Have you ever spent hours trying to speed up your site without seeing your Google PageSpeed score improve? You’re not alone.
Many bloggers fall into the same trap: cutting features, trying new themes, even removing income-generating scripts – all for a better score. But here’s the truth: PageSpeed doesn’t tell the whole story.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
- how to use PageSpeed Insights correctly,
- which metrics really impact rankings and user experience,
- and how expert bloggers speed up their sites without losing their sanity (or revenue).
What is PageSpeed Insights?
PageSpeed Insights is a free tool from Google that tells you how fast your website loads, and what’s slowing it down. You just copy and paste a URL into the tool, and it gives you a score out of 100 for both mobile and desktop. The higher the score, the better.
Along with the score, it shows you:
- What’s working well
- What’s slowing your site down
- Suggestions for fixing those issues
It also gives you two kinds of data:
- Lab data is like a speed test done in a controlled setting. It helps you find technical problems.
- Field data shows how real people have experienced your site over the past 28 days. If your site has enough traffic, it tells you how fast (or slow) it feels to actual users.
Together, lab and field data tell you how your site performs in theory and in real life.
Lab data vs. field data
Although PageSpeed Insights always shows both lab and field data, your score is based only on lab data. Lab data simulates a slower connection to reflect “average” user conditions. It’s often harsher than field data.
Field data reflects how real people experienced your site. It often looks better than the lab test, especially if most readers are on decent connections.
So if your Core Web Vitals (see below) look green, but your PageSpeed score is in the 60s, that’s normal – and it’s one of the biggest reasons not to obsess over PageSpeed.
Why bloggers care about page speed
It’s simple: when your site loads slowly, people leave. And a delay of just a few seconds can mean fewer clicks, shorter time on page, and a higher bounce rate – all things that hurt your blog’s SEO performance.
Fast-loading pages help with:
- Better user experience. Visitors can read and interact with your content without frustration.
- Higher search rankings. Google has confirmed that speed and Core Web Vitals are part of its ranking system.
- Higher revenue – especially if you run display ads, have affiliate links, or sell digital products.
That’s why bloggers pay so much attention to PageSpeed Insights. It seems like a direct way to fix speed issues and boost SEO.
But here’s the catch…
Your PageSpeed score gives you hints about what you might need to fix, but it doesn’t give you deep insight into what real users are experiencing. To understand what’s happening to real users, you need Core Web Vitals (CWVs).
Google has confirmed CWVs are part of its ranking system. Your overall PageSpeed score? Not so much.
Page speed vs. Core Web Vitals
Your PageSpeed score comes from a mix of different factors. Just as a student can fail one test but still get a B in the class, a site can have a major speed problem but still get a decent score.
Core Web Vitals, on the other hand, are specific speed metrics that Google uses to measure user experience, and they all have a big impact on your rankings.
There are three CWVs:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – how long it takes for the main content on your page to show up.
- Interaction to Next Paint (INP) – how quickly your site responds when someone clicks or taps something.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – how stable your layout is while the page loads (no jumping buttons or shifting text).
(Below, we’ll go through each in depth.)
Tools like PageSpeed Insights can help you find Core Web Vitals issues – but it’s the metrics that really matter, not your score.
How accurate are PageSpeed Insights metrics?
Two people can test the same page and get slightly different results. That’s why bloggers and developers use PageSpeed Insights as a starting point, not the final word.
To understand what’s going on, pay attention to changes in your scores.
Why your scores change over time
There are a few factors that might affect your score:
- When you run the test – server load, network conditions, or traffic spikes can impact performance.
- What version of your page is tested – if you recently made changes or your site uses dynamic content (like ads), it may load differently each time.
- The data source – PSI blends lab data and field data.
What experienced bloggers say
Most bloggers agree: although PageSpeed Insights scores can give good info, it’s more important to focus on your Core Web Vitals score, which Google has confirmed as a ranking factor.
Aleksi Luovix, Italy Vacation Plans
For Core Web Vitals, I recommend everyone to keep an eye on their Google Search Console instead of running the PageSpeed test on random URLs of your site. Multiple times, I’ve realized that the CLS or LCP has been on yellow/red for many weeks or even a couple of months.
Sharon Gourlay, Digital Nomad Wannabe
I use my Core Web Vitals rating in Search Console to decide if I have a problem, and then PageSpeed Insights to narrow down what that problem is. I don’t really care if it says I have problems if Core Web Vitals is saying my site is all green.
Core Web Vitals in depth
1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
LCP measures how long it takes for the main content on your page to load fully.
Why it matters: If people have to stare at a blank or half-loaded page, they’ll leave. LCP tells you when your site feels ready and when the biggest piece of content (usually an image or headline) shows up on screen.
A good LCP is under 2.5 seconds.
2. Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
INP measures how quickly your site responds when someone clicks, taps, or types.
Why it matters: If readers click a button and nothing happens for a second or two, they’ll get frustrated. INP shows how smooth and responsive your site feels.
A good INP is under 200 milliseconds.
3. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
CLS measures whether stuff moves around on your page while loading.
Why it matters: The more stable your site, the better the experience. You’ve probably tried to click something and had it suddenly shift or disappear. That’s CLS. It tracks layout “jumps” caused by ads, fonts, or late-loading images.
You want a CLS score of 0.1 or less.
How to improve your CWVs
Here’s what to focus on:
- Compress images, use faster hosting, and try not to use large above-the-fold elements.
- Minimize heavy JavaScript, remove unnecessary plugins, and reduce third-party scripts.
- Set fixed dimensions for images and ads, use fallback fonts, and avoid layout shifts during loading.
And of course, remember that speed isn’t the only thing Google cares about. Helpful content, mobile usability, backlinks, and great UX are still crucial.
Should I remove page speed and monetization scripts?
PageSpeed Insights often blames ad scripts, affiliate tools, or other monetization code for slowing your site down. But before you remove anything, ask yourself two questions:
- Is this hurting my Core Web Vitals?
- Is the revenue worth the slower loading?
Here’s what you can do instead of removing the script entirely:
- Delay non-essential scripts until after the page loads. Many speed optimization plugins let you do this with a few clicks.
- Load scripts only where needed – for example, don’t load affiliate widgets sitewide if they’re only used on a few pages.
- Use lighter versions of tracking tools or embed codes when possible.
- Talk to your ad provider – companies like Mediavine and Ezoic have built-in tools and support to help with Core Web Vitals.
- Use caching and a content delivery network (CDN) to reduce the impact of heavy scripts.
If a script is slowing your site down and there’s no fix, then yes, consider removing it, but only after testing and considering the impact on your revenue. The goal isn’t to have zero scripts. It’s to run a sustainable site that earns money.
Common speed issues on travel blogs and how to fix them
Why is my mobile page speed score so low?
Mobile scores are almost always lower than desktop ones.
Here are some quick fixes:
- Compress images (use WebP format if possible)
- Use fewer large hero images or sliders above the fold
- Avoid heavy fonts and extra animations
Even minor improvements here can make a big difference.
What do I do if my website is hacked?
A hacked site doesn’t just damage trust; it can tank your Core Web Vitals and rankings. If you suddenly see a massive PageSpeed drop, slow backend, or strange redirects, the issue might be a hack.
Steps to take:
- Run a malware scan (Wordfence, Sucuri, or your host’s tool).
- Change all passwords immediately – including FTP and hosting.
- Restore a clean backup, if available.
- Use a security plugin like Wordfence or iThemes Security.
- Ask your host for help; many have cleanup services.
Prevent hacks in the future by keeping plugins and themes updated and using strong login protection.
Tools to use alongside PageSpeed Insights
Best plugins to improve website speed
There are tons of speed plugins, but here are the ones bloggers trust most.
- WP Rocket – all-in-one caching and performance plugin (paid but beginner-friendly).
- FlyingPress – lightweight and fast, great for Core Web Vitals.
- Perfmatters – helps you disable unused features and scripts.
- Autoptimize – free plugin that handles script and CSS optimization.
- ShortPixel or Imagify – for automatic image compression.
More plugins don’t mean better results; stick to one or two core tools.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a free content delivery network that speeds up your site. It also adds basic security and can improve metrics like Time to First Byte.
The downside? It can conflict with caching plugins if not set up correctly. Also, features like page rules or image optimization can also be confusing. If you use it, make sure your performance plugin has Cloudflare support enabled, and test carefully after setup.
Best speed and performance monitoring tools
If you want to track how your site performs over time, these tools can help.
- Google Search Console – shows Core Web Vitals using real user data straight from Google.
- GTmetrix – offers detailed performance reports and waterfall breakdowns.
- Pingdom – easy-to-read speed test with geographic testing options.
These tools are excellent for monitoring long-term issues that PSI might miss.
Best debugging tools
To dig into what’s slowing your site down, use:
- DebugBear – tracks Core Web Vitals over time and lets you compare changes.
- Lighthouse – the open-source engine behind PSI. Run it directly in Chrome DevTools for more control and faster testing.
SEO and performance audit tools
Page speed is just one part of SEO. These tools help you see the bigger picture:
- Semrush – run site audits, check technical issues, and monitor Core Web Vitals at scale.
- Ahrefs – known for backlink tracking, but also offers site health audits and performance metrics.
Key takeaways
We’ve looked closely at Google PageSpeed Insights, how it works, and why its scores can be misleading. Here are the most important points:
- A low score doesn’t always mean your site is slow.
- Focus on Core Web Vitals – LCP, INP, and CLS are what impact rankings.
- Real user experience (field data) is more valuable than lab test results.
- Don’t remove important features or revenue tools just to boost your score.
- PageSpeed Insights is just one tool – use it alongside others for a complete view.
- Google considers many factors when ranking pages, and speed is just one of them.
Pay attention to page speed, but don’t obsess over it. Focus on what improves user experience and supports your blog’s long-term financial success.
