Core Web Vitals: 10 Quick Wins to Improve LCP, CLS & INP

Photo by Stephen Phillips - Hostreviews.co.uk

Introduction

Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics Google uses to evaluate real-world user experience on web pages. They focus on three aspects: loading performance (LCP), visual stability (CLS), and responsiveness (INP). According to Google Search Central, these metrics help site owners understand how users perceive performance and where to improve. Improving Core Web Vitals helps reduce bounce rates, improve engagement, and present a better experience for visitors — all while keeping your content compliant with Google AdSense policies.

What Are LCP, CLS & INP?

LCP — Largest Contentful Paint

Measures how long it takes the largest visible element (hero image, large heading, or block) to render. Google recommends an LCP of 2.5 seconds or less for a "good" experience.

CLS — Cumulative Layout Shift

Measures visual stability by tracking unexpected layout shifts during page load. A CLS score under 0.1 is considered good.

INP — Interaction to Next Paint

INP replaced FID as the responsiveness metric. It evaluates how quickly the page responds across real interactions. A good INP target is under ~200ms.

Use these metrics together to guide improvements — each impacts user trust and engagement in different ways.

Tools to Measure Core Web Vitals

Before making changes, get baseline measurements using these tools:

• PageSpeed Insights — gives lab data and field data for a URL.
• Search Console → Core Web Vitals — shows real-user (CrUX) data for your verified site.
• Chrome DevTools (Lighthouse/Performance) — helps identify the LCP element and long tasks affecting INP.

Record scores for representative page types (homepage, article, product) so you can measure improvement.

10 Quick Wins (Ordered by Practical Impact)

1. Find the Actual LCP Element and Prioritize It

Use Chrome DevTools Performance to record a page load and identify the element the browser counts as LCP. Focus your effort on optimizing that element — it might be a hero image, large heading, or embedded video. Targeted fixes give the best return.

2. Serve Optimized Images (Right Size & Modern Formats)

Images are frequent LCP culprits. Convert large images to modern formats (WebP or AVIF), resize images to the display size, and compress them. Also set explicit width and height or use CSS aspect-ratio so browsers reserve layout space and avoid CLS.

3. Preload Critical Assets

Preload the single most-critical resource(s) for the initial viewport — a hero image or the primary webfont — using <link rel="preload">. Preload should be used sparingly for the assets that truly unlock the first meaningful paint.

4. Reduce Render-Blocking CSS and JavaScript

Inline a small critical CSS chunk for above-the-fold content and defer nonessential styles. Minify and defer noncritical JS with defer or async to avoid blocking the main thread and delaying LCP.

5. Optimize Web Fonts

Fonts can cause invisible or shifted text. Use font-display: swap to show fallback text immediately and preload the main font to reduce load latency. For maximal speed, consider a system-font stack where appropriate.

6. Reserve Space for Media, Ads, and Embeds

Prevent layout shifts by reserving space for images, ads, and third-party embeds. Add explicit width/height attributes or use CSS containers with a fixed aspect ratio. For ads and widgets, use placeholders that match expected dimensions so content below doesn't jump when ad code loads.

7. Lazy-Load Offscreen Images and Iframes

Defer loading of below-the-fold images and embeds with loading="lazy" so the browser prioritizes the LCP asset. This reduces network contention and improves initial render speed.

8. Shorten Server Response Time (TTFB)

Slow server responses delay everything. Use a CDN to serve static assets from the edge, enable caching headers, and optimize backend processing or database queries for dynamic pages. Faster TTFB helps LCP and overall perceived performance.

9. Split and Minimize JavaScript

Large JavaScript bundles hurt INP by blocking the main thread. Use route-level code splitting, remove unused dependencies, and prefer lighter libraries or partial hydration techniques when possible.

10. Monitor and Break Up Long Tasks

INP is sensitive to long tasks (>50ms). Use the Performance tab in DevTools to find long tasks and break them into smaller chunks, defer nonessential computation, or offload heavy work to Web Workers. Smooth, short tasks improve responsiveness across real interactions.

Before / After Validation Checklist

1. Record baseline scores with PageSpeed Insights and Search Console.
2. Apply one or two prioritized fixes (image optimization, preload, reserve ad space).
3. Re-test with Lighthouse, re-check Search Console after collecting field data.
4. Roll changes out across page types progressively and monitor for regressions.

Tracking a controlled set of changes helps you attribute improvements correctly and prevents accidental regressions.

Keyword Variations to Use Naturally

Use these variations across headings, metadata, and body so search engines understand your topic:

• Core Web Vitals guide
• improve LCP CLS INP
• fix Largest Contentful Paint
• reduce Cumulative Layout Shift
• Interaction to Next Paint optimization
• page speed optimization for publishers

Authoritative References (for credibility)

When citing sources in your published post, reference reputable authorities. Example wordings you can use:

• “According to Google Search Central, Core Web Vitals measure loading, interactivity, and visual stability and are reported in Search Console.”
• “The Chrome team replaced FID with INP to better capture responsiveness across real interactions.”
• “Web.dev provides step-by-step guidance for diagnosing and fixing LCP and CLS issues in real sites.”

These references give readers a path to primary documentation while keeping your article educational and trustworthy.

Internal Linking Ideas (suggested pages for later)

Link this article internally to build topical authority and improve user navigation. Suggested pages or slugs to create and link to:

• /image-optimization-guide — a deeper how-to on formats, tools, and automated pipelines
• /third-party-script-audit — how to audit and control third-party tags and ads
• /cdn-and-hosting — edge/CDN strategies for faster TTFB
• /webfont-performance — detailed font loading patterns and examples

Keep internal links relevant and helpful — avoid excessive linking that could look manipulative.

AdSense-Friendly Publishing Tips

• Provide original, high-quality content; avoid scraped or spun material.
• Include essential site pages: About, Contact, Privacy Policy, and clear ad disclosures where applicable.
• Use your own screenshots or properly licensed images and include attributions if needed.
• Avoid clickbait; use honest, descriptive headlines and meta descriptions.
• If you collect emails, clearly state how data will be used and link to your privacy policy.

Call to Action

Ready to improve your Core Web Vitals and deliver a faster, more reliable user experience? Put these 10 quick wins into practice and measure results. If you want a tailored, step-by-step optimization checklist for your site, subscribe to our newsletter or request a performance review — we’ll help you prioritize fixes that move the needle.

Disclaimer: Performance improvements vary by hosting, design, device, and user network conditions. The techniques listed are general best practices and educational suggestions; they do not guarantee ranking changes. Always test changes on a staging environment before applying them to production and use real-user data from Search Console to validate results.

Notes: For primary documentation, consult official resources such as Google Search Central and web.dev for the latest guidance on Core Web Vitals and web performance best practices.