Performance is not a single plugin. It’s a set of decisions: caching, images, scripts, fonts, and hosting. Use this checklist to get measurable improvements.
Top 12 fixes (do these first)
- Enable page caching (server or plugin).
- Turn on object cache (Redis if available).
- Compress + convert images to WebP/AVIF where possible.
- Lazy-load below-the-fold images.
- Defer non-critical JS and remove unused plugins.
- Preload the hero image (if it’s the LCP element).
- Use a system font stack or self-host fonts with
font-display: swap. - Minify CSS and remove unused CSS (especially theme builders).
- Disable heavy admin-ajax calls on the frontend.
- Use a CDN for static assets.
- Reduce third-party scripts (chat widgets, trackers, etc.).
- Measure before/after using PageSpeed + Web Vitals extension.
Where to start (fastest wins)
- Images and JS bloat are the most common culprits.
- Fix the LCP element first (usually hero image or H1 block).
Pro tip
Create a “performance budget” (max scripts, max image weight, max fonts). This prevents the site from slowly becoming heavy again.