Nobody likes a slow website. If your WordPress site takes too long to load, visitors might leave before they even see what you have to offer. Plus, Google isn’t a fan of slow sites either, which can hurt your rankings and visibility.

The good news? You have a lot of ways to make your site faster. In this guide, we’ll split it into three parts:

• Simple methods WordPress owners can apply themselves without technical knowledge.
• Advanced methods that usually need a developer or agency.
• Extra techniques to go even further if you want the best performance possible.

We’ll also explain why each method matters and include practical steps on how to do it.

Part 1: Speed optimizations WP owner can do yourself

These are easy wins you can implement without coding or technical knowledge.

1. Choose a fast hosting provider

Why it matters: Your hosting is the engine of your website. A slow hosting provider means slow site performance, no matter how optimised your website is.

How to do it:

• Research online for best hosting services
• Look for features like SSD storage, CDN integration, and WordPress optimization.
• Select a server location closest to your main audience.

2. Use a lightweight, speed-optimised Theme

Why it matters: Heavy themes add unnecessary scripts and design elements that slow down loading times.

How to do it:

• Browse WordPress’s official theme repository.
• Choose themes labeled as “lightweight,” “fast,” or “performance-focused.”
• Preview them on mobile and desktop using Google PageSpeed Insights.

Some themes that WP owner can choose: Astra, GeneratePress, Blocksy, Neve, etc.

3. Compress images before uploading

Why it matters: Large image files are one of the biggest causes of slow websites.

How to do it:

• Use free tools like TinyPNG, Squoosh, or ImageOptim to compress images.
• Save images in WebP format for better compression when possible.
• Upload only optimised images to your WordPress Media Library. Make sure blog post images are no smaller than 1000px wide. Target file size should be around 40kb-120kb.

Optional plugin: There are some plugins that can help with the automatic image optimisation like Smush, or Jetpack Boost

Pro Tip: Responsive images (with srcset) automatically adjust the image size depending on the device, making them even faster.

4. Install a caching Plugin (If not on WordPress.com)

Why it matters: Caching stores a ready version of your pages, reducing loading time dramatically.

How to do it:

• Go to “Plugins > Add New” in your dashboard.
• Search for “cache”, then you will see “W3 Total Cache” or “WP Super Cache.”
• Install, activate, and follow the plugin’s setup guide.

Note: WordPress.com includes built-in caching.

5. Turn on lazy loading for images and videos

Why it matters: Lazy loading delays the loading of images and videos until users scroll to them, speeding up initial page load.

How to do it:

• WordPress core already enables lazy loading.
• For more control, install “Lazy Load by WP Rocket.“
• Enable options for images, iframes, and embedded videos.

6. Remove unused Plugins and Themes

Why it matters: Every plugin or theme you keep adds extra code to your site, even when inactive.

How to do it:

• Go to “Plugins > Installed Plugins.”
• Deactivate and delete any plugin you no longer use.
• Go to “Appearance > Themes” and delete unused themes.

Tip: Keep only your current active theme and one WordPress default theme.

7. Clean database regularly

Why it matters: Your database can become bloated with old drafts, spam comments, and revisions.

How to do it:

• Find a plugin for this task such as WP-Optimize
• In the plugin dashboard, clean post revisions, trashed posts, spam comments, and optimize database tables.
• Schedule monthly cleanups.

Important: Always back up your website before major cleanups.

8. Use a free CDN (if self-hosted)

Why it matters: A CDN (Content Delivery Network) stores copies of your site around the world, reducing loading times for visitors far from your main server.

How to do it:

• Sign up for a free Cloudflare account or any CDN service you prefer
• Add your website following CDN setup wizard
• Update your domain’s nameservers to the CDN

Note: WordPress.com includes a CDN by default.

Part 2: Speed optimizations that usually need developer or agency support

These methods require deeper technical skills but can dramatically improve site performance. It’s quite challenging to do it on your own when you don’t have strong technical knowledge. So you should consider partnering or consulting with an agency or experienced WP developer.

9. Optimise Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, INP)

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Optimize your largest visible element to load faster.
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Prevent page elements from shifting around as they load.
• Interaction to Next Paint (INP): Improve your site’s response to user interactions.

Developer Task: Optimise images, defer scripts, prioritise visible content.

10. Critical CSS generation

Why it matters: Loading only essential CSS first makes your page feel faster.

Developer Task: Use WP Rocket or manual CSS extraction to generate critical CSS.

11. Remove render-blocking resources

Why it matters: Scripts that load too early delay page rendering.

Developer Task: Defer non-critical JavaScript and CSS.

12. Minify and combine CSS and JS Files

Why it matters: Fewer, smaller files mean faster loading.

Developer Task: Minify and combine scripts using plugins like Autoptimize.

13. Server-Level optimisation (PHP Version, Database Tuning)

Why it matters: Updated server technology and database optimization drastically reduce load times.

Developer Task: Update to PHP 8.2+, configure Redis/Memcached, and optimise queries.

14. Advanced image delivery (WebP, AVIF, Adaptive Images)

Why it matters: Next-gen formats load much faster without losing quality.

Developer Task: Serve WebP or AVIF formats and deliver adaptive images depending on device screen.

15. Font optimisation

Why it matters: Poor font loading slows your First Paint.

Developer Task: Self-host fonts, preload important ones, and eliminate unnecessary font weights.

16. Advanced CDN rules and Full page caching

Why it matters: Serving fully cached HTML pages globally makes your site load incredibly fast.

Developer Task: Configure Cloudflare APO, BunnyCDN, or Fastly full-page caching.

Part 3: Extra techniques to enchance WordPress performance

If you want to take your site’s performance even further:

17. Use a lightweight page builder or native Gutenberg blocks

Tip: If you use page builders like Elementor, stick to minimal designs. Whenever possible, prefer Gutenberg native blocks for leaner code.

18. Monitor website speed regularly

Tip: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or WebPageTest monthly to catch performance issues early.

19. Limit WooCommerce add-ons (for Stores)

Tip: Only install essential WooCommerce plugins and optimize images for product pages.

20. Optimize mobile performance separately

Tip:

• Use smaller image sizes for mobile.
• Avoid autoplay videos or heavy sliders.
• Enable AMP if it makes sense for your audience.

Final Thoughts

Improving your WordPress site’s speed is one of the smartest investments you can make for better SEO, higher conversions, and happier visitors.

• If you want quick wins, start with the simple self-optimizations in Part 1.
• If your site is complex, high-traffic, or revenue-critical, work with a trusted agency for Part 2 and beyond.

Website speed isn’t a “one-time fix”, it’s ongoing maintenance. But the rewards in traffic, leads, and user satisfaction are absolutely worth it.