Why Performance Matters

Fast experiences increase engagement and conversion. Prioritize performance from discovery through release and treat it as a measurable product requirement rather than a one-off optimization.

Measure Continuously

Use lab tools like Lighthouse and field tools like RUM to understand both potential and actual user experience. Correlate performance metrics with business signals such as bounce and conversion.

Optimize Critical Paths and Assets

Minimize blocking JavaScript and CSS, prioritize above-the-fold assets, and serve appropriately sized images in modern formats to reduce payload and speed rendering.

Caching and Budgets

Leverage CDN caching, sensible cache headers, and adopt a performance budget enforced in CI. Combine synthetic monitoring with RUM to catch regressions before they impact users.

Operationalize Performance

Embed performance budgets into your release checklist and run regressions in CI to prevent slowdowns from reaching users. Share performance dashboards with product and marketing so teams can see how changes affect real user metrics.

Server-Side Optimization

Don't overlook the backend. Optimize database queries, use efficient algorithms, and implement server-side caching strategies like Redis to reduce time-to-first-byte (TTFB). Consider using edge computing to process requests closer to the user, minimizing latency for dynamic content.

Third-Party Script Management

Audit third-party scripts regularly. They often introduce significant blocking time. Defer or lazy-load non-essential scripts to prioritize the main thread for user interactions.

Five Key Strategies to Optimize Your Website's Performance