Understanding PageSpeed Insights Warnings on Squarespace
Learning Objectives
- Understand why Google PageSpeed Insights flags images in Squarespace
- Learn how to differentiate between misleading and relevant PSI warnings
- Identify actions to improve image optimisation and reduce PSI warnings
Introduction
Google PageSpeed Insights often throws up confusing warnings about images on Squarespace sites. You might see red flags about image optimisation even when you've already converted everything to WebP format. This happens because PSI sometimes detects fallback JPEG or PNG versions, or flags third-party assets you can't control. This chapter explains why these warnings appear and shows you how to improve your site's image handling for better PSI scores.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Why PSI Flags Squarespace Images
Google PageSpeed Insights checks your website's performance, but it doesn't always tell the full story about Squarespace sites. Here's what's happening behind the scenes:
PSI might detect fallback versions of your images instead of the optimised WebP versions. Squarespace serves different image formats to different browsers – older browsers get JPEG or PNG files because they can't handle WebP. When PSI runs its test, it sometimes catches these fallback versions.
The tool also flags images from third-party plugins or widgets. These could be social media feeds, booking systems, or analytics trackers that load their own images.
Step 1: Go to Google PageSpeed Insights and enter your Squarespace website URL.
Step 2: Run the test and scroll down to the "Opportunities" section to see image-related warnings.
Step 3: Note which specific images or elements are flagged – this tells you whether they're your images or third-party content.
Always test in an incognito browser window to avoid interference from browser extensions or cached content.
Lesson 2: Spotting Misleading Warnings
Not every PSI warning deserves your attention. Some warnings look serious but don't actually slow down your site. Here's how to tell the difference:
Check if the flagged elements actually affect loading speed. A warning about a tiny social media icon that saves 0.1 seconds isn't worth worrying about. Focus on warnings that could save 1+ seconds of loading time.
Look at whether you can actually control the flagged elements. Third-party widgets often load their own unoptimised images, but there's little you can do about this without removing the widget entirely.
Step 1: In your PSI results, look at the "Potential savings" column next to each warning.
Step 2: Prioritise warnings that show savings of 1 second or more.
Step 3: Check if flagged images belong to your content or third-party services by examining the image URLs.
Use additional tools like GTMetrix or Pingdom to get a second opinion on your site's actual performance. These tools often provide different perspectives on the same issues.
Lesson 3: Optimising Images Despite Warnings
Even when PSI shows confusing warnings, you can still improve your image strategy. Focus on what you can control:
Ensure all your uploaded images use Squarespace's automatic WebP conversion. Upload high-quality images and let Squarespace handle the optimisation rather than pre-compressing them yourself.
Review third-party integrations and remove any that aren't essential. Each additional widget or plugin is another potential source of unoptimised images.
Step 1: Check your Image Settings in Squarespace (Settings > Advanced > Performance) and ensure image optimisation is enabled.
Step 2: Review your pages for third-party widgets and assess whether each one is necessary.
Step 3: Replace any images you've uploaded as pre-optimised files with higher quality originals, letting Squarespace handle the compression.
Test your changes using real-world tools. Load your website on different devices and network speeds to see how it actually performs for users.
Practice
Run a PageSpeed Insights test on your Squarespace site and identify three image-related warnings. For each warning, determine whether it's within your control and whether the potential time savings make it worth addressing. Create an action plan for the warnings that meet both criteria.
FAQs
Why does Google PageSpeed Insights flag images on Squarespace when they're already in WebP format?
PSI sometimes detects fallback JPEG or PNG versions that Squarespace serves to older browsers, or it flags third-party content that loads its own images.
Do these PSI warnings affect my website's actual performance?
Not necessarily. PSI warnings don't always reflect real-world performance. Focus on actual loading speeds and user experience rather than just PSI scores.
What should I do when my optimised images still get flagged by PSI?
Concentrate on optimising your own images and reducing third-party integrations. Don't worry about warnings for elements outside your control if they have minimal impact on loading speed.
Jargon Buster
Google PageSpeed Insights (PSI) – Google's free tool that analyses web page performance and suggests improvements based on lab data and real user metrics.
WebP – A modern image format created by Google that provides better compression than JPEG or PNG while maintaining image quality.
Fallback images – Alternative image formats (usually JPEG or PNG) that websites serve to browsers that don't support newer formats like WebP.
Wrap-up
PageSpeed Insights warnings about images can be misleading on Squarespace sites. The platform handles most image optimisation automatically, but PSI sometimes flags fallback versions or third-party content. Focus on warnings that offer significant time savings and ignore minor issues you can't control. Your site's real-world performance matters more than achieving a perfect PSI score.
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