The role of Core Web Vitals in website rankings has been extolled by Google as a non-negotiable for site owners aiming for top search placement.
However, a close examination of my actual results suggests that Google’s latest tech offering may not be the magic solution it’s touted to be.
Where Do Core Web Vitals Come From?
Before delving into Core Web Vitals, let’s take a step back and consider its predecessor: Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). Google once heralded AMP as indispensable for boosting search rankings. Consequently, I invested significant time converting my sites to this mobile-friendly format, only to watch Google eventually discontinue the program. The effort turned out to be a time-consuming detour, forcing me to revert my sites back to their original HTML/CSS configurations.
Enter Core Web Vitals, Google’s next initiative aimed at enhancing website performance metrics. While the idea of a fast and responsive site is universally appealing, one must consider whether perfecting these scores—often at the expense of functionality—is genuinely worthwhile.
Are Core Web Vitals Worth Chasing?
My data suggests that it isn’t. I conducted an analysis of my websites, some with perfect Core Web Vitals scores and some without, and found no appreciable difference in performance in Google Search Console (GSC) metrics. This raises a fundamental question: Are webmasters being led on a wild goose chase, investing resources in areas that may not substantially impact their search engine ranking?
The focus, as it always has been, should be on content optimization and link-building strategies. It isn’t about adding unnecessary complexities to your website, but rather enhancing the aspects that have proven, time and time again, to influence rankings positively.
That said, it’s not advisable to ignore GSC metrics entirely. They can provide useful insights, but they shouldn’t become an obsession, especially when it demands a substantial investment of time and resources that could be better spent on proven marketing tactics.
In sum, don’t stray off course chasing metrics that may not deliver on their promises. Concentrate your efforts on strategies that have stood the test of time, and the results will follow.