How I Improved My WordPress PageSpeed Score from 60 to 95
Source: Dev.to
Why Page Speed Is Important
Google’s guidelines list website speed as an important ranking factor. Faster sites provide a better user experience, encouraging visitors to stay longer.
PageSpeed Insights also evaluates core web vitals:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – time for the main content to load
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – amount of unexpected layout movement
- Total Blocking Time (TBT) – time JavaScript blocks the page
Improving these metrics boosts SEO and user experience.
Step 1: Optimizing Images
Images are a common cause of slow load times.
- Convert all images to WebP format to reduce file size while maintaining quality.
- Ensure each image is under 100 KB.
- Enable lazy loading so images load only when they enter the viewport.
These changes significantly reduced page load time.
Step 2: Tuning LiteSpeed Cache for Speed
Many sites install caching plugins but leave them at default settings. Proper tuning of LiteSpeed Cache yielded major gains. I enabled:
- CSS Minification
- JavaScript Minification
- Deferred JavaScript Loading
- Remove Unused CSS
- Browser Caching
Effective caching dramatically improves PageSpeed scores.
Step 3: Cutting Down on Unnecessary Plugins
Excess plugins add:
- Extra HTTP requests
- Additional JavaScript execution
- Higher server load
I removed non‑essential plugins and replaced simple functionalities with custom CSS. A leaner plugin set boosted performance.
Step 4: Eliminating Render‑Blocking Resources
Render‑blocking CSS and JavaScript slow page rendering. By deferring JavaScript loading and removing unused CSS, the number of blocking resources dropped, leading to faster first paint times. Tools like PageSpeed Insights help identify these resources.
Step 5: Font Optimization and Layout Stability
Too many font styles can hurt performance. I:
- Implemented efficient font‑loading techniques (e.g.,
font-display: swap). - Set fixed dimensions for containers to prevent layout shifts, reducing CLS issues.
Results
| Metric | Before Optimization | After Optimization |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Score | 60 | 95 |
| Loading Experience | Slow, many render‑blocking resources | Quick, smooth loading |
| User Experience | Noticeable delays | Faster, more responsive |
The improvements were evident both in test scores and real‑world user interactions.
Final Thoughts
Improving website performance isn’t about massive overhauls; it’s about fine‑tuning key areas: images, caching, scripts, and layout stability. For WordPress sites, these optimizations enhance user experience and boost search engine rankings.