If you want your business to rank on the first page of Google in 2026, you need to pass the Core Web Vitals (CWV) test. Google uses these metrics to decide if your website provides a good experience. If your site is slow or "jumpy," Google will hide it from potential customers.
Many people think Webflow is fast out of the box. It is, but if a developer is messy, they can easily ruin it. At Blott, we follow a strict process to keep our sites lightning-fast.
What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are three specific metrics that measure speed, stability, and responsiveness. Think of it as a health check for your website. You can check your current score on Google PageSpeed Insights.
1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – The Speed Factor
LCP measures how long it takes for the largest element (usually a hero image or a big headline) to appear on the screen. It should happen in 2.5 seconds or less.
How to optimize LCP in Webflow:
- Optimize Images: Use WebP format. Webflow does this automatically now, but you still need to make sure you aren't uploading 5MB files.
- Priority Loading: For your main hero image, disable "lazy loading." You want that image to load immediately.
- Clean up your CSS: If you have hundreds of unused styles, the browser has to read them all before showing the page. Use the Webflow Clean Up tool regularly.
2. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – The Stability Factor
Have you ever tried to click a button, but the page suddenly moved, and you clicked an ad instead? That is a bad CLS. Your site should be stable while loading.
How to fix CLS:
- Set Dimensions: Always give your images and video containers a specific height and width. This tells the browser to "save that space" before the image even loads.
- Avoid Font Swapping: If your custom font loads late, the text might change size and push elements down. Use system fonts or ensure your web fonts are optimized.
3. Interaction to Next Paint (INP) – The Response Factor
This is a newer metric. It measures how fast the site reacts when a user clicks a button or opens a menu. If there is a delay, the site feels "laggy."
How to improve INP:
- Limit Heavy Scripts: Don't load 20 different tracking pixels and heavy JavaScript libraries if you don't need them.
- Simplify Animations: As we mentioned in our [CSS animations guide], moving too many things at once can freeze the browser for a split second.
Quick Wins for Webflow Optimization
If you want to improve your score today, do these three things:
- Audit your Apps: Every third-party app you add to Webflow slows it down. Ask yourself: "Do I really need this widget?"
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Webflow already has a great CDN, but make sure your assets are linked correctly.
- Minimize DOM Size: Don't nest 10 div blocks inside each other just to center a piece of text. Keep your structure simple.
The Blott Quality Check
At Blott, we don't just build for looks. We run a performance audit on every site before it goes live. We make sure that your "Enterprise" site doesn't just look expensive—it feels expensive because it is fast and smooth.
Google doesn't reward "pretty" sites; it rewards sites that work.
