Core Web Vitals Optimization
Failing Core Web Vitals costs you rankings and customers. Get targeted LCP, INP, and CLS fixes that pass Google's thresholds.
Performance Optimization
What I Fix
Core Web Vitals failures aren't random — they're specific, diagnosable issues in your code and server setup. Here's every performance problem I fix.
LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)
The biggest visible element loading too slowly — usually hero images, fonts, or slow server responses. I fix the critical rendering path.
- Image format optimization (WebP/AVIF with fallbacks)
- Critical resource preloading and priority hints
- Server response time optimization (TTFB reduction)
INP (Interaction to Next Paint)
Clicks and taps that feel sluggish because JavaScript is blocking the main thread. I break up long tasks and defer non-critical work.
- Long task identification and code splitting
- Event handler optimization and debouncing
- Non-critical JavaScript deferral to idle time
CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)
Elements jumping around as the page loads — images without dimensions, late-loading fonts, injected content. I lock everything in place.
- Explicit width/height on all images and embeds
- Font display swap with size-adjust fallbacks
- Reserved space for ads and dynamic content
Image Optimization
Images are usually the #1 performance bottleneck. I optimize formats, implement lazy loading, and serve responsive sizes for every viewport.
- Next-gen format conversion with quality optimization
- Lazy loading for below-the-fold images
- Responsive srcset for mobile/tablet/desktop
JavaScript & CSS
Bloated bundles, render-blocking stylesheets, and unused code that slow everything down. I trim, split, and prioritize what matters.
- Code splitting for route-based lazy loading
- Critical CSS extraction and inline delivery
- Dead code elimination and tree shaking
Server & Caching
CDN configuration, compression, cache headers, and server-side rendering — the infrastructure that determines baseline speed.
- CDN configuration with optimal edge locations
- Brotli compression for text-based assets
- Cache-Control headers with versioned cache busting
Deliverables
What You Get
LCP Optimization
Fix Largest Contentful Paint by optimizing hero images, fonts, server response times, and render-blocking resources. Target: under 2.5 seconds.
INP/FID Improvements
Reduce Interaction to Next Paint and First Input Delay by optimizing JavaScript execution, breaking up long tasks, and prioritizing user interactions.
CLS Elimination
Find and fix every source of Cumulative Layout Shift -- ads, images without dimensions, dynamically injected content, late-loading fonts.
Render-Blocking Resource Fixes
Defer non-critical CSS and JavaScript, inline critical CSS, and implement resource hints (preload, preconnect) for faster first render.
Image Optimization & Lazy Loading
Convert images to WebP/AVIF, implement responsive srcset, add proper dimensions, and set up native lazy loading for below-fold images.
Weekly Score Monitoring
Automated weekly Lighthouse runs with alerts if any metric regresses. Catch new issues from deployments before they impact rankings.
Scope & Pricing
Every Project Is Different
I scope every engagement individually based on your data, goals, and timeline. No cookie-cutter packages — just a solution built around what you actually need.
Data Volume
Number of SKUs, pages, or data points to process drives the scope of the project.
Delivery Format
Raw CSV, live dashboard, API integration, or automated reporting — each has different complexity.
Ongoing Support
One-time delivery versus ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and iteration on results.
Process
How It Works
Measure
Lighthouse audit plus real-user CrUX data analysis. Lab data shows what's possible; field data shows what users actually experience.
Diagnose
Identify the specific resources causing LCP delays, CLS shifts, and INP bottlenecks. Prioritize by impact on the 75th percentile.
Optimize
Image compression, CSS inlining, script deferral, layout stabilization, and server response improvements.
Validate
Re-test with Lighthouse, monitor CrUX for 28 days to confirm field data improvement, and set up ongoing performance budgets.
Deep Dive
Expert Insight
CWV as a Ranking Signal: What Actually Happens
Core Web Vitals became a Google ranking factor in 2021, but it's a tiebreaker signal, not a dominant one. If your content relevance and backlinks are strong, a slightly slow LCP won't tank your rankings. But when you're competing against 10 similar pages for position 5-10, CWV is the tiebreaker that moves you up.
For e-commerce, the indirect effect is even bigger: faster pages have lower bounce rates and higher conversion rates. A 1-second improvement in LCP correlates with a 5-7% increase in conversion rate — that's money you're leaving on the table.
INP: The New Metric Most Sites Fail
Interaction to Next Paint (INP) replaced FID in March 2024. FID only measured the delay before the browser started processing your first interaction. INP measures the entire duration — from tap to visual update — for every interaction, then reports the worst one (at the 98th percentile).
This means sites with heavy JavaScript frameworks (React, Angular) that looked fine on FID now fail INP. The fix: break up long tasks (>50ms) with yield-to-main patterns, minimize DOM size, and debounce event handlers. Target under 200ms for a "good" INP score.
Lab Data vs. Field Data: Know the Difference
Lighthouse scores (lab data) test on a simulated throttled device. Chrome User Experience Report (field data) shows what real users on real devices actually experience. Your Lighthouse score might be 95, but if 30% of your visitors are on 3G in rural areas, your field CWV can still fail. Always optimize for field data — that's what Google uses for ranking. Lab data is for diagnosing issues; field data is the score that counts.