Regardless of industry, most businesses aim to improve profits, and with the majority of shopping happening online, a strong SEO score is crucial. But achieving that perfect score is easier said than done, especially as Google continues to roll out algorithm updates. Your website now needs to be optimized for both desktop and mobile, and it needs to load at lightning speed on both. In this blog, we’ll cover the key elements that impact your PageSpeed score and how to improve them.
Why Loading Speed Matters
Your website’s loading speed is one of the most important aspects of SEO. A quick way to measure and improve it is by using Google PageSpeed Insights. This tool is incredibly helpful for web admins, site owners, and developers. Among many ranking factors, Bounce Rate and time-on-site play a significant role.
In this post, we’ll break down what Google PageSpeed Insights measures, what its recommendations mean, and practical tips to help you reach a score of 100.
Google PageSpeed Insights Metrics
Google PageSpeed Insights analyzes your website and provides recommendations for both desktop and mobile performance, focusing on several key metrics:
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First Contentful Paint (FCP): Measures how quickly your page’s first content appears. A good score is 0.9 seconds or less.
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Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Tracks when the main content becomes visible. A score of 1.2 seconds or less is ideal.
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Speed Index (SI): Shows how quickly content appears overall. A good SI is 1.3 seconds or less.
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Time to Interactive (TTI): Indicates when the page becomes fully interactive. Target: 2.5 seconds or less.
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Total Blocking Time (TBT): Measures how long your site is unresponsive due to scripts or other delays. Aim for under 150 milliseconds.
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Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Tracks visual instability during loading. A good score is 0.1 or lower.
How to Improve Page Speed
1. Image Optimization
Media files often slow down websites. Always size your images properly using CSS or upload them at the correct resolution from the start. Consider:
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Using the
<img>srcsetattribute for responsive image loading. -
Lazy loading for offscreen images.
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Compressing images with tools or plugins.
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Converting images to next-gen formats like WebP.
2. CSS and JavaScript Optimization
Render-blocking CSS or JS can hurt your score. To reduce their impact:
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Inline or defer non-critical styles and scripts.
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Load only the essential code in the
<head>, and defer the rest. -
Use
asyncordeferattributes for JavaScript where appropriate. -
Consider using a developer or plugin to manage this process safely.
3. Enable Compression
Compressing files (especially text) can drastically improve load times. GZIP compression is commonly used. You can:
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Use a plugin with compression features.
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Manually edit your
.htaccessfile (back up first). -
Confirm changes with online testing tools.
4. Reduce Server Response Time
Server response should be under 0.2 seconds. To improve it:
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Switch to PHP 7 if your hosting provider supports it.
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Use a PHP compatibility checker before making changes.
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Enable CDN (Content Delivery Network) services to serve content from servers closer to your users.
5. Minify Code
Minifying CSS and JavaScript files removes unnecessary spaces and characters. This reduces file size and improves performance. You can:
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Use plugins that automate the minification process.
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Test site functionality after each adjustment to ensure nothing breaks.
6. Use Fewer Plugins
Using too many plugins can slow down your site. Only keep what’s necessary and actively maintained.
Conclusion
There are many moving parts to achieving a high PageSpeed score. Some of them are technical, while others can be tackled through content and design adjustments. The goal isn’t to obsess over hitting 100%, but rather to create a faster, smoother experience for your visitors.
NNC Services is a HubSpot Platinum Partner offering SEO optimization and other digital marketing services. If you’d like help improving your website’s speed and rankings, get in touch with us or check out more insights on our blog.
