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Core Web Vitals SEO Guide: How Singapore Businesses Can Boost Rankings & UX

  • Clarissa
  • Oct 7
  • 5 min read
Core Web Vitals Illustration

Introduction


In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, having a beautiful website isn’t enough. If your site loads slowly, shifts unexpectedly, or fails to respond smoothly, visitors will leave—and search engines will notice. That’s where Core Web Vitals come in.


At Absolute Digital, a premier digital marketing agency and SEO agency in Singapore, we understand that user experience (UX) and technical performance go hand in hand with SEO success. Core Web Vitals are at the heart of this connection, directly influencing search rankings and customer satisfaction.


This guide will break down Core Web Vitals—what they are, why they matter, and how to optimize them step by step—so your business can stay ahead in Google’s ranking game while delighting your audience.



What Are Core Web Vitals?


Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics introduced by Google to measure real-world user experience on websites. They focus on three critical aspects: loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.


These metrics are part of Google’s larger Page Experience signals, which also include mobile-friendliness, safe browsing, HTTPS security, and no intrusive interstitials.


The three Core Web Vitals are:


  1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – Measures loading performance.

  2. First Input Delay (FID) – Measures interactivity.

  3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – Measures visual stability.


Let’s explore each in detail.



Breaking Down the Three Core Web Vitals



Definition: LCP measures how long it takes for the largest piece of content on a page (such as a hero image, heading, or video) to load and become visible to the user.


  • Good LCP: Less than 2.5 seconds.

  • Needs Improvement: Between 2.5 and 4.0 seconds.

  • Poor: Over 4.0 seconds.


Why It Matters: If your page takes too long to load its main content, users will bounce before engaging.


How to Improve LCP:


  • Optimize images (compress, use next-gen formats like WebP).

  • Use a fast hosting provider.

  • Implement caching and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs).

  • Reduce render-blocking JavaScript and CSS.



Definition: FID measures the time it takes for a page to respond after a user interacts (e.g., clicking a button, tapping a menu, or filling a form).


  • Good FID: Less than 100 milliseconds.

  • Needs Improvement: 100–300 milliseconds.

  • Poor: Over 300 milliseconds.


Why It Matters: Delayed responses frustrate users and make your website feel sluggish.


How to Improve FID:


  • Minimize JavaScript execution time.

  • Break up long tasks into smaller chunks.

  • Use browser caching.

  • Optimize code efficiency.



Definition: CLS measures how much content unexpectedly shifts on a page while loading. Think of when you’re about to click a button, but it moves because an image or ad suddenly loads.


  • Good CLS: Less than 0.1.

  • Needs Improvement: Between 0.1 and 0.25.

  • Poor: Over 0.25.


Why It Matters: Unexpected shifts lead to a frustrating experience and increase bounce rates.


How to Improve CLS:


  • Always include size attributes for images and videos.

  • Reserve space for ads and embeds.

  • Avoid inserting new content above existing content.



Why Core Web Vitals Matter for SEO


1. Google Ranking Factor


Since June 2021, Core Web Vitals have been part of Google’s official ranking signals. Websites that score well gain an advantage in search results.


2. Better User Experience


Fast, stable, and responsive websites keep visitors engaged, reducing bounce rates and increasing conversions.


3. Competitive Edge


If your competitors neglect Core Web Vitals, optimizing yours can give you a direct edge in rankings and traffic.


4. Impact on Conversions


According to Google research, even a one-second delay in load time can reduce conversions by up to 20%.



How to Measure Core Web Vitals


To improve Core Web Vitals, you first need to measure them. Here are the best tools:


  • Google PageSpeed Insights – Provides Core Web Vitals scores with improvement suggestions.

  • Google Search Console – Monitors Core Web Vitals across your entire site.

  • Lighthouse – A Chrome DevTools audit tool for site performance.

  • Web Vitals Chrome Extension – Offers real-time monitoring.

  • GTmetrix and Pingdom – Third-party tools for broader performance insights.



Step-by-Step Optimization for Core Web Vitals


Step 1: Analyze Your Website


Run your site through Google PageSpeed Insights to identify problem areas for LCP, FID, and CLS.


Step 2: Prioritize Fixes


Focus on pages with the highest traffic or those driving conversions first.


Step 3: Optimize for LCP


  • Compress images.

  • Implement lazy loading.

  • Use server-side rendering for dynamic content.


Step 4: Optimize for FID


  • Reduce third-party scripts.

  • Optimize JavaScript with code-splitting.

  • Preload important resources.


Step 5: Optimize for CLS


  • Define media dimensions in your HTML/CSS.

  • Avoid dynamically injected ads without placeholders.

  • Stabilize fonts using font-display: swap.


Step 6: Test and Monitor Regularly


Performance improvements aren’t one-and-done. Monitor your site over time to keep metrics in the green.



Case Study: Core Web Vitals in Action


One of our Singapore-based e-commerce clients came to Absolute Digital with slow load times and high bounce rates.


Challenges:


  • LCP above 5 seconds.

  • CLS score of 0.28.

  • JavaScript-heavy landing pages.


Our Approach:


  • Compressed all images with WebP.

  • Implemented a global CDN.

  • Reduced unused JavaScript by 40%.

  • Fixed layout instability with proper image dimensions.


Results in 4 Months:


  • LCP improved to 2.1 seconds.

  • CLS dropped to 0.05.

  • Organic traffic increased by 65%.

  • Conversion rates improved by 22%.



Common Mistakes Businesses Make with Core Web Vitals


  1. Focusing Only on Desktop Performance – Mobile-first indexing means mobile optimization is more critical.

  2. Overlooking CLS – Many businesses ignore layout shifts until users complain.

  3. Relying Solely on Plugins – Tools like WordPress plugins can help but won’t fix everything.

  4. Not Monitoring Continuously – Core Web Vitals need regular checks, not one-off fixes.



Core Web Vitals and the Future of SEO


As Google continues to emphasize user experience, Core Web Vitals will become even more important. We’re moving toward a future where:


  • AI and machine learning enhance search rankings with UX metrics.

  • Mobile-first and voice search experiences demand faster, smoother performance.

  • Businesses that invest in technical SEO will thrive, while those ignoring it risk being left behind.



Absolute Digital’s Approach to Core Web Vitals


At Absolute Digital, we integrate Core Web Vitals optimization into every SEO campaign we run. Our services include:


  • Comprehensive Core Web Vitals audits.

  • Technical SEO improvements for better load times.

  • Content and design adjustments to reduce CLS.

  • Continuous monitoring and performance reporting.


We don’t just aim to “fix” scores—we ensure your site delivers a seamless, enjoyable experience that converts visitors into customers.



Conclusion


Core Web Vitals aren’t just another SEO buzzword. They’re a crucial part of building a fast, user-friendly, and high-ranking website.


By focusing on Largest Contentful Paint, First Input Delay, and Cumulative Layout Shift, businesses can significantly improve both their search engine visibility and customer satisfaction.


At Absolute Digital, Singapore’s trusted digital marketing agency and SEO agency, we help brands unlock the full potential of Core Web Vitals through data-driven strategies and expert implementation.



Ready to Improve Your Core Web Vitals?


Contact Absolute Digital — Singapore’s Trusted SEO Agency


📞 Call us at +65 9899 8787

📧 Email us at hello@absolutedigital.sg

🌐 Visit us at www.absolutedigital.sg

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