Speed Up Your Site and Boost SEO: A Google PageSpeed Insights Guide

Kenneth Lo, PMP
4 min readNov 17, 2023

Is your website driving customers away?

You can turn this around.

Meet Google PageSpeed Insights (PSI) — your new partner in optimizing your site performance.

What Exactly is Google PageSpeed Insights?

Think of it as your website’s performance doctor.

Powered by Lighthouse, PSI quickly assesses your website, pinpoints what’s slowing it down, and offers specific remedies to improve speed and efficiency.

Your site is also scored on a scale from 0 to 100, helping you gauge its current state:

  • 90–100: Excellent! You’re doing great.
  • 50–89: Time for some tweaks.
  • Below 50: Urgent attention required.

Why PSI Matters for SEO

User experience is a major consideration in Google’s ranking algorithm.

While PSI isn’t a direct ranking factor, it can point you to areas that will ultimately boost your SEO.

Remember, a faster, more efficient website can lead to better search engine rankings.

The Zenbiz Success Story: Yes, You Can Nail PageSpeed Insights

Obtaining top scores on Google PageSpeed Insights is not as elusive as you may think.

Just look at my own website, Zenbiz Services.

We’ve aced nearly every metric, from mobile to desktop speed.

Desktop

Mobile

But remember, while it’s fantastic to hit top scores, it’s only part of a broader strategy that should include quality content and solid SEO practices.

How to Use Google PageSpeed Insights

1/ Run the Test: Navigate to the Google PageSpeed Insights website, input your URL, and hit “Analyze.”

2/ Assess Your Score, Opportunities, & Diagnostics: Your results will include a score and suggestions to enhance your site’s performance.

3/ Take Action: Use various tools to act on the recommendations. For complex fixes, consider hiring a developer.

Key Performance Metrics to Watch

Core Web Vitals Metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) are critical to your site’s performance.

Additional Categories

Scores also extend to areas like accessibility, best practices, and SEO.

Accessibility

Accessibility ensures that your website is usable by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities.

Impact on SEO: An accessible website is favored by search engines and can lead to improved rankings.

Best Practices

This category includes general recommendations for modern web development, such as HTTPS usage and correct image aspect ratios.

Impact on SEO: Following best practices can improve your website’s credibility and user experience, indirectly boosting SEO.

SEO

This score evaluates how well your website adheres to SEO best practices, such as meta descriptions and proper header usage.

Impact on SEO: Naturally, a higher SEO score in PageSpeed Insights is indicative of better adherence to SEO best practices, which can improve your search engine rankings.

Practical Fixes for Common Issues, Guided by ChatGPT

  • Optimize Images: use tools to speed up load times by compressing images. ChatGPT Prompt: “How can I optimize images for web speed?”
  • Utilize Browser Caching and CDN: deliver content more efficiently. ChatGPT Prompt: “How do I set up browser caching and use a CDN?”
  • Eliminate Render-Blocking Elements: files like JavaScript and CSS can slow down your site; addressing these can markedly improve speed. ChatGPT Prompt: “What are render-blocking resources and how can I eliminate them?”
  • Reduce Layout Shifts: Stabilize your page layout by assigning width and height attributes to images and keeping ads strategically placed. ChatGPT Prompt: “How can I minimize Cumulative Layout Shift on my website?”

Your Next Steps

Your website isn’t just a digital presence; it’s a crucial part of your business.

Take action on this guide and reap the rewards.

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Want to incorporate AI in your business? Here’s how I can help:

  1. AI for Your Biz: Visit https://store.kennethlo.ai. Explore free tools, blueprints, and more to elevate your business.
  2. Quick Chat: Unsure how to integrate AI? Book a FREE 15-minute discovery call. Let’s navigate this together.

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