Page Speed Optimisation: A Technical Guide for 2026

Page speed directly impacts both user experience and search rankings. Here is a systematic approach to fixing the issues that matter most.

Diagnose First

Use SeoCute Site Audit to get CWV scores for all your pages. Use PageSpeed Insights for individual URL analysis with specific recommendations. Use Chrome DevTools Performance panel to understand exactly what is happening during page load.

Image Optimisation

Images are typically the largest contributor to page weight. Convert all images to WebP format. Implement lazy loading for below-the-fold images. Use responsive images with srcset to serve appropriately sized images for each device. Compress images to the minimum acceptable quality.

JavaScript Optimisation

Render-blocking JavaScript delays page rendering. Defer non-critical scripts. Split large JavaScript bundles. Remove unused JavaScript — tools like Chrome Coverage tab show which JS is never executed.

Server and CDN

Server response time (TTFB) should be under 600ms. Upgrade server resources if needed. Implement full-page caching. Use a CDN to serve static assets from edge locations close to your users.