How to optimise Google PageSpeed in WordPress

Discover effective techniques to improve your site's performance and speed up loading with PageSpeed optimisation tools in WordPress.

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The importance of PageSpeed and its impact on WordPress positioning

PageSpeed is one of the most important factors influencing the SEO of WordPress sites. As we well know, faster pages are more likely to rank higher in Google search results. Guided by the above, PageSpeed optimisation is a key element of an SEO strategy. By improving page load speed, we increase user satisfaction, which directly translates into better search engine rankings.

The best tools for PageSpeed optimisation

PageSpeed optimisation may seem complicated, but there are many tools that can help us. Here are the most important ones:

• Google PageSpeed Insights - is a free Google tool that analyses the content of a page and suggests changes that can improve its performance.
• GTmetrix - offers detailed reports on site speed, with practical recommendations.
• Pingdom - allows page load times to be measured and indicates elements for improvement.
• WebPageTest - allows the site to be tested from different locations and browsers, giving a more complete picture of its performance.

PageSpeed optimisation techniques in WordPress

In order to effectively improve PageSpeed, it is worth applying some proven techniques. Here are a few of them:

• Composition of images - Use modern image formats, such as WebP, and compress images without losing quality.
• Prioritising charging - Load the most important resources first and delay loading less important files.
• Use of cache - Using cache plug-ins allows static versions of pages to be loaded quickly, which speeds them up significantly.
• CSS and JS minification - Reduce the size of CSS and JavaScript files by removing unnecessary characters and comments.
• Lazy Loading - A technique that allows images and videos to load only when the user scrolls the page to their position.

Implementation of acceleration plug-ins

There are several plugins dedicated specifically to improving the performance of WordPress sites. Here are some of them:

• W3 Total Cache - one of the most popular cache plug-ins, provides dynamic optimisation of page speed.
• WP Rocket - a commercial plug-in offering advanced optimisation options without the need to know the code.
• Smush - an image compression tool that automatically optimises new and existing images on a page.
• Autoptimize - helps to minify CSS and JavaScript files and enables lazy loading optimisation.

Monitoring and maintaining website performance

Once optimisation changes have been made, it is crucial to regularly monitor the performance of the site. You should regularly check PageSpeed Insights and apply suggested changes. It is also a good idea to carry out a site performance audit once in a while to ensure that all elements are working correctly.

Many times changes made to a site can affect its overall performance. Regular review and testing will allow you to react quickly to any problems and keep your site in excellent shape. Monitoring server logs and analysing user behaviour are further steps that will contribute to the long-term success of the WordPress positioning.

If you are looking for more information on how to improve the performance of a website using a template, I invite you to read the article Transform your website with the Astra WordPress template.