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Performance tuning

Performance Optimization & Core Web Vitals

Targeted performance work for teams who need faster load times, better Core Web Vitals, and a website that feels responsive every day.

This is the Performance Optimization & Core Web Vitals service page for Best Website.

If your site feels slower than it should, or Core Web Vitals are holding back your search visibility, this service is where we roll up our sleeves and focus on nothing but speed and stability.

We work across platforms — WordPress, Shopify, headless frontends, and custom stacks — and prioritize changes that make a real difference in how fast the site feels for your visitors.

What this service covers

You do not need to guess which plugin, app, or script is slowing things down. We start with data, then move into targeted fixes:

  • Baseline performance and Core Web Vitals review for key pages
  • Image, script, and stylesheet optimization
  • Caching, CDN, and configuration tuning across your stack
  • Template- or route-level fixes for your most important pages
  • Clear before-and-after reporting so you can see the impact

You will know exactly what we changed, why we changed it, and what to watch for going forward.

Platform-aware, not platform-limited

We regularly work on:

  • WordPress – themes, plugins, database queries, and server-level configuration
  • Shopify and other SaaS platforms – apps, theme code, Liquid templates, and storefront scripts
  • Headless and custom builds – API calls, bundle size, caching strategies, and edge delivery

The core principles stay the same, but the tuning is tailored to the platform you actually use.

Who this is for

This service is a good fit if:

  • Your site technically “works” but feels sluggish or heavy
  • You are seeing Core Web Vitals warnings in Search Console or performance tools
  • You are about to invest in SEO or paid traffic and want the site ready first
  • Your team is tired of guessing which plugin, app, or setting is slowing things down
  • You maintain a content-heavy, ecommerce, or application-style site where speed directly affects revenue or satisfaction

If you are already on our WordPress Hosting or using another managed hosting platform, we work with your current environment rather than forcing a move — and we will be explicit if hosting is part of the bottleneck.

How we typically work

We keep the project focused and evidence-based.

1. Baseline and profiling

We begin by:

  • Capturing lab and field data from tools like PageSpeed Insights, WebPageTest, and CrUX
  • Identifying slowest pages, templates, or flows from your analytics
  • Mapping out critical user journeys (home → key pages → conversion)

This gives us a clear picture of how the site is performing today and where it hurts most.

2. Prioritized performance plan

Next, we translate findings into a practical plan, typically grouped into:

  • Quick wins with clear, low-risk improvements
  • Medium-effort changes with strong upside (e.g., script consolidation, lighter templates)
  • Larger structural recommendations where needed (e.g., theme changes, hosting adjustments)

We review this with you so the work aligns with your risk tolerance and timelines.

3. Implementation and tuning

From there, we implement changes in a controlled way:

  • Optimize images, fonts, and critical CSS/JS
  • Adjust caching rules, CDN behavior, and platform settings
  • Refactor heavy components or remove unused functionality where appropriate
  • Focus explicitly on LCP, CLS, INP, and overall perceived responsiveness

We favor changes that improve both metrics and real user experience, not just synthetic scores.

4. Before-and-after reporting

Once changes are live, we:

  • Re-run the original tests on the same pages and flows
  • Compare Core Web Vitals and key metrics against the baseline
  • Summarize improvements in a concise report your team can share internally

You will see how far you moved the needle and where future effort will make the most difference.

How this connects to other services

Performance rarely lives in a vacuum. It ties directly into:

We can treat this as a focused performance sprint, or fold it into a broader roadmap that includes hosting, design, SEO, and ongoing care.


If your site feels slower than your expectations — or slower than your competition — this service is the fastest path to measurable, defensible performance gains. Reach out to talk through your stack, and we will recommend the right starting tier for your site.

Performance optimization packages

Project-based work aimed at measurable improvements in speed and Core Web Vitals.

Plan

Essential

Best for smaller sites

$750/project

For lean marketing and content sites that need a focused performance pass to clean up obvious bottlenecks.

  • Baseline performance and Core Web Vitals review
  • Image optimization and lazy-loading where appropriate
  • Cache and CDN configuration review
  • Elimination of obviously unused or heavy plugins, apps, or scripts
  • Targeted improvements to LCP and CLS on key templates
  • Before-and-after performance summary

Plan

Standard

Most popular

$1750/project

For growing sites with more templates, third-party scripts, and a mix of marketing, content, and transactional needs.

  • Everything in Essential
  • Template- or route-level performance profiling for key pages
  • Refinement of database queries and platform/CMS configuration (WordPress, Shopify, custom stacks, etc.)
  • Script and stylesheet consolidation where possible
  • Deeper Core Web Vitals work across home, services, and top entry pages
  • Recommendations for ongoing monitoring and maintenance

Plan

Pro

For complex or high-traffic sites

$3500/project

For teams with heavier sites, higher traffic, or revenue-impacting performance concerns across WordPress, Shopify, headless, or custom builds.

  • Everything in Standard
  • Coordinated performance plan across development, marketing, and hosting
  • Load-testing or traffic simulation for critical user flows
  • Advanced CDN, caching, and edge configuration recommendations
  • Performance playbook for your team to follow after the engagement
  • Optional follow-up review 60–90 days after changes go live

Frequently asked questions

How do you measure ‘better performance’?

We start by capturing a baseline from tools like PageSpeed Insights and WebPageTest, then confirm those findings against your analytics. We focus on Core Web Vitals, real-world load times for key pages, and how the site feels for users. At the end of the project, we provide a before-and-after summary so you can see the impact.

Do we need to be on your hosting to see results?

Not always, but it helps. We can improve a lot on most platforms, though the best results come when we combine performance optimization with our fully managed hosting for WordPress and other stacks. If you want to stay where you are, we will work within those constraints and be clear about what is and is not possible.

Will you remove plugins or change our theme?

We do not rip out anything without talking it through. If a plugin, app, theme, or script is clearly causing performance issues, we will explain why, propose alternatives, and get approval before making changes. The goal is to keep your site stable, not break workflows.

Is this a one-time project or an ongoing service?

This service is project-based. Once we complete the initial optimization, we can either hand you a clear playbook for your team to follow or transition into an ongoing support and monitoring plan if you want us to keep an eye on things.

Other services you might be looking for

What to do next

If this sounds like the kind of website help your team needs, explore our other services or start a conversation with us.

View all services Contact Best Website

Need a website that stays stable?

Tell us what you’re dealing with. We’ll recommend the fastest safe path forward and the most practical next step.