Core Web Vitals helps you ensure a great user experience. But if you’ve gotten a Core Web Vitals assessment failed error recently, you’re not alone.
In this blog post, we’ll explain the common reasons for Core Web Vitals failure errors, tools to analyze website performance, and effective strategies to improve these vital metrics.
By the end of this post, you will be well-equipped to optimize your website and provide an exceptional user experience, leading to better search engine rankings and conversions. Ready to pass your next Core Web Vitals assessment? Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
- Core Web Vitals metrics measure website performance and improve user experience.
- If your site fails a Core Web Vitals assessment, it can be due to poor Largest Contentful Paint, First Input Delay, or Cumulative Layout Shift performance.
- To fix these errors and pass your next Core Web Vitals assessment, optimize server response time, compress images/videos, minimize render-blocking CSS and Javascript files to enhance LCP performance and FID scores while stabilizing CLS.
- Regularly monitor and audit Core Web Vitals metrics, stay up-to-date with industry standards, and collaborate with your team for ongoing optimization.
- Use tools like Google Analytics, Chrome User Experience Report, Google’s Search Console, and Google Lighthouse to assess and improve website performance on a regular basis.
Importance of Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals are used by Google to measure the quality of user experience on a website. They consist of three metrics that provide insight into how well a website performs.
The three metrics to measure website performance are Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). These metrics are integral to assessing a website’s loading speed. Achieving a “good” rating for all three Core Web Vitals metrics is crucial to passing the Core Web Vitals assessment.
These metrics play a significant role in determining a website’s search engine ranking. Websites with better Core Web Vitals scores often get higher rankings in search engine results. Conversely, websites with lower scores may not perform as well.
Additionally, a good Core Web Vitals score can positively impact user experience, potentially resulting in increased visitor and customer numbers.
Optimizing Core Web Vitals can lead to higher search engine rankings, improved user engagement, and increased revenue and conversions due to a better user experience.
Common Reasons for Core Web Vitals Failure
Several factors can contribute to failing the Core Web Vitals assessment. Frequent causes include slow server response time, heavy page resources, render-blocking CSS and Javascript files, intensive JavaScript execution, delayed loading of resources, dynamic content, inadequate font loading, and more.
By identifying and resolving these issues, you can not only pass your next Core Web Vitals assessment but significantly improve your website’s performance and user experience.
In the upcoming subsections, we’ll explore the specific reasons for poor performance in each of the Core Web Vitals metrics — Largest Contentful Paint, First Input Delay, and Cumulative Layout Shift, and discuss effective strategies for rectifying these issues. This will enable you to Pass the Core Web Vitals assessment and enjoy higher search rankings and conversions.
Poor LCP Performance
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is a metric that measures the time it takes for the most prominent content element on the page to become visible. Optimal LCP scores should be 2.5 seconds or less. Anything above this time is not desirable.
Several factors can contribute to a low LCP score and a failed Core Web Vital test, such as frequent server latency, substantial page resources, render-blocking JavaScript and CSS, and slow-loading third-party scripts.
To improve LCP scores, you can use free plugins like Autoptimize and Async JavaScript to address render-blocking issues and employ Kinsta Edge Caching to enhance Time to First Byte (TTFB) by over 50%. Moreover, the WP Rocket plugin can eliminate render-blocking CSS and JS with a single click.
Remember to test your site after enabling these options and retake the Core Web Vitals assessment. Frequent monitoring and audits will help you maintain optimal LCP scores.
Inadequate FID Performance
First Input Delay (FID) measures the timing of user interaction with a page, such as clicking a button, and the browser response. First Input Delay score is an important measure of performance. It should be 100 milliseconds or less to be desirable. One potential cause of a low FID score is excessive JavaScript execution.
Improving First Input Delay is crucial, as Google considers this metric important for measuring a website’s loading time, which is a major aspect of user experience. FID and LCP often go hand in hand; enhancing one metric typically has a positive effect on the other, as both are measurements of time and are directly impacted by your website’s performance.
If you had a failed Core Web Vitals assessment, you can do a few things to improve your FID performance. By optimizing JavaScript and plugins, you can reduce delays in loading, parsing, and rendering, allowing users to interact with your website more efficiently.
Unacceptable CLS performance
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is a metric that measures the visual stability of a page. It tracks the amount of unexpected layout shifts that occur on the page. Factors such as late-loading resources, dynamic content, and incorrect font loading handling could potentially lead to a low Cumulative Layout Shift score.
To minimize CLS and pass your next Core Web Vitals assessment, you can set appropriate width and height attributes on images, optimize dynamic content, and carefully manage font loading. Setting accurate width and height attributes on images can assist in optimizing CLS.
The most prevalent factor contributing to unsatisfactory Cumulative Layout Shifts is images. Enabling the “Add Missing Image Dimensions” option in Perfmatters and including the width and height of image elements on the site should help resolve this issue.
Additionally, don’t forget to set dimensions for other elements like ads, embeds, and iframes to improve visual stability and improve the results of your next Core Web Vitals assessment.
Analyzing Your Website’s Core Web Vitals Performance
To better understand your website’s performance and identify areas for improvement, it’s essential to analyze your Core Web Vitals using reliable tools.
In the following subsections, we will discuss three popular tools — Google Search Console (GSC), PageSpeed Insights, and WebPageTest — and how they can help you assess and optimize your website’s Core Web Vitals performance.
By leveraging these tools, you can gain insights into performance data and determine which Core Web Vitals are meeting expectations and which ones need improvement. This information will enable you to implement effective strategies and make necessary adjustments to provide an exceptional user experience, achieve higher search engine rankings and conversions, and boost your Core Web Vitals score.
Using Google Search Console (GSC)
Google Search Console is a free web service provided by Google that assists website owners in monitoring and enhancing their website’s visibility in Google search results. It offers data and insights on how Google crawls and indexes your website, as well as any potential issues that may influence your website’s search performance.
To view your website’s Core Web Vitals, open the GSC. Keep in mind that GSC is separate from Google Analytics, but you can access Console from GA.
Once you’re in GSC, go to the “Experience” section in the main menu. This data will help you identify areas that require improvement and implement the necessary changes to optimize your website’s performance and user experience.
Utilizing PageSpeed Insights
PageSpeed Insights is a free performance tool offered by Google that evaluates the content of a web page and provides page speed scores for both mobile and desktop devices, as well as recommendations to enhance page speed.
Using PageSpeed Insights can help pinpoint areas for improvement in website performance and provide suggestions on how to enhance the page speed.
Some strategies for optimizing website performance with PageSpeed Insights include optimizing all images for the web, minifying HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and leveraging browser caching. By applying these recommendations, you can enhance your Core Web Vitals scores, leading to an improved user experience and higher search engine rankings.
Using WebPageTest
WebPageTest is an open-source web performance tool that provides diagnostic information regarding the performance of a web page in a variety of conditions. It offers an online version that allows tests to be conducted from different global locations, on real browsers, and across custom network conditions.
Though WebPageTest is limited to measuring the performance of a web page from a single location and on a single browser, it can still provide valuable insight into potential performance issues and suggest ways to improve the page’s performance.
By utilizing WebPageTest along with other tools like GSC and PageSpeed Insights, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your website’s Core Web Vitals performance and make necessary optimizations. You can also use the Chrome User Experience report for more valuable insights if you keep failing Core Web Vitals.
Strategies for Improving Core Web Vitals Scores
Now that you understand the importance of Core Web Vitals and have learned how to analyze your website’s performance, it’s time to implement effective strategies for optimizing LCP, FID, and CLS scores.
These strategies will help you improve website performance and ensure a better user experience, leading to higher search engine rankings and conversions.
In the following subsections, we will discuss specific strategies for enhancing LCP, boosting FID, and stabilizing CLS. By applying these methods, you can address the Core Web Vitals failed issue, achieve high Core Web Vitals scores, and maintain an optimized website.
Enhancing LCP
Optimizing server response time, compressing and resizing images and videos, minimizing render-blocking JavaScript and CSS, and employing asynchronous loading for third-party scripts are the four main steps involved in improving LCP scores.
These steps will help improve page load times, significantly reducing the time it takes to get meaningful content painted on the screen. By implementing these changes, you can significantly enhance your website’s LCP performance, leading to a better user experience and higher search engine rankings.
Another effective way to expedite the LCP process and enhance LCP performance is to assign a fetch priority of ‘high’ to the LCP image element. By optimizing LCP scores, you can ensure a faster loading time for your web pages and provide a superior user experience, which is crucial for maintaining high search engine rankings and conversions and passing your Core Web Vitals assessment.
Boosting FID
To enhance FID performance and pass Core Web Vitals, you can optimize CSS and JavaScript code, remove non-critical third-party scripts, use web workers, minimize and compress CSS and JavaScript, and reduce unused CSS. It’s important to note that a good FID score is generally below 100 milliseconds.
Optimizing FID is essential for providing a smooth user experience, as it directly impacts the loading time of your website. By implementing the suggested strategies, you can improve FID scores, leading to better user engagement, higher search engine rankings, and increased conversions.
Stabilizing CLS
Optimizing CLS scores involves setting appropriate width and height attributes on images, optimizing dynamic content, and carefully managing font loading.
By implementing these changes, you can significantly enhance your website’s CLS performance, leading to improved visual stability and a better user experience.
In addition to setting accurate width and height attributes on images, don’t forget to set dimensions for other elements like ads, embeds, and iframes. By optimizing CLS scores, you can ensure a stable layout for your web pages and provide a superior user experience, which is crucial for maintaining high search engine rankings and conversions.
Implementing Best Practices for Ongoing Optimization
Implementing best practices for ongoing optimization is essential for maintaining high Core Web Vitals scores and ensuring an exceptional user experience. By regularly monitoring and auditing your website, staying updated with industry standards, and collaborating with your team, you can effectively optimize your website’s performance and achieve higher search engine rankings and conversions.
In the following subsections, we will discuss specific best practices for regular Core Web Vitals monitoring and audits, staying updated with industry standards, and collaborating with your team.
By applying these practices, you can ensure continuous optimization and maintain an optimized website that delivers excellent results.
Regular Core Web Vitals Monitoring and Audits
Regular monitoring and auditing your Core Web Vitals is crucial for identifying areas for improvement and making necessary adjustments to ensure optimal website performance. By tracking and analyzing the three main metrics of Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, and CLS) using reliable tools, you can ensure that your website provides an outstanding user experience.
In addition to monitoring your Core Web Vitals, it’s essential to conduct regular website audits to assess overall performance. This will help you identify any potential issues, implement necessary changes, and maintain high Core Web Vitals scores.
Staying Updated With Industry Standards
Staying up-to-date with industry standards is essential for maintaining high Core Web Vitals scores and ensuring an exceptional user experience. By regularly consulting the Core Web Vitals report in GSC, staying abreast of news and updates from Google, and subscribing to industry blogs and websites, you can stay informed of the latest trends and best practices in web development.
In addition to staying informed, it’s essential to implement the latest best practices and guidelines in your website optimization efforts. This will help you stay ahead of the competition, provide an outstanding user experience, and maintain high search engine rankings and conversions.
Collaborating With Your Team
Collaborating with your team is crucial for optimizing Core Web Vitals scores and improving website performance. All members of the team, including developers, designers, content creators, and marketers, should share responsibility for ensuring your site can pass Core Web Vitals and optimizing website performance.
By scheduling regular meetings to evaluate performance issues, allocating tasks to team members, and providing feedback and assistance, you can effectively collaborate with your team to optimize your website’s Core Web Vitals scores. A well-coordinated team effort will lead to better user experiences, higher search engine rankings, and increased conversions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Fix Core Web Vitals Error?
By following best practices like caching, delayed loading, optimized images and fonts, upgrading your hosting, and more, you can easily fix Core Web Vitals errors to keep your website in top shape.
How Do You Solve Core Web Vitals Assessment?
To solve Core Web Vitals assessment, follow these key steps. First, focus on optimizing Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) by minimizing server response time and optimizing page rendering. Next, address Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) by ensuring stable element positioning and avoiding sudden layout changes. Lastly, improve First Input Delay (FID) by minimizing JavaScript execution time and optimizing event handlers. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to identify performance bottlenecks and implement recommended optimizations. Prioritize efficient code, optimize images and media, utilize caching, and consider content delivery networks (CDNs) to enhance loading speed. Regularly monitor and test your website’s performance to maintain optimal Core Web Vitals scores.
What Causes LCP Issues?
LCP issues are caused by the server taking too long to render the largest visible element in the viewport, resulting in poor user experience and lower rankings in search engine results. This can have a negative impact on the user experience, as well as on the website’s rankings in search engine results. To ensure a better user experience and higher rankings, it is important to optimize the LCP of a website.
What Is the Value of Passing the Core Web Vitals Test?
Successfully passing the Core Web Vitals test is a crucial step for any website looking to improve its user experience and optimize their ranking on Google. Doing so means your page will load quickly, eliminating disruption and reducing the likelihood of users bouncing back to the SERP. As a result, you will reach more of your intended audience.
How Do I Fix Core Web Vitals Error?
If your website is displaying a Core Web Vitals error message, you can improve the user experience by implementing caching solutions, eliminating rendering-blocking resources, deferring loading of JavaScript, using a content delivery network, properly sizing and optimizing images, implementing lazy loading, optimizing fonts and upgrading WordPress hosting.
By making these changes, you can increase your visibility on Google’s search engine.
Final Thoughts
Core Web Vitals are essential metrics for assessing website performance and user experience. By understanding the importance of these metrics, analyzing your website’s performance using reliable tools, and implementing effective strategies for optimizing LCP, FID, and CLS scores, you can significantly improve your website’s performance and provide an exceptional user experience.
Implementing best practices for ongoing optimization, such as regular Core Web Vitals monitoring and audits, staying updated with industry standards, and collaborating with your team, can help maintain high Core Web Vitals scores. By staying informed and proactive in your optimization efforts, you can ensure your website’s success year-round.
Raymond Li is known for his deep understanding of SEO and ability to develop successful client campaigns. His technical expertise and creativity have helped businesses of all sizes to improve their organic search presence. Ray enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and exploring the local cuisine when not dominating the SERPs for a wide array of juicy keywords.