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# Core Web Vitals in plain English
- URL: https://www.fruitsmoothie.co.uk/blog/core-web-vitals-in-plain-english/
- Published: 2026-10-16T21:04:36.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T21:04:36.000Z
- Description: Google's speed metrics explained without the jargon, and why they matter for your sales as well as your SEO.
- Author: Fruit Smoothie
- Tags: Performance, #Import 2026-10-24 21:33

Core Web Vitals are Google's way of measuring how a page *feels* to a real visitor. They affect your search rankings, but more importantly, they affect whether people stick around and buy.

## The three you need to know

### Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

**How long until the main thing shows up?** Usually your hero image or headline. Aim for under 2.5 seconds.

### Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

**When I tap something, how quickly does it respond?** Laggy buttons and menus feel broken. Aim for under 200 milliseconds.

### Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

**Does stuff jump around while loading?** We've all tapped the wrong button because an advert loaded late. Aim for a score under 0.1.

## The usual culprits

- Huge, uncompressed images.
- Too many third-party scripts: chat widgets, trackers, pop-ups.
- Cheap, slow hosting.
- Images and adverts without reserved space.

## Where to check yours

Pop your URL into Google PageSpeed Insights. It shows real-world data from Chrome users plus a list of suggested fixes.

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**Scores looking a bit red?** [Get in touch](https://www.fruitsmoothie.co.uk/contact/) for a free performance check.