Introduction to Core Web Vitals in 2026

In 2026, website performance is no longer optional. Google’s Core Web Vitals continue to play a critical role in determining how websites rank, engage users, and convert traffic. These performance signals measure real-world user experience and directly impact organic visibility.

At AN SEO AGENCY, Core Web Vitals optimization is a core part of our technical SEO strategy, helping businesses achieve faster load times, smoother interactions, and stable page layouts.

Why Core Web Vitals Matter for SEO Rankings

Google prioritises websites that offer a fast, responsive, and visually stable experience. Poor Core Web Vitals scores can lead to:

• Lower search engine rankings
• Higher bounce rates
• Reduced conversions
• Poor mobile usability scores

Understanding the Three Core Web Vitals Metrics

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Measures how long it takes for the largest visible element (image, video, or text block) to load.
Target: Less than 2.5 seconds.

Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

Evaluates how quickly a page responds to user actions like clicks or taps.
Target: Less than 200 milliseconds.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Tracks unexpected layout shifts during page loading.
Target: Less than 0.1.

How to Optimize Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Improving LCP focuses on faster content delivery and efficient rendering.

Best practices include:

• Using next-gen image formats like WebP and AVIF
• Optimizing server response time (TTFB)
• Implementing CDN delivery
• Removing render-blocking CSS and JavaScript
• Prioritizing above-the-fold content loading

At AN SEO AGENCY, we audit hosting, CDN performance, and critical rendering paths to achieve consistent LCP improvements.

How to Improve Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

INP optimization is critical for interactive websites and eCommerce platforms.

Key optimization strategies:

• Reducing JavaScript execution time
• Breaking long JavaScript tasks into smaller chunks
• Limiting heavy third-party scripts
• Optimizing event handlers
• Using performance-focused frameworks and themes

Our technical SEO team ensures smooth interaction across desktop and mobile devices.

How to Reduce Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Layout stability directly impacts user trust and conversion rates.

To minimize CLS:

• Define width and height for images and videos
• Reserve space for ads and dynamic content
• Avoid injecting content above the fold
• Use stable font loading techniques
• Apply CSS aspect-ratio rules

AN SEO AGENCY performs layout stability audits to prevent unexpected shifts during loading.

Common Core Web Vitals Mistakes to Avoid

• Lazy-loading critical above-the-fold images
• Relying only on lab data instead of real-user metrics
• Ignoring mobile performance
• Overloading pages with plugins and scripts
• Optimizing without testing real-world impact

Our approach balances performance with functionality to avoid these pitfalls.

Tools to Measure and Monitor Core Web Vitals

Recommended tools include:

• Google Search Console
• PageSpeed Insights
• Chrome UX Report (CrUX)
• Chrome DevTools
• Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

AN SEO AGENCY uses real-user data to drive measurable performance improvements.

How AN SEO AGENCY Optimizes Core Web Vitals

• Advanced technical SEO audits
• Real-user performance analysis
• Server and CDN optimization
• JavaScript and CSS performance tuning
• Mobile-first speed enhancements
• Continuous monitoring and reporting

We focus on long-term performance gains, not short-term fixes.