In a recent episode of Google’s Search Off the Record podcast, John Mueller, a Google search advocate, cautioned site owners against getting too fixated on incremental improvements in their Core Web Vitals scores.
Mueller suggested that these minor optimizations may produce little visible change in search rankings.
Core Web Vitals, a set of user-centric metrics that measure website performance, have been a focal point for many since Google announced they are being used in ranking systems.
The metrics, which include Largest Content Paint (LCP), Cumulative Layout Change (CLS) and the recently introduced Interaction with Next Paint (INP), have driven site owners to optimize their pages for better rankings .
However, Mueller’s comments highlight the potential pitfalls of over-optimizing these metrics:
“I think a big problem is also that site owners sometimes get too fixated on metrics. They see some number, and it’s like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to get this one to like some other number, a higher status “. And then they spend months of time working on it. And they see it because they’re doing something to their search rankings. And probably a lot of those incremental changes aren’t really visible in Search.”
Mueller acknowledged the temptation to focus on metrics, given the dearth of concrete SEO measures:
“There are very few metrics in terms of SEO that you can explicitly look at and say, ‘Oh, it’s like 17, and I can do 15. So, I don’t know, it’s like human nature to almost focus there . But at the same time, you have to be careful not to focus too much on them and spend an inappropriate amount of time.”
While Mueller didn’t completely dismiss the importance of Core Web Vitals, his comments suggest being strategic in your optimization efforts, focusing on meaningful improvements rather than chasing incremental gains.
You can hear the full discussion in the episode linked below, starting at 24:04:
Why SEJ cares
Mueller’s comments provide insight into Google’s perspective on Core Web Vitals and SEO.
While these metrics are important, it’s crucial to keep a big picture view. Investing too much time and resources to look for minor improvements may not yield the desired results in search rankings.
How this can help you
Here are some key points from Mueller’s advice:
Prioritize impact optimizations over incremental gains Use tools to identify areas for improvement, but don’t get caught up in the pursuit of perfect scores. It balances the basic vital aspects of the web with other crucial elements of SEO, such as content quality, relevance and user engagement. Remember that not all optimizations. they will directly influence search ranking, but can still contribute to a better user experience.
By keeping these points in mind, you can develop a well-rounded strategy that balances the vitals of the core web with other factors, yielding better results for your website.
