By Hridoy Chowdhury – SEO Expert London, Consultant & Educator
In 2025, Google’s definition of great content has changed.
It’s no longer enough to write informative blog posts or perfectly optimize your meta tags.
If your site is slow, unstable, or clunky—you’re getting outranked.
That’s because Core Web Vitals are now core to how Google evaluates a website’s user experience, and two new metrics have officially joined the game:
✅ INP – Interaction to Next Paint
✅ TTFB – Time to First Byte
Let’s break down what they are, how they work, and how you can fix them—based on real tactics I use in my SEO agency.
🔍 What Are Core Web Vitals (2025 Update)?
Originally launched by Google in 2021, Core Web Vitals are a set of performance metrics that measure user experience. In 2025, the following four signals are prioritized:
| Metric | Meaning | Ideal Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| INP (Interaction to Next Paint) | Measures how quickly your site responds to a user action (click/tap). | < 200 ms |
| TTFB (Time to First Byte) | Measures how fast your server sends the first byte of content. | < 800 ms |
| LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) | Measures loading speed of the largest content (hero image, heading, etc). | < 2.5s |
| CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) | Measures visual stability (elements shifting). | < 0.1 |
🚨 Why Core Web Vitals Matter for SEO
According to Google, these metrics are used in the Page Experience ranking signal.
That means:
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Sites with poor Core Web Vitals lose rankings.
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Your bounce rate, conversion rate, and organic CTR may drop.
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Even great content can suffer if it’s delivered slowly or poorly.
In my own SEO case studies, we’ve seen clients gain up to 67% more traffic and cut bounce rates by 30% just by improving CWV.
🧠 What Is INP? (And Why It’s the Big One in 2025)
INP (Interaction to Next Paint) replaces FID (First Input Delay) as a better measure of user responsiveness.
It tracks how long it takes for your website to visibly respond after a user interacts with it.
Example:
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Clicks a button → Nothing happens for 600ms
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That’s a bad INP score
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Goal: < 200ms
🌐 What Is TTFB?
TTFB (Time to First Byte) tracks the time between the browser requesting content and receiving the first byte from your server.
If you have a slow server, shared hosting, or overloaded plugins → your TTFB will spike.
Google uses TTFB to evaluate how efficiently your site delivers content.
🔧 How to Fix Core Web Vitals (Proven Tips I Use for Clients)
✅ 1. Use a Global CDN
A CDN (Content Delivery Network) reduces TTFB by serving cached content from the nearest server location.
➡️ Try Cloudflare or BunnyCDN
✅ 2. Compress Images (Use WebP or AVIF)
Large images delay LCP and increase INP load.
➡️ Tools: Squoosh, TinyPNG, ImageOptim
✅ 3. Minify and Defer JavaScript
JS can block rendering and create lag in interaction.
➡️ Tools: UglifyJS, WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache
✅ 4. Preload Fonts & Use Font-Display: Swap
Reduces CLS caused by invisible or delayed fonts.
➡️ Add this to your CSS:
✅ 5. Audit with PageSpeed Insights
Test your site on:
Check mobile scores—they impact your rankings the most.
📉 Real Result from My Agency
Client Type: Shopify Store
Problem: INP = 550ms, TTFB = 1.4s, LCP = 3.2s
Fixes Applied:
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Migrated to faster host
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Added BunnyCDN
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Converted all images to WebP
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Minified JS with WP Rocket
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Adjusted CLS by preloading fonts
Results After 30 Days:
✅ LCP = 1.9s
✅ INP = 180ms
✅ TTFB = 680ms
🔥 +47% increase in organic sessions
🔥 11 keywords moved to Page 1
📎 Download My Infographic: “Mastering Core Web Vitals in 2025”
I’ve designed a free infographic for clients and students that explains CWV metrics and how to fix them.
Want it?
👉 DM me on LinkedIn or Email me with the subject “Vitals”
✍️ About the Author
Hridoy Chowdhury is a Top-Rated SEO Expert based in London. He has helped rank over 1,000 websites and completed 2,500+ SEO projects globally.
Through his YouTube channel and mentorship program, he teaches freelancers and business owners how to master SEO in the modern age.
📍 www.hridoychowdhury.com
📺 YouTube: Learn SEO with Hridoy
📧 Email: hridoy@rankup.agency
🔗 Resources:
💬 Final Thoughts:
“In 2025, SEO isn’t just about writing—it’s about how fast, smooth, and human your website feels.”
– Hridoy Chowdhury
Focus on user experience, and rankings will follow.
