Understanding and improving your INP score

When it comes to SEO, Google sets the standards and trends. In recent years, the focus has been on user experience, leading to the introduction of new metrics such as Interaction to Next Paint ( INP ). Before we overwhelm you with technical terms, let’s first understand the essence of INP and why it’s so important.

What is INP?

Origin and definition of INP

Interaction to Next Paint ( INP ) was born out of the need for a better metric to evaluate the responsiveness of a web page. While page load times and other traditional metrics are important, INP offers a deeper perspective, assessing the time between a user’s interaction and the next “paint” visible on the site.

Importance of INP in Core Web Vitals

The Core Web Vitals are essential because they directly reflect the user experience on a website. INP, by replacing FID (First Input Delay), shows Google’s commitment to providing a detailed picture of the user experience. It’s no longer just about how long it takes a page to load, but how it reacts to user interactions.

Evolution of metrics

The evolution of user experience metrics has always focused on better understanding users’ actual behavior on the web. From initial load times to interactive metrics such as INP, the goal remains the same: to understand and improve the overall experience for users.

Why is INP vital?

Relation with SEO

An excellent INP score can improve a site’s SEO. Google rewards sites that offer a superior user experience. So if your site responds quickly to user interactions, it’s likely to rank higher in search results.

Influence on conversion rate

A responsive site can increase conversion rates. If users don’t have to wait long to see the results of their actions, they’re more likely to stay on your site, become more engaged and ultimately convert.

Benefits on customer loyalty

A site with a good INP score is more likely to fidelize its users. Fluid, responsive interaction builds trust and encourages users to return, increasing customer lifetime value.

Optimizing INP score

Best Practices

• Clean Code: Keep your code as light as possible. Eliminate unnecessary scripts, plugins and extensions.
• Fast servers: Invest in quality hosting. If your server responds quickly, your INP will be better.
• Optimize images and videos: These elements can considerably slow down your site. Make sure they are well optimized.
• Caching: Use caching solutions to quickly serve content to recurring visitors.

Case studies

• A recent study showed that by optimizing resources and delaying the loading of certain non-essential features, sites can reduce their INP latency by almost 22%.
• In another study, by combining the use of a CDN with cleaner code, sites saw a 35% improvement in their INP score.

Tools you need to know

There are many tools to help you measure and improve your INP score. Google PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse and Chrome DevTools are among the most popular. Each tool offers specific insights and recommendations for improving your site’s responsiveness.

FAQ on Google’s INP score

• Does INP affect ads?Yes, poor INP performance can delay ad loading, which can affect revenue.
• What are the tools for testing NPI? In addition to PageSpeed Insights and Search Console, Chrome DevTools also offers valuable insights into NPI.
• Is my site penalized if my INP score is low? Although Google doesn’t impose “penalties”, a poor INP score can indirectly harm your rankings due to poor user experience.
• How does INP compare to other metrics? INP is unique in that it focuses on responsiveness after user interaction, distinguishing it from traditional loading metrics.

Conclusion

The INP, as a major metric introduced by Google, deserves our full attention. With the increasing importance of user experience in SEO and conversion, it’s essential to understand and master