How to Optimize Your Website’s Images for Faster Load Times
Every second counts in website loading speed and the images on your website can make or break that user experience. At Robral Technologies, we’ve seen firsthand how a few strategic optimizations can drastically improve load times. Take a project we tackled alongside our partners at Blacksmith Agency: They wanted a seamless experience for a client in the e-commerce space, and image optimization played a big part.
Choose the Right Format
The right choice of format can bring down file sizes greatly. PNGs are best for images with fewer colors, while JPEGs will do a better job in the case of images with more detailed information, better capturing that data. This format reduces file sizes without losing quality, which was key in our recent collaboration with Blacksmith to streamline a client’s website maintenance process.
Resize Images
Too often, sites load images in larger dimensions than is required, and that really slows things down. Resize images to the exact dimensions needed. This simple step saved one of our clients over 30% in load times! Isn’t amazing what a quick check and resize can do?
Compress Images
Image compression decreases the file size while maintaining quality. Something like TinyPNG or ImageOptim can make a huge difference without a noticeable drop in clarity. We always suggest testing different compressions across different pages to feel how they impact load time.
Use Lazy Loading
Lazy loading is a game-changer, as it ensures that images are loaded only when they come into the view of a user. Which, of course, boosts the speed and improves performance across devices-especially mobile. You can learn more about how to implement lazy loading and other advanced optimizations here.
Leverage CDN (Content Delivery Networks)
Using a Content Delivery Network can help distribute your images faster to users around the world. It’s an added cost, but well worth it for those whose site is catering to people around the globe.
When done correctly, image optimization is one of the most effective means to enhance page load times and improve user experience. If you’d like to hear more success stories, you can learn more here.
Finally, We’ve seen at companies like yours how it takes an average website and catapults it into one that’s not only fast but also efficient. Try a few of these tips out today, or get in touch with us to talk more about your website’s performance goals.