Website speed is a major factor in user experience, SEO rankings, and conversion rates. But not everyone has a developer on standby to handle performance issues.

Back in February, a friend asked me if I knew someone who could optimize their store’s website. I didn’t, but I gave them a list of quick fixes they could try before hiring a professional.

If you're wondering how to make your website load faster without touching code, here are four beginner-friendly actions that can make a big difference.

⚠️ Note: If you're unsure about any of these, consult a developer. Making the wrong change could damage your site or reduce performance further.

1. Use Cloudflare to Boost Website Speed and Security

If you're not using Cloudflare, you're missing out on a free and effective way to boost your website's performance.

Cloudflare is a content delivery network (CDN) that stores cached versions of your website across global servers. When someone visits your site, Cloudflare serves the data from the nearest location, which means faster load times and reduced server stress.

Benefits of using Cloudflare:

• Reduces load times globally

• Protects your site with DDoS mitigation

• Offers a free plan for small websites

👉😎Keyword Tip: If you’re searching, look for terms like "does Cloudflare improve website speed?" or "Cloudflare CDN benefits."

Reference: Reduce Page Load Times | Does Cloudflare Speed up website

2. Optimize and Compress Your Images

Large, uncompressed images are one of the top causes of slow-loading websites.

You can dramatically speed up your site by compressing images before uploading them. Use free tools like:

• TinyPNG

• Squoosh

• ImageOptim (for Mac users)

Best practices:

• Use WebP format when possible (smaller and faster)

• Convert PNGs to JPGs unless transparency is needed

• Keep file sizes under 150 KB whenever possible

👉😎SEO Tip: Add alt text to your images for better image search rankings.

3. Audit and Remove Unused Plugins or Scripts

Plugins and third-party apps are helpful until they slow you down.

Every plugin or app adds extra JavaScript or CSS to your website. If you’re not actively using them, they can create bloat and slow down load times, especially on mobile.

Steps you can take:

• Deactivate and delete any unused plugins or apps

• Replace heavy plugins with lightweight alternatives

• Disable features you don’t need (e.g., chat widgets on every page)

👉😎 Streamlining your website helps both performance and SEO by reducing code complexity and improving load times.

4. Enable Lazy Loading and Minify Your Code

These two advanced-sounding fixes are surprisingly easy to apply and very effective.

Lazy loading: This means your site only loads images and videos when the user scrolls down to them. This makes your initial page load much faster.

Minification: This strips unnecessary characters (like white space and comments) from your code, shrinking file sizes without affecting functionality.

Most platforms, such as WordPress or Shopify, support plugins or settings that handle these tasks automatically. Examples:

• WordPress: Use plugins like WP Rocket or Autoptimize

• Shopify: Choose lightweight themes and apps with built-in optimization

👉😎 Developer Pro Tip: Ask if your theme or builder already supports these features before adding third-party tools.

Improving your website speed doesn’t always require a developer, especially if you start with the four steps above. They’re beginner-friendly, free (or low-cost), and can dramatically improve your site’s performance.

However, remember that if you're not confident in applying these changes or your site encounters issues, it's best to hire an expert. Mistakes in code or settings can cause more harm than good.

Start by testing your site on PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. Try the tips above and monitor the difference in loading speed, user experience, and bounce rate.