The WordPress Speed Optimization Checklist

A plain-English checklist for speeding up a slow WordPress site - images, caching, plugins, and hosting. Know what actually moves the needle. Tick items off as you go - your progress saves in this browser.

1. Run PageSpeed Insights and note the current scores (mobile + desktop)
2. Compress all images - use WebP format, resize to display size, lazy-load below fold
3. Install a caching plugin (WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, or host-provided)
4. Enable browser caching for static assets via .htaccess or plugin
5. Minify CSS and JavaScript files
6. Defer non-critical JavaScript - don't load everything on page load
7. Remove unused plugins - each one adds weight even if inactive
8. Replace heavy page builders with lighter alternatives if possible
9. Audit database - delete old post revisions, spam comments, transients
10. Check hosting resources - upgrade if hitting memory/CPU limits
11. Enable CDN for static assets if audience is geographically distributed
12. Optimize fonts - limit font families, use font-display: swap
13. Reduce external scripts - analytics, chat widgets, ad pixels add up
14. Test after each change - speed optimization is iterative, not one-shot

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