Image Optimisation for Speed
Images are usually the heaviest part of a web page, often accounting for more than half of everything a browser has to download. Getting them right is the single biggest win available on most sites.
Optimising images means delivering the smallest possible file that still looks sharp on the visitor's screen.
Why Images Come First
Because images so often make up the bulk of a page's weight, we tackle them before anything else. A site can have flawless code and still feel sluggish if a single oversized photo is forcing the browser to download far more than it needs.
The Payoff for Visitors
Getting images right is the change visitors feel most directly. Pages appear faster, mobile data is respected, and the design still looks crisp on every screen.
- Pages load noticeably faster, especially on mobile.
- Visitors on limited data plans are not penalised.
- Images stay sharp because they are sized correctly.
- Your Largest Contentful Paint score improves.
Common Image Mistakes
Most image weight problems come from a few habits that are easy to fall into, especially when content is uploaded directly by a busy team. Knowing them helps everyone keep the site lean over time.
- Uploading photos straight from a camera or phone at full resolution.
- Using a huge image where a small thumbnail would do.
- Saving in an old format that compresses poorly.
- Adding decorative images that carry no real value.
- Skipping compression because the file looks fine on a fast connection.
The Three Levers
- Dimensions: never serve a 2000-pixel image into a 400-pixel space.
- Format: modern formats compress far better than older ones.
- Compression: tuned compression removes data the eye cannot see.
Responsive Images
We serve different image sizes to different devices, so a phone downloads a small file and a large monitor gets a sharp one. The browser picks the best match automatically.
Our Workflow
- Resize images to the largest size they will actually be displayed at.
- Convert to a next-generation format with a fallback.
- Apply sensible compression and verify the result looks clean.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.