Core Web Vitals Data in Google Search Console: A Comprehensive Guide

Core Web Vitals have become a critical component in understanding a website's performance and its impact on the user experience. However, many site owners encounter the challenge of having no or limited Core Web Vitals data in Google Search Console (GSC). This guide aims to shed light on why this happens and what steps can be taken to address it.

Understanding Core Web Vitals Data Absence

1. The Role of Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX):
   • Core Web Vital metrics are derived from CrUX, which samples data from Chrome users who opt-in to sync and reporting, excluding iOS users​​.
   • If the sample size is not large enough to be representative, GSC will not report any data.
2. Popularity and Data Collection:
   • Websites need a certain level of traffic and distinct user samples to be included in the CrUX dataset. Hence, smaller or newer sites often lack Core Web Vitals data​​.
   • Google's CrUX dataset includes about 16 million origins, a small fraction compared to the total number of websites, meaning not all sites are tracked​​.

Reasons for Limited Data and Solutions

1. New or Low-Traffic Websites:
   • Newer websites or those with minimal traffic are less likely to have sufficient data for CrUX, resulting in no Core Web Vitals data in GSC​​.
   • Solution: Focus on increasing website traffic and user engagement.
2. Website Verification and Configuration:
   • Ensure your website is correctly set up and verified in GSC to facilitate data collection​​​​.
3. Understanding Lab vs. Field Data:
   • Core Web vitals can be measured through lab data (using tools like PageSpeed Insights) and field data (actual user experiences).
   • Lab data provides immediate feedback on potential performance issues, while field data reflects real-world user experiences​​.

Improving Core Web Vitals Without Field Data

1. Monitor lab performance metrics:
   • Use Google PageSpeed Insights to assess metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
   • Focus on Total Blocking Time (TBT) as a lab-based metric for First Input Delay (FID)​​.
2. Performance Analysis with Tools Like GTmetrix:
   • GTmetrix offers a comprehensive view of performance metrics, helping to identify areas for improvement​​.
3. Optimizing Specific Metrics:
   • For low LCP, focus on optimizing content loading orders and sizes.
   • Address high FID by optimizing JavaScript loading and execution.
   • Improve CLS by ensuring visual stability during page loading​​.

Staying Updated with Core Web Vitals Reporting

1. Google's Reporting Changes:
   • Google has updated the measurement and reporting criteria for Core Web Vitals in the Search Console. This change means that the metrics defining the boundaries for LCP, FID, and CLS are now considered "good" if they meet or are less than the ideal thresholds, which might reflect positively in GSC reports​​.
2. Comparing lab and field data:
   • Consistently compare lab results with field data to understand discrepancies and ensure that both sets of data align closely​​.

Conclusion

Understanding and improving Core Web Vitals is an ongoing process, especially for new or smaller websites. By leveraging lab data tools, focusing on performance optimization, and staying informed about updates in GSC reporting, website owners can enhance their site's user experience and potentially improve their search rankings. It's important to remember that increasing traffic and user engagement is key to ensuring your website gets tracked in the CrUX dataset, eventually leading to more comprehensive Core Web Vitals data in the Google Search Console.