Page Speed Optimization Checklist
Reduce bounce rates by optimizing page load times. Every 100ms improvement = 1% conversion lift. Free actionable checklist.
Why Page Speed Matters
Page speed directly impacts bounce rate, conversion rate, and SEO rankings. Google found that 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load.
Users leave if load time > 3 seconds
For every 100ms speed improvement
When improving from 5s to 2s load time
Page Speed Optimization Checklist
1. Image Optimization (Biggest Impact)
Compress all images
Use TinyPNG, ImageOptim, or Squoosh. Aim for <100KB per image without visible quality loss.
Use modern formats (WebP, AVIF)
WebP is 25-35% smaller than JPEG/PNG with same quality. AVIF is even better but less supported.
Implement lazy loading
Use loading="lazy" attribute. Only load images when they enter viewport.
Serve responsive images
Use srcset to serve appropriately sized images for different screen sizes.
2. Code Optimization
Minify CSS, JavaScript, HTML
Remove whitespace, comments, and unnecessary code. Use build tools like Webpack, Vite, or Parcel.
Defer non-critical JavaScript
Use defer or async attributes. Load analytics, chat widgets, and non-critical scripts last.
Inline critical CSS
Inline above-the-fold CSS in <head> to eliminate render-blocking requests.
Remove unused code
Audit and remove unused CSS/JS. Tools: PurgeCSS, Coverage tab in Chrome DevTools.
3. Server & Hosting Optimization
Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network)
Cloudflare, Fastly, or AWS CloudFront. Serve static assets from servers geographically close to users.
Enable browser caching
Set Cache-Control headers. Cache static assets for 1 year, dynamic content for shorter periods.
Enable Gzip/Brotli compression
Compress text files (HTML, CSS, JS) to 70-90% smaller. Brotli is better than Gzip when supported.
Reduce server response time (TTFB)
Optimize database queries, use caching (Redis, Memcached), upgrade server if needed. Target <200ms TTFB.
4. Advanced Techniques
Preload critical resources
Use <link rel="preload"> for fonts, hero images, critical scripts.
Prefetch DNS for external domains
Use <link rel="dns-prefetch"> for analytics, fonts, CDNs.
Reduce third-party scripts
Every third-party script (analytics, chat, ads) slows your site. Audit and remove unnecessary ones.
Optimize web fonts
Use font-display: swap, subset fonts to only needed characters, limit to 2-3 font weights max.
Quick Wins (Implement in <1 Hour)
Compress all images using TinyPNG or Squoosh (15 mins, 30-50% size reduction)
Add loading="lazy" to all images below the fold (5 mins)
Enable Gzip compression on your server (10 mins, check with host)
Defer non-critical JavaScript (analytics, chat widgets) using async/defer (10 mins)
Set up Cloudflare free CDN (20 mins, works with any host)
Essential Speed Testing Tools
Google PageSpeed Insights
Most comprehensive. Shows mobile + desktop scores, Core Web Vitals, specific recommendations.
pagespeed.web.dev →WebPageTest
Advanced testing with filmstrip view, connection throttling, repeat views.
webpagetest.org →Chrome DevTools Lighthouse
Built into Chrome. Test directly in browser, great for development.
Press F12 → Lighthouse tab
What Our Clients Achieved
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