optimizing images for speed in jekyll mediumish

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Why Image Optimization Matters

Images often make up the majority of a webpage’s size, affecting loading times and overall site performance. Faster sites improve user retention and SEO rankings, making image optimization essential for any blog.

Common Image Optimization Techniques

  • Resizing images to appropriate display dimensions
  • Compressing images without significant quality loss
  • Using modern formats like WebP where supported
  • Implementing lazy loading to defer offscreen images

Step 1: Resize Images Before Upload

Avoid uploading large images that the browser will scale down. Tools like Photoshop, GIMP, or online services can resize images to fit your blog’s maximum display width (e.g., 1200px wide).

Step 2: Compress Images

Use tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh to reduce file size with minimal quality loss.

Step 3: Use WebP Format When Possible

WebP offers superior compression but is not supported by all browsers. You can serve WebP images with fallback to JPEG or PNG using HTML’s <picture> element:

<picture>
  <source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Description">
</picture>

Step 4: Implement Lazy Loading

Lazy loading defers image loading until the user scrolls near them. Native support via the loading="lazy" attribute is widely supported:

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description" loading="lazy">

Step 5: Automate Image Optimization with Jekyll Plugins

Although GitHub Pages has plugin restrictions, locally you can use plugins like jekyll-picture-tag to generate responsive and optimized images automatically.

Case Study: Speed Boost for a Jekyll Blog

After implementing image optimization, a blog running the Mediumish theme reduced its average page load time by 40%, resulting in a 22% decrease in bounce rate.

Conclusion

Optimizing images is a crucial step to enhance performance and SEO of your Jekyll Mediumish blog. By resizing, compressing, using modern formats, and lazy loading images, you create a faster, more engaging experience for your visitors.