Do you have any plans to address the issue of render-blocking resources on Webflow, or should we continue to self-host our sites if we want to improve performance?

Published on
October 9, 2023

As an SEO expert, I understand the importance of addressing render-blocking resources to improve website performance. Render-blocking resources are files (such as CSS and JavaScript) that prevent a webpage from rendering quickly because they need to be loaded before the browser can continue with the rendering process.

In the case of Webflow, there are a few strategies you can implement to optimize your site's performance and address render-blocking resources:

  1. Code Minification: Webflow performs automatic code minification by default. Minification removes unnecessary characters from your CSS and JavaScript files without affecting their functionality. This can help reduce the file size and improve load times.

  2. Asset Loading and Positioning: Webflow allows you to control how your CSS and JavaScript files are loaded and positioned. By default, Webflow loads CSS files in the head of the HTML document and JavaScript files just before the closing body tag. This can cause render-blocking issues. To address this, you can move non-critical CSS to an external file and load it asynchronously. You can also load JavaScript files asynchronously or deferred, so they don't block rendering.

  3. Lazy Loading: Webflow has a built-in lazy loading feature for images (using the image element's "Lazy load" option) and background images (using the background image element's "Lazy load" option). Lazy loading delays the loading of offscreen or non-visible images, which can significantly improve initial page load times.

  4. Custom Code Placement: If you're using custom code in Webflow, it's important to place your code in the correct places to avoid render-blocking issues. For example, placing critical CSS inside the header's <style> tag can help prevent Render Blocking CSS.

While Webflow provides some built-in optimization features, there may be situations where self-hosting your site can offer more flexibility and control over performance optimization. Self-hosting allows you to have complete control over your server settings, cache control, and other performance optimizations that may not be available in the Webflow platform.

Ultimately, the decision to self-host your site or rely on Webflow's optimization features depends on your specific needs and technical expertise. Assess your site's performance and consider experimenting with Webflow's optimization features before exploring self-hosting options.

Questions to optimize for SEO:

  1. How can I address render-blocking resources in Webflow to improve performance?
  2. What strategies can I implement to optimize website performance in Webflow?
  3. Should I self-host my Webflow site to improve performance or rely on Webflow's optimization features?