One of the most common reasons a WordPress site slows down is large images. If you upload photos taken with a mobile phone as is, a single image can be several MB in size. Simply getting into the habit of reducing the size and capacity before uploading will noticeably improve your page speed.
1. Reduce the size before uploading.
There is no need to upload original files that are much larger than the actual width displayed in the content area. You can save a significant amount of storage space by reducing the image size to fit the display width first and then compressing it. Please compare the image quality before and after compression with your own eyes.
2. Use the new formats WebP and AVIF.
WebP is known to be approximately 25 to 351 TP3T smaller than JPEG at the same quality, while AVIF can be up to nearly half the size of JPEG depending on the conditions. Recently, WordPress and major image optimization plugins support automatic WebP conversion upon upload, so enabling the setting once makes future work easier.
3. Use only one plugin, tailored to the purpose.
Plugins like Smush, ShortPixel, and Imagify assist with automatic compression and batch optimization during uploads. The batch optimization feature is useful if you have many photos already uploaded, but if you mainly post new content, manually compressing before uploading may be sufficient. Using multiple plugins with similar functions simultaneously can actually cause conflicts, so please choose just one.
4. Trust the default features of lazy loading.
Starting with version 5.5, WordPress provides lazy loading by default, which loads images when scrolling to the bottom of the screen. There is no need to install a separate plugin. However, since the main image displayed prominently at the top of the page needs to be visible immediately, it is recommended to check your settings to ensure that it is not subject to lazy loading.
Final inspection
· Name files short so they clearly indicate the content (e.g., store-front.jpg)
· Write the photo content in a single line in the alternative text (alt) to help with accessibility and search.
· After optimization, open the page directly on your mobile phone to check the speed and image quality.
Rather than trying to optimize images perfectly the first time, making it a habit to follow the sequence of 'reduce size → compress → check WebP' whenever you upload a new post is the most long-lasting method.
Source: PC Tech Magazine — 12 No-Code Ways to Speed Up Your WordPress Website 2026 https://pctechmag.com/2026/10/how-to-speed-up-your-wordpress-website-without-coding-skills/
Source: DEV Community — WordPress Image Optimization: Why You Should Compress Before Upload (2026 Guide) https://dev.to/samma1997/wordpress-image-optimization-why-you-should-compress-before-upload-2026-guide-275c | 
