Image Optimization Checklist (2026)
Use this checklist as a release gate for image-heavy pages. It combines technical and editorial controls to improve speed, SEO, and user experience.
Technical Checklist
- Convert legacy JPG/PNG-heavy pages to WebP or AVIF fallback strategy
- Set explicit width and height for all content images
- Lazy-load below-the-fold assets
- Use responsive image sizing per layout
- Audit top templates for oversized hero assets
Editorial Checklist
- Use descriptive filenames before upload
- Write clear alt text with context, not keyword stuffing
- Compress media in batches before publishing
- Avoid decorative stock imagery that adds no information value
- Create lightweight social image variants for share cards
Recommended Weekly Review
- Pull top landing pages by organic sessions.
- Identify images over target file budget.
- Recompress and redeploy assets.
- Track LCP trend and CTR trend after update.