width and height on images and embeds to prevent layout shift.
- Defer non-critical scripts and remove unused code.
- Use a fast host with caching, and minimize render-blocking resources.
- Load fonts with a swap strategy so text appears immediately.
Measure on real devices
Lab tools are a starting point, but field data from real users is what Google uses. Check both, fix the biggest offenders first, and re-measure.
Key takeaways
- LCP, INP, and CLS affect both rankings and conversions.
- Images, scripts, and layout stability are the usual culprits.
- Optimize for real-world field data, not just lab scores.