Page Speed
Last updated: March 2025
Definition
How fast your page loads and becomes interactive. Measured by Core Web Vitals: LCP (largest content paint), FID (first input delay), and CLS (cumulative layout shift). Google uses page speed as a ranking factor. Slow pages also lose visitors before they even see your content.
Why It Matters
Every additional second of load time increases bounce rate by 5-10%. Google confirmed Core Web Vitals as a ranking signal. Fast pages rank better, convert better, and create a better user experience. Speed is a competitive advantage most sites ignore.
How to Improve
- Compress and lazy-load images. They're the biggest payload on most pages. Use WebP or AVIF formats.
- Minimize render-blocking JavaScript and CSS. Defer non-critical scripts. Inline critical CSS.
- Use a CDN to serve static assets from locations closer to your visitors.
- Test with Google PageSpeed Insights and focus on fixing the specific issues it flags. Don't guess at optimization.