Want to know how to optimize all of your blog’s images and ensure that it runs more efficiently? Below, we’ll show you the best practices and tools to make your blog faster and more optimized!
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How to optimize your blog images?
There are countless ways to optimize your blog’s images. We’ll show you some of them below, but keep in mind that many plugins (which will be listed later in the content) automate many of these tasks.
1. Choose the ideal file format
WebP is a more modern and efficient format. It compresses images better than JPEG and PNG, maintaining good quality with a smaller file size. This helps pages load faster.
image style
WebP also supports transparency, like PNG, and can be used wholesale email list for more detailed images without losing as much quality as JPEG.
There are several WordPress plugins that convert images to WebP automatically . We will talk about them in the topic below.
2. Reduce image size without losing quality
Here are some popular plugin options that can reduce the size of images without losing quality:
Smush : In addition to optimizing images, it offers conversion to WebP.
Imagify : Converts images to WebP and offers lossless compression.
ShortPixel : Converts to WebP and offers different compression levels.
WebP Express : Converts images to WebP and keeps original versions for browsers that don't support the format.
EWWW Image Optimizer : Converts images to WebP and compresses files.
3. Implement lazy loading for images
Lazy loading is a technique that loads images or other elements on a page only when the user scrolls to them . This prevents all the content from loading at once.
With lazy loading, the page loads faster, since initially only the visible elements are downloaded. As the user scrolls down the page, the images or videos are loaded, saving resources.
This technique improves the browsing experience, reduces data usage and helps optimize website performance, especially on mobile devices.
How to enable lazy loading?
This will depend on the optimization plugin installed. For this tutorial, we chose Smush.
To do this, go to Smush → Lazy Load and activate the media type you want to apply this feature to.
optimize blog images with lazy load
Test lazy loading after activation
It is essential to test lazy loading after enabling this feature, as some themes may not be fully compatible and may generate errors, which may result in images not loading correctly, degrading the user experience.
If an error occurs, disable lazy loading and see if the problem is resolved . Then, review the theme or plugins that may be interfering. Sometimes, the solution may be to update the theme or adjust the code. If the issue persists, it is worth seeking help from the theme documentation or technical support.
4. Use SEO-optimized ALT descriptions
Alt tags (alternative text) are image descriptions used in HTML to tell the browser what the image represents. They appear if the image fails to load or if the user uses screen readers.
To insert an alt tag, in the image's HTML code, add the alt="image description" attribute. Example:
<img src="imagem.jpg" alt="Descrição da imagem">
They serve to improve the accessibility of websites for people with visual impairments and to help search engines (such as Google) understand the content of images, benefiting SEO.
How to add alt tag in WordPress?
Simply, in the WordPress editor (Gutenberg), click on the image and fill in the “Alternative text” field.
optimize images with alt text
How to fill in the alt text correctly?
To fill out the alt text correctly, follow a few simple tips. Clearly describe what is in the image , being specific and objective. Avoid generic terms like "image of" or "photo of". If the image has a function, like a button or link, describe that function.
