How To Monitor Core Web Vitals in Shopify

Want to improve your Shopify store’s performance and boost conversions? Start by monitoring Core Web Vitals. These metrics – Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – directly impact search rankings, user experience, and sales. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• What They Measure:
  • LCP: Speed of main content loading (target: under 2.5s).
  • FID: Responsiveness to user actions (target: under 100ms).
  • CLS: Visual stability during loading (target: under 0.1).
• Why They Matter:
  • Better search visibility.
  • Improved user experience and retention.
  • Higher conversion rates.
• How To Monitor:
  • Use Shopify’s built-in Performance Dashboard.
  • Combine with tools like Google Search Console, PageSpeed Insights, and Chrome UX Report.
  • Consider third-party apps like Superspeed or Hyperspeed for advanced insights.

Pro Tip: Regularly track performance, optimize after updates, and use real-world user data to stay competitive.

Want detailed steps and tool recommendations? Keep reading for a full guide to monitoring and improving Core Web Vitals in Shopify.

Intro to Shopify Speed Optimization – The New Performance Dashboard & Core Web Vitals

Shopify’s Built-In Tools

Shopify offers a built-in tool for tracking Core Web Vitals in real time, eliminating the need for extra installations.

Finding the Performance Dashboard

Here’s how to access your store’s performance metrics:

• Log in to your Shopify admin account.
• Go to "Online Store" > "Themes".
• Click the performance scorecard banner.
• Select one of the three metrics: loading speed, interactivity, or visual stability ^[1].

Note: To gather accurate Real User Metrics (RUM), make sure your store isn’t password-protected. Admin permissions are required to access the dashboard ^[1].

Reading Dashboard Metrics

The dashboard highlights three key metrics with easy-to-read, color-coded indicators:

These metrics align with Google’s Core Web Vitals standards, helping you understand your store’s performance at a glance.

Performance History

The Performance History section lets you track your store’s performance trends over time, with flexible filtering options.

Time Range Options:

• Last 30 days (default view)
• Last 60 days
• Last 90 days ^[1]

View Filters:

• Switch between mobile and desktop data.
• Group performance data by day, week, or month ^[1].

For stores with lower traffic, weekly or monthly groupings are recommended ^[1].

Pro Tip: Compare metric changes with recent Core Web Vitals updates to evaluate their effectiveness.

Once you’ve established baseline metrics using Shopify’s tools, you can dive deeper with third-party solutions, which we’ll cover next.

Third-Party Monitoring Apps

Shopify’s built-in dashboard offers basic metrics, but third-party apps can take your performance tracking to the next level.

Best Monitoring Apps

The Shopify App Store is packed with monitoring tools. Here’s a breakdown of some top-rated options:

How to Choose the Right Monitoring App

Picking the right app depends on your store’s needs and budget. Here are a few key factors to guide your decision:

Store Size and Traffic
If your store handles heavy traffic, Superspeed’s unlimited tracking is a solid choice. For smaller stores or tighter budgets, Page Speed Optimizer offers essential features at a lower cost.

Technical Know-How
For those without much technical expertise, Hyperspeed simplifies optimization with automated tools. On the other hand, Superspeed is ideal for developers who need detailed diagnostics.

Monitoring Schedule
Keep your store running smoothly by following these monitoring routines:

• Daily: Check key pages like your homepage and best-selling products.
• Weekly: Review performance trends.
• Monthly: Generate detailed performance reports.
• After Updates: Test immediately to catch any issues.

Budget Constraints
Premium tools like Superspeed ($80/month) deliver extensive features, but if you’re on a budget, Page Speed Optimizer ($9/month) is a great starting point.

Integration Needs
Make sure the app you choose works seamlessly with your Shopify setup. For more complex needs, consider custom solutions from E-commerce Dev Group.

These apps work well alongside free tools from Google, which we’ll discuss next.

Google Tools Setup

Use free Google tools alongside third-party apps to get detailed insights and monitor your Shopify store effectively.

Google Search Console Setup

To set up Google Search Console for your Shopify store, follow these steps:

• Add your property: Use the URL prefix option for verification.
• Upload the HTML file: Add the file provided by Google to your Shopify theme assets.
• Complete verification: Finalize the process to confirm your domain.

Once set up, you can find the Core Web Vitals report under the "Experience" section. This report groups URLs into three categories: Poor, Needs Improvement, and Good ^[1].

PageSpeed Insights Tests

PageSpeed Insights gives you instant feedback on how your Shopify pages perform. It uses two types of data to help you identify areas for improvement:

To run a test:

1. Go to pagespeed.web.dev and enter your store’s URL.
2. Review results for both mobile and desktop views.
3. Focus on the ‘Opportunities’ section for actionable recommendations.

CrUX Dashboard Setup

The Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX) Dashboard offers long-term insights into your store’s performance. Here’s how to set it up:

• Use the CrUX template in Looker Studio.
• Connect the Chrome UX Report as your data source.
• Enter your domain (without "http://" or "https://").

The dashboard includes:

• Trends for Core Web Vitals over time.
• Performance breakdowns by device (mobile/desktop).
• Geographic variations in user experience.
• Impacts of different connection speeds.

Technical Monitoring Methods

Shopify’s dashboard and third-party apps are useful for basic monitoring, but developers often need more detailed diagnostics. These methods dive deeper into performance issues.

Lighthouse Testing

Lighthouse, available through Chrome DevTools, helps analyze Shopify theme performance. Here’s how to use it:

• Open Chrome DevTools (press F12 in your browser).
• Run a Lighthouse audit and choose your device type (mobile or desktop).
• Review the detailed performance report to identify areas for improvement.

Real User Monitoring (RUM)

RUM gathers real-world data from actual visitors, offering insights beyond simulated tests ^[2]. To set it up for your Shopify store:

• Pick a RUM Solution: Choose a tool that works well with Shopify, like:
  • New Relic
  • Datadog
• Add the Tracking Code:
  • Go to Online Store > Themes > Edit code in your Shopify admin.
  • Insert the provided script right before the </head> tag in your theme.liquid file.
• Analyze the Data: Use the collected data to track trends across:
  • Devices and browsers
  • Geographic locations
  • Network speed and conditions

GA4 Performance Tracking

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) can monitor Core Web Vitals along with business metrics. Here’s how to set it up:

• Turn On Enhanced Measurement: This feature tracks page load times and custom events automatically.
• Build Custom Reports: Create dashboards to visualize Core Web Vitals trends and device performance insights.

Using these technical methods alongside Shopify’s existing tools gives you a well-rounded view of your store’s performance.

Professional Help Guide

When to Hire Experts

Sometimes, even after trying to optimize your site, problems persist. This is when bringing in professionals can make all the difference. Here are some scenarios where expert help is worth considering:

Ongoing Performance Problems

• Your Core Web Vitals scores still show as "Poor" after making basic improvements.
• Mobile performance is much slower compared to desktop.
• You’ve noticed a sudden drop in search rankings or organic traffic.

Complex Technical Challenges

• Your store uses several third-party apps that impact speed and performance.
• Custom themes or features need advanced technical adjustments.
• Dynamic content is causing layout shifts, leading to CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) issues.

Here’s an example: In June 2023, Shopify Plus retailer BestBeds teamed up with Core Web Vitals experts to improve their store’s performance. After implementing tailored optimizations, they saw their mobile LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) time drop from 4.2 seconds to 2.1 seconds.

E-commerce Dev Group Services

If your Shopify store needs specialized solutions, E-commerce Dev Group can help. They offer services designed to tackle performance issues head-on.

Performance Optimization Services

Their approach goes beyond basic monitoring, offering:

• Detailed store audits to pinpoint performance issues.
• Custom theme adjustments aimed at improving LCP and CLS.
• Advanced caching and CDN (Content Delivery Network) configurations.
• Real User Monitoring (RUM) for ongoing performance insights.

Their process includes five key steps:

1. Audit and establish a performance baseline.
2. Develop a tailored optimization strategy.
3. Apply critical fixes.
4. Conduct testing and make refinements.
5. Finalize adjustments for optimal performance.

For more complex Shopify stores, they also provide continuous support. This includes:

• Weekly performance reviews in line with Shopify’s dashboard metrics.
• Regular updates to keep your store optimized.
• Emergency troubleshooting for performance issues.
• Guidance on adding new features without sacrificing speed.
• Training your team to manage and maintain these optimizations.

Their deep experience with Shopify Plus ensures their solutions not only improve performance but also scale effectively as your store grows.

Summary

Keeping an eye on Core Web Vitals in Shopify involves using various tools and conducting regular evaluations. The Shopify Performance Dashboard is a great starting point, offering real user data from the last 28 days. Pair this with the professional tools mentioned earlier for a more thorough approach.

Monitoring Strategy Breakdown
An effective strategy includes these three levels of monitoring:

Tips for Maintaining Performance
To keep your Core Web Vitals scores in good shape:

• Use Lighthouse audits to set performance goals and focus on improving Core Web Vitals.
• Schedule bi-weekly comprehensive reviews to catch and address any gradual performance drops.

Steps to Stay on Track

1. Weekly Dashboard Checks: Review Shopify dashboard metrics for trends.
2. Leverage Google Tools: Use Search Console to pinpoint underperforming URLs.
3. Set Alerts: Use GA4 to create notifications for performance changes.
4. Document Changes: Keep a log of optimizations and their impact on performance.

Core Web Vitals aren’t a "set it and forget it" task – they need consistent monitoring. If recurring issues arise, consider advanced solutions like those offered by E-commerce Dev Group, as outlined in the Professional Help Guide ^[3].

Related Blog Posts

• Ultimate Guide to Shopify Metrics for Store Owners
• CDN Integration Tips for Shopify
• Top 9 Shopify Performance Monitoring Tools 2024
• How To Track Shopify Store Performance Metrics