How can I resolve INP issues on my Webflow site detected by Google's Search Console, and improve the slow loading time of Webflow itself?

Interaction to Next Paint (INP) issues in Google Search Console mean your Webflow site has sluggish responsiveness during user input. This can be caused by JavaScript execution delays, large DOM sizes, or inefficient animations. Improving Webflow’s own loading time involves additional front-end and asset optimizations.

1. Understand INP in Core Web Vitals

• INP measures how long it takes for a site to respond to user interactions like clicking, tapping, or keyboard input.
• A good INP is under 200 ms, while anything over 500 ms is considered poor.
• Check specific URLs and elements flagged in Google Search Console’s Core Web Vitals report.

2. Reduce JavaScript Execution Time

• Minimize Webflow interactions and animations, especially page-load or scroll-based actions.
• Limit third-party scripts (e.g., chat widgets, tracking tools) and only load them on necessary pages.
• Use Webflow's built-in option to minify JS in Site Settings > Publishing.
• Defer or use lazy loading for any custom scripts by placing them before the tag and adding defer.

3. Optimize Fonts and Images

• Use Webflow’s built-in font optimization and avoid loading unnecessary font weights/styles.
• Replace PNGs/JPEGs with WebP for smaller image sizes.
• Enable lazy loading (loading="lazy") on images and background videos.

4. Simplify Page Structure

• Remove or limit nested structures and large DOM depth—flatten complex component trees.
• Avoid display: none elements used for dynamic tabs or sliders if they aren’t needed on load.

5. Limit Lottie Animations and Sliders

• Lottie files and sliders can delay interactivity—all instances are rendered with JavaScript.
• Use static SVGs or simpler scroll interactions when possible.

6. Implement Page Load Optimization Techniques

• Enable Webflow’s built-in asset optimizations under Publishing settings: Minify CSS and JavaScript, Enable GZIP.
• Use Webflow’s Site Plan with Fastly CDN to make sure global visitors get fast asset delivery.
• Avoid embedding large widgets (like maps or carousels) above the fold.

7. Use Page Speed and INP Diagnostics Tools

• Use PageSpeed Insights (https://pagespeed.web.dev) to identify specific slow scripts or layout shifts.
• Use Chrome’s DevTools > Performance tab to record interaction timelines and see main-thread blocking scripts.

8. Consider Code Splitting or External Hosting for Heavy Scripts

• If you're including a large custom script for only one page, upload it separately via a CDN (like jsDelivr) and load only when needed.
• Avoid loading unused CMS-driven content behind hidden tabs or sections.

Summary

To resolve INP issues and improve Webflow loading time, minimize and delay JavaScript, reduce asset size, simplify interactions, and streamline the DOM structure. Use Webflow’s built-in optimization options and audit your pages with Google’s tools to target specific problems.