AI-Enabled Websites

Website Performance Optimisation

A one-second delay in page load time reduces conversions by up to 7%. Google uses Core Web Vitals as a direct ranking factor. If your website is slow, it is costing you search visibility and revenue — and those costs compound over time. EXPRE optimises website performance across WordPress, Magento, and Drupal at the infrastructure, application, and front-end code layers.

Get a Performance Audit
90+PageSpeed scores we target
Sub-2sLoad time target on mobile
40-60%Typical LCP improvement
ConversionMeasurable uplift after optimisation

Why Performance Affects Visibility and Revenue

Google’s Page Experience signals, anchored by Core Web Vitals, influence how pages rank. Sites with poor performance scores compete at a disadvantage regardless of content quality. For competitive keywords where multiple sites offer similar content, performance can be the deciding factor.

The commercial impact runs parallel to SEO. Research from Google and Deloitte consistently shows that faster sites convert better. Mobile users abandon sites quickly when load times exceed three seconds. If your site loads in four seconds and optimisation brings it to 1.8 seconds, the conversion improvement typically pays back the cost within weeks.

Core Web Vitals Explained

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Measures how quickly the main content of a page becomes visible. Google’s threshold for a good score is under 2.5 seconds. Poor LCP is usually caused by slow server response, render-blocking resources, or unoptimised images. This is the metric most directly felt by users.

Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

Measures how responsive a page is to user interactions. A page that loads visually but freezes when you try to click something scores poorly on INP. Heavy JavaScript is the most common cause and typically requires code-level intervention to resolve.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Measures visual stability — how much elements move as the page loads. Common causes include images without defined dimensions and dynamically injected content such as cookie banners and ad slots. Google’s good threshold is a score below 0.1.

Our Optimisation Process

1

Full Performance Audit

We use Google PageSpeed Insights, WebPageTest, and Lighthouse to establish baselines across mobile and desktop. We also audit server configuration, database query performance, and third-party script impact. This produces a prioritised list of fixes ordered by expected impact.

2

Agree Target Scores

We agree target scores before starting work. For most projects we target LCP under 2.5 seconds, INP under 200ms, and CLS under 0.1 — measured on real-world connections rather than lab conditions alone.

3

Platform-Specific Implementation

WordPress optimisation covers plugin audit, Redis object caching, full-page caching, image optimisation, CDN integration, and theme-level front-end improvements. Magento work adds Varnish configuration, Elasticsearch, and database indexing. Drupal follows a similar pattern with views caching and BigPipe configuration.

4

Retest and Document

After implementing changes, we retest across multiple conditions and compare against the baseline. Results are documented so you can see exactly what changed and what effect it had.

5

Ongoing Monitoring

Performance can degrade over time as content accumulates and plugins are added. Our support packages include regular performance checks and alerts when scores drop below agreed thresholds.

What Results to Expect

Typical results from an EXPRE performance engagement: LCP improvements of 40 to 60 percent, server response time reductions of 50 percent or more, and PageSpeed Insights scores moving from the 40s into the 80s or 90s. These figures vary based on starting point and existing build quality, but the direction is consistent.

Organic search improvements from Core Web Vitals gains typically take four to eight weeks to show in rankings, as Google recrawls and re-evaluates pages. Conversion improvements are usually visible in analytics within days of launch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my site has a performance problem?
Run your URL through Google PageSpeed Insights. A score below 70 on mobile indicates meaningful issues. Below 50 represents significant problems likely affecting both rankings and conversions. If you are below 70 on mobile, it is worth a conversation.
Can you optimise a site without access to the hosting environment?
Partially. Front-end optimisation is possible without server access. Full performance improvements require access to the hosting environment and database. We can advise on what is achievable based on your setup.
Will performance optimisation affect how my site looks?
No. Performance work is under the surface. We do not change design or layout unless a specific element is causing a CLS issue, in which case we discuss options with you first before making any visible change.
Do you provide ongoing performance monitoring?
Yes. Performance can degrade over time as content accumulates, plugins are added, or traffic patterns change. Our support packages include regular performance checks and alerts when scores drop below agreed thresholds.
How quickly can improvements be implemented?
A focused performance sprint for a WordPress site typically takes two to three weeks from audit to results. Magento and Drupal projects may take longer depending on infrastructure access and complexity.

Improve Your Site Performance

Contact EXPRE for a consultation and we will audit your site, identify what can be improved, and quantify the expected gains.

A Faster Site Ranks Higher and Converts Better

Talk to EXPRE about a performance audit. We will benchmark your site, identify the highest-impact improvements, and deliver measurable results.

Get in Touch