Google considers page speed a critical ranking factor for both desktop and mobile search rankings. Compressing images is the single fastest and most impactful optimization you can make to boost your PageSpeed Insights score.
Impact on Google Core Web Vitals
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): LCP measures when the largest visual element on screen renders. Optimizing hero images reduces LCP below Google's recommended 2.5-second threshold.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Pre-sizing compressed images prevents layout jumpiness as images load.