Do Failing Core Web Vitals Mean My Website Is Bad?
Do Failing Core Web Vitals Mean My Website Is Bad?
Sometimes yes – but usually no.
In the ever-evolving world of SEO, Core Web Vitals (CWV) have become a big talking point – and quite rightly so. Google has made it clear that these performance metrics play a role in search visibility. If your site is slow to load or doesn’t feel smooth to use, you’ll see the impact in your rankings.
However, while Core Web Vitals should absolutely be on your SEO checklist, a failing score doesn’t automatically mean you need a new website. In many cases, the issue is far more specific and much easier to fix.
And because some agencies can use Core Web Vitals in a slightly scare-mongering way, don’t panic – a bad score doesn’t always mean your site is failing.
In this blog, we break down what the scores truly mean and where your attention should actually go.
Looking at the Bigger Picture
Core Web Vitals matter, but they’re only one part of a much bigger picture. If your website is seeing steady growth in conversions, stable traffic and strong engagement, it’s unlikely your users are having a poor experience overall.
Before you hit the panic button (or the “rebuild” button), it helps to understand what usually causes CWV scores to drop, and how to work out whether you’re facing a small fix or a deeper issue. In most cases, it’s the former.
How to Work Out Whether You Have a Real Issue
Core Web Vitals often highlight very specific weaknesses rather than a full-site failure, and a quick bit of detective work can save you a lot of stress. Here’s how you can go about this:
Use Google PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse
Check individual URLs rather than assuming the whole site is affected. If only one or two pages fail, the issue is likely isolated.
Compare mobile versus desktop
Mobile scores often dip while desktop looks fine. This usually points to mobile-specific layout or asset issues, not a full-site problem.
Review your page templates
If one template type (for example, product pages or blogs) consistently underperforms, the fix is likely within that layout, not the entire site.
Look for common culprits
Things like uncompressed images, heavy third-party scripts, old plug-ins or embedded videos are often responsible, and usually quick to fix.
Check your hosting
Slow or unsuitable hosting environments can drag down performance even if the website itself is well built.
Most Core Web Vitals issues come down to a handful of fixable elements rather than a broken website. By checking a few pages, comparing devices and reviewing your templates, you can quickly narrow down what’s actually happening – and in most cases, it’s something that can be resolved without drastic changes.
Don’t Lose Sight of What Really Matters
Core Web Vitals are important, but they need to be considered alongside the metrics that genuinely reflect user experience, such as:
• Conversion rates
• Bounce rates and time on site
• Organic traffic trends
• Engagement signals (scroll depth, clicks, interactions)
If these are trending in the right direction, your website is doing its job, even if Google flags up areas for improvement. Addressing issues is sensible, but it’s rarely a reason to panic.
What You Can Do
If you manage your own website and want to keep on top of its performance, here are a few simple things you can do to help prevent bigger issues from building up over time:
• Check your site’s speed regularly using Google’s free PageSpeed Insights tool.
• Keep on top of general site maintenance by avoiding large images, removing anything you’re no longer using, and keeping your website software updated.
• Make sure your content stays clear, helpful and up to date, as Google increasingly rewards quality.
• Look at your website regularly on both your phone and laptop to spot anything that feels slow or broken.
• Use simple tools like Google Search Console and BrokenLinkCheck.com to find any broken links or pages that need attention.
Want a Clearer Picture?
For peace of mind or a clearer view of how your site is really performing, speak to us about a site-wide audit covering Web Vitals, compliance and performance. We’ll give you straightforward recommendations. Get in touch with us today to book your audit and find out how we can help you!
