Image Optimization Made Simple
If you have not already learned about the importance of optimizing your images, let me clue you in: image optimization is critical.
Why?
Images that are larger than they need to be will degrade the performance of your site. The speed your site serves pages at is actually a ranking factor - and a possible annoyance factor for your visitors (if performance is slow).
Okay, unoptimized images are bad. So, what to do?
There are a lot of ways to deal with image size. You could use Canva for the initial image creation. Canva will optimize the image when you download it.
What if you don't use Canva?
I do most of my work on my Mac, using Graphic (previously iDraw). Because of this, I have to find another way to optimize my images. For me, this has typically meant using tinypng.com - which actually works for PNG and JPG images.
I found a better way though.
It turns out, there is a WordPress plugin that will interact with with tinypng.com behind the scenes - so you don't have to upload/download the images. Just upload to your site!
The plugin is named Compress JPEG & PNG Images.
You will have to get an API key to activate the plugin, but the plugin will walk you through this process.
Yeah - I'll vouch for the plugin!
Using this plugin, I've managed to get my image sizes down dramatically! I think I get even better results than using tinypng.com by hand. Plus, I save the time required to do the by-hand work and I can't forget to optimize my images!
The way the plugin works is to optimize the image on upload. This means you will not see any drop in site performance when viewing pages. There is no downside here!
Hope it helps!
Recent Comments
11
Excellent information! Thank you for sharing kind sir! In my opinion, nothing is worse for your business success than if your page loads too slow...the annoyance factor is key. People are looking for answers to their questions want instant gratification. If you can't deliver...see you later....and gone forever!
Thanks for sharing,
Rick
Hey Eddie, is this plugin easier and faster than using JPEG optimizer page (link below)? If so that would be awesome!! I find myself avoiding this process because the several steps involved in using the image optimizer page.
http://www.jpeg-optimizer.com/ (old school interface page)
One of my highest priorities is making sure things look uniform. So, I've got size standards I adhere to that align with a 16:9 ratio.
Personally, I think it makes my sites look more polished and professional.
SO! I like to take it upon myself to do sizing by hand.
Now, with that out of the way, the only piece left is compression. On the site you're giving me, I have to choose a compression percent and may have to fiddle with it to get it right. I also have to upload/download the image - possibly repeatedly - and then upload to my site.
The plugin gets rid of all of this. Upload an image to your site and the plugin does its magic. I've been very pleased with the sizes I get out of it. Try it for yourself, if you're curious about its effectiveness.
There is also a "Compress All" button added to the Media menu in your dashboard. This would be useful, for example, to compress images you had not optimized prior to installation of the plugin. It will not optimize an image more than once though - to avoid degradation.
Okay, I have installed the plugin and will play around with it. Thanks for the tip! I am sure it will save me some time.
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Thanks so much for this tip. I'm expecting to upload quite a few images and I know this is critical. I think you might have saved me a headache or two down the road... Cheerio, Connie.
It has certainly made my life easier. Glad to hear you like the idea :-)