What I measure

The three Core Web Vitals are LCP (loading), INP (responsiveness) and CLS (visual stability). Good means LCP within 2.5 seconds, INP of 200 ms or less and CLS of 0.1 or less, at the 75th percentile of real visits.

I use Shopify's web performance dashboard, which reports real-user data, as the source of truth, and lab tools to diagnose. INP is the metric most Shopify stores now struggle with, because it's driven by JavaScript, and apps add a lot of it.

What each metric usually comes down to

  • LCP

    Hero images, fonts and render-blocking resources.

  • INP

    Heavy JavaScript from apps, tracking scripts, chat widgets and theme features.

  • CLS

    Images, embeds and app widgets that shift the layout as the page loads.

How I make a store faster

Removing before adding

  1. Find what's slow

    The web performance dashboard annotates app installs on the Core Web Vitals timeline, so slowdowns can be traced to their cause.

  2. Remove before adding

    Apps that aren't earning their keep come out cleanly, including leftover theme code.

  3. Fix the theme

    Images, fonts and scripts loaded in the right order, and theme features that cost more than they return.

  4. No speed booster apps

    Shopify warns against apps that game Lighthouse without improving the real experience.

How to work together

Speed work starts with the audit; the retainer keeps it from slipping.

  • Entry offer

    Shopify Architecture & Growth Audit

    For: Entrepreneurs and growing brands

    A clear picture of how your store is built today and what to fix first.

    What's included

    • Store architecture review: theme, data model, app stack, integrations and checkout
    • Speed, UX/CRO and SEO review
    • AI search and AI shopping readiness: product data, structured data and crawler settings
    • Architecture diagram plus a prioritized fix list
    • 30-minute walkthrough call
    Pricing
    Fixed price
    Price
    $1,500

  • Ongoing

    Growth Retainer

    For: Brands with steady traffic

    A set number of hours each month to keep the store improving.

    What's included

    • CRO tests
    • New sections and features
    • Speed work
    • Maintenance
    Pricing
    Monthly
    Price
    $2,500/month for 20 hours
All services

FAQ

Common questions

What is a good Shopify speed score?

Focus on Core Web Vitals from real users rather than a single score. Aim for Good on LCP, INP and CLS on mobile at the 75th percentile.

Why is my Shopify INP poor?

Usually too much JavaScript running on the page, often from apps, tracking scripts, chat widgets and heavy theme features.

Will a faster store rank higher on Google?

Google recommends good Core Web Vitals for success in Search but doesn't publish how much they weigh. Speed is worth improving for shoppers either way.

How long until changes show in the dashboard?

Data can lag by up to 36 hours and the summary covers 30 days, so give changes a couple of weeks to show clearly.

Related specialties and guides

Related specialties

Further reading

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