Website performance plays an important role in its ranking in search engines. One of the most effective ways to improve performance is image optimization. Since images typically account for about 70% of the total web page size, unoptimized images can significantly slow down page loading speed, negatively affecting user experience and SEO. Optimized images improve Core Web Vitals metrics, increase user engagement, and improve the site’s position in search engines.
Why image optimization is important for SEO
1. Accelerates page loading
Google considers page loading speed as one of its ranking factors. Large images can slow down the site, causing high bounce rates.
Example: Converting images from PNG to WebP or JPEG to WebP using TypeIMG allows you to reduce their size by 50-70% without losing quality, thereby decreasing the total page size by 20-40%, significantly improving performance and loading speed.
2. Improves user experience
Website loading speed affects user behavior. If pages load slowly, visitors may leave the site earlier, resulting in an increase in bounce rate. Optimized images ensure smooth and fast page loading, positively affecting user engagement and retention.
3. Improves Core Web Vitals metrics
Google takes into account three main Core Web Vitals metrics that directly impact SEO:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): The time it takes for the largest element of the page (usually an image) to load. Optimized images significantly reduce this metric.
- First Input Delay (FID): The site’s reaction time to the user’s first interaction. Lightweight image files reduce server load.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): A measure of page stability. Properly sized and instantly loading images prevent chaotic layout shifts.
4. Reduces server load and saves traffic
The heavier the images uploaded to the site, the more resources the server needs to process them. Image optimization reduces bandwidth usage, allowing the site to run faster even under high load. Using an image resizer helps automatically adapt them to various devices.
5. Improves interaction on mobile devices
Google prioritizes sites that load quickly on mobile devices. Responsive and optimized images reduce waiting time for users.
6. Helps improve image search rankings
Google Images is an additional traffic channel. Using correct alternative texts (alt text), relevant file names, and structured data helps images appear in Google Images search results for key queries. This is especially useful for e-commerce sites and blogs.
Best practices for image optimization
To maximize the benefits of image optimization, follow these recommendations:
- Choose the right image format: Select modern web image formats such as WebP or AVIF.
- Use intelligent optimization tools: Automated services such as TypeIMG allow converting images from JPEG/PNG to WebP without quality loss, thanks to safe optimization mode.
- Use correct dimensions: Don’t upload excessively large files when smaller ones can be used.
- Apply lazy loading: Helps avoid unnecessary resource usage.
- Use fetchpriority for priority loading of important images: The fetchpriority=”high” attribute helps browsers load key visual elements faster, improving Core Web Vitals.
- Add alt texts: They help search engines better index images.
- Use a CDN: Serving images from the nearest server accelerates their loading.
- Use high-quality images: Image optimization should not compromise image quality, as high-quality images improve trust and perception, influencing CTR.
Conclusion
Image optimization is not just an additional step but a necessary element of an SEO strategy. Using compression, conversion, and responsive images significantly improves site performance, directly impacting its visibility in search engines.
