Website Speed Checklist: Hit Google's Core Web Vitals Without a Dev Team

Is your website feeling a bit sluggish? Good news: you don't need a full engineering squad to turbocharge your site speed. This checklist will help SaaS founders, indie hackers, and marketers boost website performance and nail Google's Core Web Vitals without heavy coding or a dedicated dev team. We'll walk through practical optimizations you can implement yourself – from image compression to lazy loading – and explain how each one improves loading speed. But first, let's talk about why site speed matters in the first place.

Why Site Speed Matters (SEO, Bounce Rates & Ad $$$)

A fast website isn't just a "nice-to-have" – it directly affects your traffic, user engagement, and even marketing costs. Here's why speed is mission-critical:

• Better SEO Rankings: Google uses page speed as a ranking factor for both desktop and mobile search. Simply put, faster-loading sites tend to rank higher in search results. Read more about page speed's impact on SEO. If you rely on organic traffic, shaving off seconds could bump you ahead of slower competitors.
• Lower Bounce Rates: Internet users have zero patience for slow pages. For example, pages that load within 1-2 seconds have a tiny ~9% bounce rate, but if load time reaches 5 seconds, bounce rate jumps to about 38%. See bounce rate statistics. In Google's research, going from 1 second to 6 seconds doubles the probability that a visitor bounces (leaves immediately). View Google's research on bounce rates. In short, every extra second costs you potential customers.
• More Efficient Ad Spend: If you're running ads, a slow landing page is literally burning money. Visitors who click your ad but abandon the loading page still cost you a click. Plus, Google Ads actually penalizes slow pages by lowering your ad quality scores – meaning you pay more per click or get lower visibility. Learn about Google Ads landing page experience. Speeding up your site improves conversion rates (so your ad dollars convert) and can even improve your Google Ads cost-per-click by boosting your landing page experience.

Figure: Conversion Rate vs. Load Time for Walmart's site. Longer load times led to much lower conversion rates, meaning fewer sales. See Walmart's conversion rate analysis. In Walmart's analysis, each 100 ms speed-up increased revenue by about 1%, underscoring how performance directly impacts the bottom line.

In a nutshell, a faster site = better Google rankings, more engaged visitors, and higher ROI on your marketing. Now, let's dive into the hands-on checklist of optimizations you can tackle on your own to hit those Core Web Vitals benchmarks!

1. Compress and Optimize Your Images

High-quality images are often the #1 culprit behind slow pages. Luckily, image optimization is one of the most impactful DIY fixes. Large image files inflate your page size and slow down Largest Contentful Paint (LCP). Here's how to speed them up:

• Compress images to reduce file size: Use a tool or plugin (many are free) to shrink image file sizes without visible quality loss. In fact, modern image optimizers can automatically compress images by up to 80% with no noticeable drop in quality. For example, WP plugins like Smush or ShortPixel, or online tools like TinyPNG and Squoosh, can crunch down your JPEG/PNG files. A case study showed that an e-commerce site cut its total page weight by 50% after compressing images – making pages load 1 second faster on average.
• Serve images in modern formats: Newer formats like WebP and AVIF achieve the same visual quality at much smaller file sizes than old JPEG or PNG. Many tools can convert images to WebP/AVIF, or you can use a CMS plugin to serve WebP versions to supported browsers. Smaller files = faster loads.
• Resize images to actual display dimensions: Don't upload a 4000px-wide hero image if it only displays at 1200px on your site. Resize or use responsive image <img srcset> attributes so the browser downloads an image no larger than needed for the user's device. This avoids wasting bandwidth on huge images that get shrunken down in CSS.
• Remove unnecessary metadata: Strip out EXIF data (camera info, GPS, etc.) from images before using them. That data is invisible to users but adds to file size. Removing metadata can further slim down files with zero quality impact (many optimizers do this by default).
• Bonus tips: If you have many small icons/graphics, consider using an SVG (which is vector and lightweight) or combining icons into an icon font or sprite. Ensure you specify image width and height attributes in HTML to prevent layout shifts (this helps Cumulative Layout Shift metric).

Quick how-to: For non-technical folks, the easiest route is installing an image optimization plugin (if you use WordPress, etc.) or using a web-based compressor. Drag-and-drop your images into tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh, download the compressed versions, and replace the originals on your site. You'll immediately cut down page weight and improve load times. Optimized images = a happier, faster-loading site.

2. Implement Lazy Loading for Off-Screen Content

Ever visited a page and noticed images loading just as you scroll down? That's lazy loading in action. This technique defers loading of images (or other media like videos/iframes) that are below the fold (not immediately visible on page load). By not loading everything upfront, you speed up initial load and First Contentful Paint.

Modern browsers make this super easy: just add loading="lazy" to your <img> and <iframe> tags. Lazy loading tells the browser: "Don't download this image until the user is about to scroll it into view." This reduces initial page payload, often dramatically. According to Google's web vitals guide, "lazy loading delays the loading of images outside the viewport until they are needed, improving FCP and overall page load speed."

How to do it: Check your site's image tags. For any images that are not immediately visible at page load (e.g. images further down the page), add the attribute: <img src="myimage.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="...">. Most modern CMS platforms and site builders now include lazy loading out-of-the-box or via a setting/plugin. For example, WordPress enabled native lazy loading by default since v5.5. If you use a website builder or React/Next.js, there may be a built-in lazy image component (like Next.js's <Image> component which lazy-loads by default for offscreen images).

Also consider lazy-loading hefty third-party embeds – e.g., YouTube videos or maps – using a similar approach or a lightweight placeholder that loads the real embed on click. The result: your critical content loads faster, and users only download heavy media if they scroll to it.

Pro tip: Avoid lazy-loading images that are in the initial viewport (like your banner or hero image), as that could actually hurt your LCP (Largest Contentful Paint). Those should load normally (eagerly), possibly even preloaded (more on that later). Lazy-load the rest. Done right, this can significantly boost perceived performance and lighten the load on your users' browsers.

3. Optimize Your Web Fonts (or Use System Fonts)

Custom web fonts can make your site look unique, but they can also slow down first paint if not handled carefully. Ever seen a blank text or "invisible" text flash while a page loads? That's a font loading issue. Here's how to balance typography with performance:

• Use font-display in CSS: Set your @font-face { font-display: swap; } so that text is immediately rendered with a fallback font while your custom font loads in the background. Learn about font-display. This way, users can start reading content right away (no blank text), and the custom font swaps in once ready. The swap value is usually recommended for most cases. If you want to be extra careful about layout shifts, you can use font-display: optional with a preload – this hides text for a very brief 100ms and then shows fallback if font isn't loaded, which can prevent any swap at all. Read about font-display options. The key is: don't leave the default (which can render text invisible for up to 3 seconds waiting for the font file).
• Limit font weights and styles: Every extra weight or style (bold, semi-bold, italics, etc.) is another file to download. Try to use at most 2 font families and a couple of weights on your site's critical content. Do you really need Light, Regular, Semi-Bold, Bold and Extra-Bold? Probably not. Stick to a few, and your users' browsers have fewer files to fetch.
• Subset your fonts: If you're using a custom font but only need a subset of characters (e.g. just basic Latin letters, not the entire Unicode set), you can generate a subsetted font file. This removes unused glyphs and dramatically shrinks the file size. Tools like Font Squirrel or Google Fonts' subset feature can help strip a font to only the characters you need. Smaller font file = faster load.
• Consider system or web-safe fonts: The fastest font is the one the user's device already has. System fonts (like Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, etc., or platform-specific ones like San Francisco on macOS/iOS) don't require any download. Using a classic web-safe font for body text can make your site load instantly in that regard. Some modern design approaches use system fonts to avoid the performance hit of custom fonts entirely – something to consider if branding allows.
• Self-host fonts or use faster delivery: If you use Google Fonts or similar, those services are pretty optimized, but you might experiment with self-hosting the font files on your server or a CDN. It can sometimes be faster, especially if you can host them with better caching or HTTP/2 multiplexing. Whichever route, ensure font files have a long cache lifetime (so returning visitors don't re-download them).

Quick how-to: In your CSS (or wherever you load web fonts), add the font-display: swap property to each @font-face rule. Example:

@font-face {
  font-family: 'MyFont';
  src: url('/fonts/myfont.woff2') format('woff2');
  font-weight: 400;
  font-style: normal;
  font-display: swap;
}

If you're not comfortable digging in CSS, you can use Google Fonts' embed link with display=swap parameter, or use a plugin that handles it. Limiting weights is usually as easy as only selecting the ones you need in the font service or only enqueuing those files. For subsetting, you might need a generator tool – upload your font, select subset, download the smaller file and use that on your site. It's a bit of effort but can significantly cut down font load times. Remember, fonts affect Core Web Vitals too by impacting First Contentful Paint and Cumulative Layout Shift (when late-loading fonts swap and change text size). Optimize them for a snappier experience.

4. Manage Third-Party Scripts and Tags

Third-party scripts – like analytics trackers, ad networks, chat widgets, A/B testing tools, social media embeds, etc. – can be silent performance killers. Each one can introduce network requests, CPU work, and sometimes block the main thread. Without a dev team, you might have added a bunch of marketing and analytics scripts over time – now it's audit time!

• Audit and cull unnecessary scripts: Take inventory of all external scripts loading on your site. Ask "do we really need this?" for each. It's common to find old tracking pixels or widgets that aren't providing much value. For any script that isn't crucial to your business, remove it. "Limit third-party scripts: they can introduce performance overhead. Evaluate their necessity and explore alternatives if possible." For example, if you have two analytics tools, maybe consolidate to one. If you embedded a random widget that no one uses, drop it.
• Load third-party scripts asynchronously: For the third-party scripts you do keep, make sure they're not blocking your page from loading. Use the async or defer attribute for script tags so they load in the background or after the main content. Most well-behaved third-party snippets (like Google Analytics gtag.js) are already async by default – but double-check. The rule is: never let a third-party script halt your page rendering. "Never allow rendering to be blocked by a third-party" is a good mantra. If a script must load early (rare), see if you can at least defer heavy work until after first paint.
• Use a Tag Manager (carefully): Tools like Google Tag Manager can help control when and how third-party tags fire. For instance, you can set certain tags to trigger on a delay or only on specific pages. This prevents a tag overload on every single page. Just be careful – Tag Manager itself is another script, and piling too much logic in it can also slow things. But it's a useful way for non-developers to manage scripts in one place.
• Lazy-load or delay non-essential scripts: Similar to image lazy loading, you can delay scripts that aren't needed immediately. Some strategies: load chat widgets after a few seconds or on user interaction (e.g., only load the chat widget when user clicks "Chat"); load heavy analytics or heatmap scripts after the page is interactive; or use requestIdleCallback in custom code if you have access to it. Several WordPress performance plugins (like WP Rocket's "delay JS" feature or Flying Scripts) can automatically delay third-party scripts until user interaction.
• Host scripts locally or on a CDN: In some cases, you can download a copy of a third-party script and serve it yourself (to eliminate an extra DNS lookup and leverage your caching). For example, Google Fonts or some analytics libraries can be self-hosted. If you do this, keep them updated. Alternatively, use a CDN for the script source if available, as it might load faster from a distributed network.
• Monitor impact: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or WebPageTest to see which third-party domains are slowing you down. These tools often flag third-party scripts in their reports ("Reduce the impact of third-party code" warnings). This can guide you on which script to tackle first – e.g., maybe that fancy carousel from a third-party is taking 2 seconds to execute, or an ad network script is loading 50 ad trackers. Knowing the worst offenders helps you prioritize.

Remember: every script you add is another potential roadblock to a fast load. Be ruthless in trimming the fat. Your users (and Core Web Vitals metrics) will thank you. By limiting and optimizing third-party code, you can often save seconds of load time and greatly improve First Input Delay/Interaction to Next Paint (since the browser isn't busy executing tons of third-party JS). In short: less bloat = more speed.

5. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

You don't need a developer to leverage the power of a CDN – and it can make a world of difference, especially if you have a global audience. A Content Delivery Network is a service that caches your site's files (images, CSS, JS, etc.) on servers around the world, so they're delivered to users from a location nearby rather than your origin server.

Why does that matter? It cuts down the distance and time data travels. As a result, users get content faster, improving load times. "A CDN distributes your website's static content across multiple edge servers, reducing the physical distance to users and leading to faster loading times for global audiences." In many cases, CDNs are also highly optimized with quick protocols (HTTP/2, HTTP/3), caching rules, and large bandwidth pipes that can handle traffic spikes better than a single server.

How to implement: The easiest way is to use a service like Cloudflare, which offers a free plan for basic CDN and caching. You would sign up and point your domain's DNS to Cloudflare – instantly, your static content can be served through their global network. Other beginner-friendly CDN options include Fastly (via a platform), Amazon CloudFront, or CDNs that come integrated with your hosting (many managed hosts or static site hosts have built-in CDN). If your site is on a platform like Netlify, Vercel, Squarespace, etc., chances are a CDN is already baked in – check their documentation. On WordPress, you might use a plugin like Jetpack or WP Rocket which can offload images to a CDN.

Once set up, your site's images, scripts, and styles will be delivered from edge servers closest to each visitor. This not only speeds up Time to First Byte (TTFB) and LCP for far-away visitors, but also adds redundancy (if your origin goes down, cached content might still serve). Bonus: many CDNs also compress text assets (enabling Brotli/Gzip) and can even serve next-gen images on the fly. Essentially, you offload heavy lifting to the CDN.

There's really no downside – even if you're not super technical, enabling a CDN is usually a few clicks. Just make sure to test your site after setting it up (to confirm everything still loads correctly from the new URLs). With a CDN, your site can load fast from New York to New Delhi. 🌍🚀

Wrapping Up (Plus, a Next.js Performance Boost)

By following this checklist – compressing images, lazy-loading content, optimizing fonts, taming third-party scripts, and using a CDN – you'll be well on your way to hitting Google's Core Web Vitals goals. Even without a dedicated dev team, these tweaks can dramatically speed up your site, leading to happier visitors and better outcomes (more signups, lower bounce, improved SEO… you name it!).

Keep in mind that performance is an ongoing effort. It's good to periodically test your site (e.g., run Google PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse reports) to catch any regressions. But the changes you make from this list should give you immediate, tangible improvements in load times and responsiveness.

Need an extra boost? If you want to take things even further without getting into the weeds yourself, consider bringing in experts for a quick sprint. At Cybergarden, we offer a friendly, no-fuss "performance sprint" for websites (especially those built with Next.js) to squeeze every last drop of speed out of them. We can handle the deep optimizations and technical fine-tuning so you don't have to. 😊 No pushy sales pitch here – just an invitation: if you'd like help taking your site from good to lightning-fast, reach out to us and let's chat about a Next.js performance sprint.

Here's to a faster, smoother web experience for you and your users. Happy optimizing! 🚀