Lazy loading is a technique that helps to speed up your website by only loading images that are visible to the user. This technique can significantly improve your website’s performance as it reduces the number of HTTP requests made to the server. In this article, we will show you how to do lazy load images in WordPress.
Here are the steps on how to do Lazy Load Images in WordPress:
Install a Lazy Load Plugin
The first step is to install a lazy load plugin. There are several lazy load plugins available in the WordPress repository, but we recommend using the Lazy Load plugin by WP Rocket. This plugin is easy to use and works with both images and iframes.
Activate Lazy Load
After installing the plugin, you need to activate it. To do this, go to Settings > Lazy Load from your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can choose whether you want to enable lazy load for images, iframes, or both. You can also select the loading animation for your images.
Test Your Website
Now that you have activated lazy load, you need to test your website to see if it is working correctly. To do this, open your website in a new tab and scroll down to see if the images are loading as you scroll. If they are, then congratulations, you have successfully implemented lazy load.
Conclusion
Lazy loading images is an easy way to improve your website’s performance and reduce server load. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can easily implement lazy loading on your WordPress website. Remember, faster websites mean happier users, so take the time to optimize your site to ensure the best possible experience for your visitors.
Things To Consider When Doing Lazy Load Images In WordPress
Here are some additional things to consider when implementing lazy load images in WordPress:
Compatibility: Make sure that the lazy load plugin you choose is compatible with your WordPress version and other plugins that you have installed. Test the plugin thoroughly before implementing it on your live website.
Image optimization: While lazy loading can help to reduce the load time of a website, it’s still important to optimize images for the web. Compressing the images can help to reduce their file size, which can further improve the website’s performance.
Mobile devices: Lazy loading is especially important for mobile devices, as they often have slower internet connections than desktops. Make sure that your lazy load plugin is optimized for mobile devices and doesn’t interfere with the website’s responsiveness.
SEO implications: While lazy loading can improve website performance, it’s important to note that it can also affect SEO. Search engines may not be able to crawl and index lazy-loaded images, which can affect your website’s ranking. Make sure to test your website’s SEO after implementing lazy loading to ensure that it’s not negatively affecting your ranking.
By considering these factors, you can ensure that your lazy load implementation is successful and provides the best possible user experience for your website visitors.
