Why Image Compression Matters
Large images are the #1 cause of slow websites. Consider:
- SEO Impact: Google uses page speed as a ranking factor
- User Experience: 53% of users abandon sites that take over 3 seconds
- Bandwidth Costs: Smaller images = lower hosting bills
- Mobile Users: Slow images destroy mobile experience
What You'll Need
- Images you want to optimize
- An image compressor (we'll use SqueezePic)
- Basic understanding of image formats
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Audit Your Current Images
Before compressing, know what you're working with:
- Check file sizes of your largest images
- Note the dimensions (width x height)
- Identify image format (JPG, PNG, etc.)
Step 2: Resize Before Compressing
The biggest gains come from proper sizing:
| Display Size | Image Size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 300px wide thumbnail | Don't upload a 4000px image! | Massive waste |
| 1200px hero image | Upload 1200-1400px wide | Match display size |
Rule of thumb: Image width should be ~2x the display width (for retina screens).
Step 3: Compress with SqueezePic
- Go to squeezepic.app
- Upload your image(s)
- Select quality level (80-85% is usually optimal)
- Download compressed versions
Step 4: Compare Quality
Always spot-check compressed images:
- View at 100% zoom
- Check areas with fine detail
- Compare side-by-side with original
Compression by Image Type
Photographs
- Use JPG or WebP
- 75-85% quality usually looks identical to original
- Expect 60-80% file size reduction
Screenshots & Graphics
- Use PNG or WebP
- Lossless compression preserves text clarity
- Expect 40-60% file size reduction
Icons & Logos
- Use SVG if possible (vector)
- Otherwise PNG with transparency
- Very small files to begin with
Target File Sizes
| Image Type | Target | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Hero/Banner | 100-200KB | 400KB |
| Product Image | 50-100KB | 150KB |
| Thumbnail | 10-30KB | 50KB |
| Background | 50-150KB | 300KB |
Page Speed Impact
A typical website with 10 images:
| Before | After | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| 5MB | 1MB | 80% smaller |
| 8 sec load | 2 sec load | 4x faster |
Batch Optimization Workflow
For sites with many images:
- Export all images from CMS or folder
- Resize to maximum needed dimensions
- Batch compress using SqueezePic
- Upload compressed versions
- Clear cache on your site
Common Mistakes
- Over-compression - Going below 60% quality creates visible artifacts
- Ignoring dimensions - Resize before compressing for best results
- Wrong format - Using PNG for photos wastes bandwidth
- Compressing twice - Re-compressing already compressed images degrades quality
- Forgetting retina - 2x images for high-DPI displays
Testing Your Results
Use these tools to verify improvements:
- Google PageSpeed Insights
- GTmetrix
- WebPageTest
Look for "Properly size images" and "Efficiently encode images" in suggestions.
Conclusion
Image compression is the lowest-hanging fruit for website performance. A few minutes of optimization can dramatically improve load times, SEO, and user experience.
The key is finding the balance between file size and quality - usually 80-85% quality provides the best results.