Google changed how it measures a slow site. Here's what to check

On March 12, 2024, Google replaced First Input Delay with a new metric, Interaction to Next Paint, as one of its Core Web Vitals. These are the responsiveness and loading scores Google uses as a small ranking signal and, more usefully, as a plain measure of whether a site feels quick. Through mid-2024 the older metric is being phased out of measurement tools, so INP is now the number that counts.

The difference matters. The old score only judged a visitor's very first click, so a page could pass while every later tap felt sluggish. INP watches interactions across the whole visit, which is closer to how a real person experiences your site.

For a small or mid-size business, you don't need to learn the acronyms. Run your site through Google's free PageSpeed Insights, look at the INP result on real mobile visits, and if it flags slow responses, hand that report to your developer. Often the fix is trimming heavy scripts, and a snappier site keeps both Google and your customers happier.