Website Performance Optimisation: Beyond Basic Speed
Website Performance Optimisation: Beyond Basic Speed
A fast-loading website is no longer optional—it’s a business necessity. Google research shows that when page load time increases from 1 second to 3 seconds, the probability of a visitor bouncing rises by 32%. But performance optimisation goes beyond shaving a few milliseconds. For growing Australian SMBs, improving Core Web Vitals, caching, and asset delivery can directly boost SEO rankings, conversions, and customer satisfaction.
Here’s how to take your website performance to the next level.
Core Web Vitals: LCP, CLS, FID Explained
Google’s Core Web Vitals are performance metrics that directly influence search rankings:
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Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – How quickly the main content loads (ideal: <2.5s).
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Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – How stable the page layout is while loading (ideal: <0.1).
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First Input Delay (FID) – How quickly the site responds to the first user interaction (ideal: <100ms).
SMBs that optimise these vitals not only improve SEO but also create frustration-free experiences for customers.
Server-Side Caching vs Front-End Optimisation
Speed is influenced by both server configuration and front-end design.
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Server-side caching stores data on the server to deliver faster responses (great for dynamic sites like WordPress).
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Front-end optimisation includes minifying CSS/JS, optimising images, and reducing third-party scripts.
The best results come from combining both approaches to minimise bottlenecks across the entire stack.
Lazy Loading Assets and Critical CSS
Modern optimisation techniques include:
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Lazy loading – Deferring images, videos, and iframes until they’re visible on screen.
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Critical CSS – Prioritising above-the-fold styles so the user sees content instantly, even while the rest of the page loads.
These methods reduce perceived load times and make websites feel faster, even on slower connections.
Using CDNs (Like Cloudflare or Bunny.net)
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) distributes your website’s assets across global servers. This means:
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Faster load times for users regardless of location
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DDoS protection and improved security
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Reduced strain on your origin server
Popular CDNs like Cloudflare or Bunny.net are affordable and highly effective for Australian SMBs serving both local and international customers.
Performance Budget Tracking for Dev Teams
As websites grow, so does the risk of bloat. A performance budget sets measurable limits for things like:
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Page weight (e.g., <1.5MB)
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Number of HTTP requests
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Script execution time
By tracking these metrics, development teams can prevent slowdowns before they happen.
Why Website Performance Matters for SMBs
A slow site doesn’t just hurt rankings—it costs you sales. Every second of delay impacts customer trust and conversion rates. For SMBs competing in digital-first markets, high-performing websites are a critical growth driver.
At Bottrell Media, we help businesses implement advanced performance optimisation strategies, from Core Web Vitals tuning to CDN deployment—ensuring your website is both fast and future-proof.
👉 Book a free website performance audit today and find out how much faster (and more profitable) your site could be.
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