Improving Pagespeed: Convert Images to Next-Gen Formats
Website speed is critical for SEO, user experience, and conversions. One of the easiest ways to improve your site’s performance is by converting images to Next-Gen formats like WebP and AVIF.
These modern image formats significantly reduce file sizes while maintaining high quality, leading to faster load times and better PageSpeed scores.
In this guide, you’ll learn why Next-Gen image formats matter, how to convert images, and the best tools to automate the process.
📌 What Are Next-Gen Image Formats?
Next-Gen image formats like WebP, AVIF, and JPEG 2000 are designed to be smaller and faster than traditional formats like JPEG and PNG.
✅ WebP – Developed by Google, offers 25-34% smaller file sizes than JPEG & PNG.
✅ AVIF – Even smaller than WebP, with better compression and quality.
✅ JPEG 2000 – Improved JPEG alternative, but less widely supported.
Best Choice for PageSpeed: WebP & AVIF (smaller sizes, high quality, broad support).
📊 Why Use Next-Gen Images? (The Benefits)
✔️ Faster Page Load Times – Reduces image file size, improving website speed.
✔️ Better SEO Rankings – Google prioritizes fast-loading sites.
✔️ Lower Bandwidth Usage – Less data consumption, especially on mobile.
✔️ Improved User Experience – Faster images = better engagement.
Bottom Line: Converting images to WebP or AVIF instantly boosts PageSpeed scores and reduces loading time.
🛠️ Step 1: Check If Your Website Uses Next-Gen Images
Before converting images, check if your site already supports Next-Gen formats.
How to Check Image Format in Chrome:
1️⃣ Right-click an image on your website.
2️⃣ Click Inspect → Look for the image file extension (.jpg, .png, .webp).
3️⃣ If it’s .jpg or .png, you need to convert it.
📌 Alternative Method: Run a Google PageSpeed Insights test (Test Here) → If you see a “Serve images in Next-Gen format” warning, your site needs optimization.
Pro Tip: Convert high-impact images first, like background images, product photos, and hero images.
Step 2: Convert Images to Next-Gen Formats
There are two ways to convert images:
✔️ Manually using online tools.
✔️ Automatically using WordPress plugins or a CDN.
Option 1: Convert Images Manually (Best for Small Sites)
If you only need to convert a few images, use these free online tools:
✅ Squoosh – Google’s free, easy-to-use image compressor (WebP, AVIF).
✅ TinyPNG – Compresses PNGs & JPEGs before conversion.
✅ CloudConvert – Supports multiple formats, including AVIF.
How to Convert an Image Using Squoosh (Step-by-Step)
1️⃣ Go to Squoosh.
2️⃣ Upload your JPEG or PNG file.
3️⃣ Select WebP or AVIF as the output format.
4️⃣ Adjust the quality settings for smaller file size.
5️⃣ Download and upload the optimized image to your website.
Pro Tip: For AVIF, use CloudConvert as it offers better compression settings.
Option 2: Automatically Convert Images in WordPress (Best for Large Sites)
For WordPress users, plugins can automate image conversion to WebP/AVIF.
✅ Best WordPress Plugins for Image Conversion:
✔️ ShortPixel – Converts existing images & new uploads to WebP/AVIF.
✔️ Imagify – Automatically compresses & serves WebP images.
✔️ EWWW Image Optimizer – On-the-fly image optimization.
✔️ WebP Express – Converts images to WebP but keeps originals as backups.
How to Enable WebP in ShortPixel (Step-by-Step)
1️⃣ Install & activate ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin.
2️⃣ Go to Settings → ShortPixel.
3️⃣ Enable “WebP Conversion”.
4️⃣ Choose “Deliver WebP images” using .htaccess or a fallback JavaScript method.
5️⃣ Click Save and Bulk Optimize existing images.
Pro Tip: Some browsers don’t support WebP/AVIF. Plugins like ShortPixel & Imagify ensure fallback images load when needed.
Option 3: Use a CDN for Automatic Image Optimization
CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) serve images in Next-Gen formats automatically, without changing files on your server.
✅ Best CDNs for Image Optimization:
✔️ Cloudflare Polish (Paid) – Converts images to WebP automatically.
✔️ BunnyCDN (Affordable) – Built-in WebP optimization.
✔️ KeyCDN – Image optimization & compression.
How to Enable WebP in Cloudflare:
1️⃣ Sign up for Cloudflare.
2️⃣ Enable “Polish” under the Speed settings.
3️⃣ Choose “Lossless” or “Lossy” compression.
4️⃣ Activate “WebP conversion” for automatic delivery.
Pro Tip: If you use Cloudflare’s free plan, combine it with ShortPixel for full optimization.
🛠️ Step 3: Verify That WebP/AVIF Images Are Being Served
After converting images, make sure they load correctly on your site.
How to Test WebP or AVIF Images:
1️⃣ Right-click → Inspect an image on your website.
2️⃣ Look for “.webp” or “.avif” in the image URL.
3️⃣ Use GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights to confirm that the “Serve images in next-gen format” warning is gone.
Pro Tip: If images aren’t loading properly, check plugin settings or use a CDN fallback for unsupported browsers.
Final Thoughts: Convert Images to Next-Gen for Faster PageSpeed
Optimizing images with WebP or AVIF is one of the easiest ways to improve WordPress speed, boost SEO rankings, and enhance user experience.
✔️ Convert images manually (Squoosh, TinyPNG, CloudConvert).
✔️ Use WordPress plugins (ShortPixel, Imagify, WebP Express) for automation.
✔️ Enable image optimization via CDN (Cloudflare, BunnyCDN, KeyCDN).
Now it’s your turn! Have you switched to Next-Gen images yet? Let me know in the comments!
Katie
