Answers

Answers to common website questions

Short answers a sentence at a time, then concrete steps. Every threshold quoted here is Google’s own. Updated October 26, 2026.

• PageSpeed Insights vs a real site audit (under $30)

  PageSpeed Insights gives you a score. A one-time site audit is the fix plan. Compare PSI, a monthly SEO suite, and WebVitalist.

• Why is my website slow?

  Most slow websites share the same causes: a slow server response, images much larger than they display, too many third-party scripts, and render-blocking CSS and JavaScript. Measure before changing anything — a free scan or Google PageSpeed Insights shows whether the server, the images, or the scripts dominate.

• What is LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)?

  Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) measures loading: how long the largest image or text block in the viewport takes to render. Google classes LCP as good at 2.5 seconds or less and poor above 4 seconds, assessed at the 75th percentile of field data. The usual culprit is a slow hero image or a slow server.

• What is INP (Interaction to Next Paint)?

  Interaction to Next Paint (INP) measures responsiveness: the time from a click, tap, or keypress until the page next visually updates. Google classes INP as good at 200 milliseconds or less and poor above 500 milliseconds, at the 75th percentile of field data. INP replaced First Input Delay (FID) in March 2024.

• What is CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)?

  Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) measures visual stability: how much page content moves while it loads. Google classes CLS as good at 0.1 or less and poor above 0.25, at the 75th percentile of field data. The usual causes are images without dimensions, ads or embeds that push content down, and fonts that swap in late.

• Do Core Web Vitals affect SEO?

  Yes. Google states that Core Web Vitals are part of its page experience signals, which it uses alongside hundreds of other ranking signals. Good vitals will not rescue a page with weak content, but poor vitals put an otherwise comparable page at a disadvantage, and a faster page also loses fewer impatient visitors.

• How do I fix Core Web Vitals on Wix?

  On Wix, fix what you control in the editor: uninstall apps you do not use, upload images close to the size they display at, and use fewer fonts. Wix serves your site from its own infrastructure and optimizes images automatically, so server response is largely out of your hands — apps, images, and fonts are not.

• How do I fix Core Web Vitals on Squarespace?

  On Squarespace, the wins are images and injected code: upload images close to the size they display at, strip the Code Injection header to what you really need, and use fewer web fonts. Squarespace serves scaled image versions and controls the hosting, so focus on the content and scripts you add yourself.

• How do I fix Core Web Vitals on Shopify?

  On Shopify, the biggest lever is apps: every installed app can inject scripts into your theme, and stores collect them over years. Uninstall what you do not use, upload product images at a consistent size, and keep your theme current. Shopify serves images from its CDN in scaled, modern formats.

• Why pay $29 once instead of $129 a month for a site audit?

  Ahrefs- and Semrush-style tools are monthly SEO suites for ongoing research. WebVitalist is pay-per-report: free scan, then Audit at $9 or Deep Audit at $29 one-time — under $30 for a real site audit, not a $129/mo subscription. Fix Pack is a $149 upsell for platform-specific fixes.

• Is PageSpeed Insights enough for a site audit?

  PageSpeed Insights is enough to read a lab or field score. It is not a site audit: it does not turn a failing metric into a prioritized fix plan for Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify. Use it to measure. Use an audit when you need the next step.

• What is a website audit?

  A website audit is a structured review of one site: technical SEO, speed, and the pages people actually land on. A score is an input. The useful output is a prioritized list of fixes. For one small-business site, that is usually a one-time report.

• Is there a free Squarespace SEO checker?

  Yes. A free Squarespace SEO checker can read one public Squarespace URL and flag a missing title, meta description, heading, or slow server response. It does not change Squarespace settings, and it does not run Lighthouse. Start there, then buy a one-time audit if you want a plan.

• Do I need Ahrefs for one website?

  No. Ahrefs, and suites like Semrush, are for ongoing keyword and backlink research. One small-business website usually needs a one-time audit, not a seat near $129 a month. Use a suite when you track rankings every month. Use an audit when you need a fix plan once.

• Is there a free website audit for restaurants?

  Yes. A free restaurant website audit reads one public URL and flags a missing title, meta description, heading, or a page that is not set up for phones. It does not edit Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify. Start with the scan, then buy Deep Audit once if you want a plan.

• Is there a free website audit for salons?

  Yes. A free salon website audit reads one public URL and flags a missing title, meta description, heading, or a booking page that is slow on a phone. It does not edit Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify. Start with the scan, then buy Deep Audit once if you want a plan.

• Is there a free website audit for florists?

  Yes. A free florist website audit reads one public URL and flags a missing title, meta description, heading, or a gallery that is heavy on a phone. It does not edit Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify. Start with the scan, then buy Deep Audit once if you want a plan.

• Is there a free website audit for bakeries?

  Yes. A free bakery website audit reads one public URL and flags a missing title, meta description, heading, or a menu page that is slow on a phone. It does not edit Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify. Start with the scan, then buy Deep Audit once if you want a plan.

• Is there a free website audit for Boise businesses?

  Yes. A free website audit for a Boise business reads one public URL and flags a missing title, meta description, heading, or a page that is not ready for phones. It does not edit Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify. Start with the scan, then buy Deep Audit once if you want a plan.

• How much does a website audit cost?

  A one-time website audit for a single small-business site starts with a free scan, then Audit at $9 or Deep Audit at $29. Deep Audit is the usual next step. Suites near $129 a month, and a full agency audit, cost more because they cover ongoing work rather than one checkup.

Want numbers for your own site? Run the free scan — it checks one public URL in about 30 seconds, no account needed.