Eliminating Render Blocking Resources: 9 Effective Techniques

Are you tired of slow-loading websites that leave users frustrated and impatient? You’re not alone. In today’s fast-paced digital world, website performance and user experience are more important than ever. One common issue that can significantly slow down your website is the presence of render blocking resources. But worry not, we’ve got you covered!

In this blog post, we’ll discuss nine effective strategies to eliminate render blocking resources and optimize your website’s performance. If you’d like a more comprehensive guide to improving website performance, see: 25 Tips to Speed up WordPress. To learn more about eliminating render blocking resources, sit back, relax, and let’s get started!

TL;DR: What are render blocking resources and why are they a problem?

Render blocking resources are static filessuch as CSS, JavaScript, and fonts that can slow down the rendering process of a web page, impacting user experience and SEO. They are a problem because slow-loading websites can lead to higher bounce rates, lower conversions, and decreased search engine visibility. For more detailed information, tips, and tricks, continue reading the article.

Understanding Render Blocking Resources

Google has introduced Core Web Vitals as a set of metrics to measure the user experience on your website. One of these metrics, the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), is directly affected by render blocking resources. Improving your LCP by eliminating render blocking resources can enhance your website’s performance, user experience, and search engine rankings. Learn more about how Google evaluates your website for SEO ranking purposes with our article on Google Pagespeed Insights.

What are Render Blocking Resources?

Render blocking resources are static files, such as CSS, JavaScript, and fonts, that can slow down the rendering process of a web page. When a user visits your website, their browser needs to download, parse, and execute these files before it can start rendering the page’s content. This can cause a delay in the time it takes for the content to become visible, impacting user experience and search engine rankings.

The Impact of Render Blocking Resources on Website Performance and SEO

Render blocking resources can have a significant impact on your website’s performance and SEO. When a page takes longer to load, users are more likely to leave your website, leading to a higher bounce rate and lower conversions. Search engines like Google also consider page load time as a ranking factor, so having a slow website can negatively impact your search engine visibility.

Identifying Render Blocking Resources on Your Website

The first step in tackling render blocking resources is to identify them on your website. A useful tool to help you with this task is Google’s PageSpeed Insights. Simply enter your website URL, and the tool will analyze your site and provide a list of render blocking resources that need optimization.

Strategies to Eliminate Render Blocking Resources

Strategy 1: Avoiding CSS Imports

Using CSS imports (@import) can cause additional HTTP requests and increase the time it takes for your stylesheets to load. Instead, consider combining your CSS files into a single file to reduce the number of requests and improve your site’s performance.

/* Instead of using @import */
@import url("styles1.css");
@import url("styles2.css");

/* Combine your CSS files */
/* Contents of styles1.css */
/* Contents of styles2.css */

Strategy 2: Using Media Attributes for Conditional CSS

When you include CSS files in your HTML, use the media attribute to specify the conditions under which the stylesheet should be applied. This allows the browser to load and apply the CSS files only when needed, reducing the impact of render blocking resources.

<!-- Use media attribute for conditional CSS loading -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="desktop-styles.css" media="screen and (min-width: 768px)">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="mobile-styles.css" media="screen and (max-width: 767px)">

Strategy 3: Deferring Non-Critical CSS and JavaScript

Defer the loading of non-critical CSS and JavaScript files by using the async or defer attributes for your script tags. This allows the browser to load these files after the main content has been rendered, improving the perceived load time of your site.

<!-- Use async or defer to load non-critical JavaScript -->
<script src="non-critical.js" async></script>
<script src="non-critical.js" defer></script>

Strategy 4: Minifying CSS and JavaScript Files

Minifying your CSS and JavaScript files removes unnecessary whitespace, comments, and characters from the code, reducing the file size and improving loading times. There are several tools available online, such as CSS Minifier and JavaScript Minifier, to help you minify your files easily.

Strategy 5: Loading Custom Fonts Locally

If your site uses custom fonts, consider hosting them locally instead of relying on third-party services like Google Fonts. This can help reduce the number of HTTP requests and improve your site’s performance.

/* Load custom fonts locally */
@font-face {
  font-family: "MyCustomFont";
  src: url("/fonts/my-custom-font.woff2") format("woff2"),
       url("/fonts/my-custom-font.woff") format("woff");
}

Eliminating Render Blocking Resources for WordPress Users

If you’re using WordPress, there are several plugins available to help you eliminate render blocking resources and optimize your website’s performance. Here are some recommended plugins and how to use them:

Plugin 1: Autoptimize

Autoptimize is a popular plugin that can help you optimize your CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files. It combines, minifies, and caches your files, reducing the number of HTTP requests and improving your site’s performance.

To install and configure Autoptimize:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
2. Search for “Autoptimize” and click “Install Now” followed by “Activate.”
3. Go to Settings > Autoptimize and configure the plugin settings according to your needs. For example, enable CSS and JavaScript optimization, and choose to aggregate and minify your files.

Plugin 2: WP Super Minify

WP Super Minify is another plugin that can help you minify your CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files. It combines and compresses your files, reducing their size and improving loading times.

To install and configure WP Super Minify:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
2. Search for “WP Super Minify” and click “Install Now” followed by “Activate.”
3. Go to Settings > WP Super Minify and enable CSS, JavaScript, and HTML minification.

Plugin 3: Async JavaScript

Async JavaScript is a plugin that allows you to add the async or defer attribute to your JavaScript files, improving the perceived load time of your site.

To install and configure Async JavaScript:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
2. Search for “Async JavaScript” and click “Install Now” followed by “Activate.”
3. Go to Settings > Async JavaScript and choose whether to apply the async or defer attribute to your JavaScript files.

By using these plugins and implementing the strategies discussed earlier, you can effectively eliminate or reduce the impact of render blocking resources on your WordPress website’s performance.

Conclusion

Eliminating render blocking resources is crucial for optimizing your website’s performance, user experience, and search engine rankings. We’ve discussed nine effective strategies to help you identify and optimize render blocking resources on your site, including avoiding CSS imports, using media attributes for conditional CSS, deferring non-critical CSS and JavaScript, minifying files, and loading custom fonts locally. Now it’s time to put these techniques into action! So go ahead, optimize your site, and watch your website performance soar.

Remember that optimizing your website is an ongoing process, and it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and best practices. Keep monitoring your website’s performance and make adjustments as needed to ensure your site remains fast, user-friendly, and search engine optimized.