Image Optimization and Compression Tools
When building, or preparing to build a website, whether Wordpress, Squarespace, or any other platform, the designer and strategist will ultimately need to deploy a handful of image compressing tools to make those images not only ADA and SEO compliant, but help a web page load faster and look professional overall.
Let’s dive in…
Image Compression & Optimization
The issue I come across the most when building out websites, is not only lack of quality images, but web-quality in particular. I do love big juicy compelling images and professional headshots to work with, but am often presented with tiny, muddy, and cropped headshots taken with say, a flip phone back in 2002. That will not do with today’s HD, high resolution, and responsive websites.
What is Image Optimization?
An optimized image is a compressed image that is suitable for websites, has a low file size (certainly nothing over 1mb, but in fact closer to less than 250kb), and is named appropriately for ADA screen reading software (Americans with Disabilities Act compliance) and is also idel for SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
Thankfully in Squarespace, you can actually change the name of your images right in the back end—so easy.
Meaning: name images according to what is depicted in the image, and/or include keywords you want to rank for.
THIS: austin-tacos.jpg
NOT THIS: IMG_1234.jpg
Why optimize and compress images for your website?
If I’m your web designer, don’t hesitate to link me to high resolution, megabyte-heavy images - I can work with those, just not a dinky image that is pixelated, blurry, or somehow not very flattering.
For those managing and growing your own websites, and for faster load times, you’ll want to upload images that are already compressed. If you don’t have access to or use something like Photoshop, you have some options out there:
Image Compression sites to explore:
You have the power—and now some tools—to ensure your images are helping rather than hindering your website’s user experience.
