How can I improve page load speed on Webflow when embedding Calendly, as it is causing significant slowdowns and affecting animations?

When embedding Calendly or any third-party widget on your Webflow site, it's essential to optimize the integration to minimize its impact on page load speed. Here are some steps you can take to improve the page load speed and reduce the slowdowns caused by the Calendly embed:

1. Load the Calendly embed asynchronously: By default, the Calendly embed script loads synchronously, which means the browser has to wait for it to be fully loaded before rendering the rest of the page. You can modify the embed code to load it asynchronously using JavaScript, allowing the page to load while the Calendly script loads in the background. This can significantly improve the perceived page load speed.

2. Place the Calendly embed code strategically: Embedding the Calendly script towards the end of your page's body section or just before the closing tag ensures that the critical elements of your page, such as animations, are loaded and rendered first. This way, your visitors can interact with the website while the Calendly widget loads separately.

3. Optimize the Calendly widget's size: Check if there are any options to customize the widget's dimensions in the Calendly embed code. Setting a specific width and height for the widget can prevent layout shifts and ensure that the space for the widget is reserved on the page, improving the overall user experience.

4. Minimize resource-heavy animations: If the slowdowns caused by the Calendly embed are affecting other animations on your site, consider optimizing your animations to be less resource-intensive. Use efficient rendering techniques like CSS animations or transitions instead of JavaScript-based animations, and avoid excessive use of complex or large animations that can strain the browser's rendering capabilities.

5. Test and monitor your performance: Use performance testing tools such as Google Pagespeed Insights, GTmetrix, or WebPageTest to analyze your page load speed and identify any areas that need improvement. These tools provide detailed metrics and suggestions to optimize your website's performance, including specific recommendations for third-party scripts like Calendly.

Remember to implement these optimizations iteratively and test their impact on your site's performance. Monitor the changes and fine-tune as needed to strike a balance between functionality and speed.