{"id":2374,"date":"2025-10-08T12:06:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T12:06:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/?p=2374"},"modified":"2025-10-08T12:25:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T12:25:15","slug":"improve-largest-contentful-paint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Largest Contentful Paint: 17 Proven Fixes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Improve_Largest_Contentful_Paint_17_Proven_Fixes\" >Improve Largest Contentful Paint: 17 Proven Fixes<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Largest_Contentful_Paint_explained_and_why_it_matters\" >Largest Contentful Paint explained and why it matters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#How_to_measure_and_audit_LCP_the_right_way\" >How to measure and audit LCP the right way<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Tools_to_pinpoint_your_LCP_element\" >Tools to pinpoint your LCP element<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#What_your_audit_should_capture\" >What your audit should capture<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#17_ways_to_improve_largest_contentful_paint_today\" >17 ways to improve largest contentful paint today<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#1_Prioritize_the_critical_rendering_path\" >1. Prioritize the critical rendering path<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#2_Reduce_server_response_time_and_TTFB\" >2. Reduce server response time and TTFB<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#3_Use_a_CDN_for_global_delivery\" >3. Use a CDN for global delivery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#4_Add_resource_hints_preconnect_dns-prefetch_and_preload\" >4. Add resource hints: preconnect, dns-prefetch, and preload<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#5_Eliminate_render_blocking_CSS\" >5. Eliminate render blocking CSS<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#6_Defer_or_delay_non_critical_JavaScript\" >6. Defer or delay non critical JavaScript<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#7_Reduce_JavaScript_execution_time\" >7. Reduce JavaScript execution time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#8_Optimize_the_hero_image_perfectly\" >8. Optimize the hero image perfectly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#9_Never_lazy_load_the_LCP_image\" >9. Never lazy load the LCP image<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#10_Use_fetchpriority_for_the_LCP_image\" >10. Use fetchpriority for the LCP image<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#11_Compress_and_deliver_modern_image_formats\" >11. Compress and deliver modern image formats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#12_Serve_responsive_images_with_srcset\" >12. Serve responsive images with srcset<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#13_Optimize_fonts_with_font-display_and_preconnect\" >13. Optimize fonts with font-display and preconnect<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#14_Trim_the_DOM_and_avoid_heavy_layout_work\" >14. Trim the DOM and avoid heavy layout work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#15_Cache_smartly_at_every_layer\" >15. Cache smartly at every layer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#16_Remove_or_postpone_third_party_scripts\" >16. Remove or postpone third party scripts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#17_Pick_a_performance_first_theme_and_minimal_plugins\" >17. Pick a performance first theme and minimal plugins<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Advanced_tactics_to_squeeze_every_millisecond\" >Advanced tactics to squeeze every millisecond<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Server_side_rendering_and_hydration_strategy\" >Server side rendering and hydration strategy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Edge_runtime_and_HTML_caching\" >Edge runtime and HTML caching<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Use_Priority_Hints_correctly\" >Use Priority Hints correctly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Progressive_enhancement_and_conditional_hydration\" >Progressive enhancement and conditional hydration<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#WordPress_focused_checklist_to_improve_largest_contentful_paint\" >WordPress focused checklist to improve largest contentful paint<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Measurement_discipline_that_keeps_LCP_green\" >Measurement discipline that keeps LCP green<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Where_LCP_meets_SEO_UX_and_revenue\" >Where LCP meets SEO, UX, and revenue<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Smart_internal_linking_and_platform_foundations\" >Smart internal linking and platform foundations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Common_pitfalls_that_keep_LCP_high\" >Common pitfalls that keep LCP high<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Developer_tips_and_implementation_patterns\" >Developer tips and implementation patterns<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Case_style_scenarios_and_expected_gains\" >Case style scenarios and expected gains<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-36\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Heavy_hero_image_on_mobile\" >Heavy hero image on mobile<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-37\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Blocking_CSS_and_multiple_web_fonts\" >Blocking CSS and multiple web fonts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-38\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Slow_server_on_global_traffic\" >Slow server on global traffic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-39\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#JS_heavy_landing_page\" >JS heavy landing page<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-40\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#FAQs\" >FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-41\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#What_is_a_good_LCP_score\" >What is a good LCP score?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-42\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#How_do_I_find_my_LCP_element\" >How do I find my LCP element?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-43\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Should_I_lazy_load_images\" >Should I lazy load images?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-44\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Do_fonts_and_icons_affect_LCP\" >Do fonts and icons affect LCP?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-45\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#How_often_should_I_test\" >How often should I test?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-46\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#Will_a_CDN_fix_everything\" >Will a CDN fix everything?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-47\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#What_about_INP_and_CLS\" >What about INP and CLS?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-48\" href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\/#References\" >References<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<html lang=\"en\"><br \/>\n<head><br \/>\n  <meta charset=\"utf-8\" \/><br \/>\n  <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1\" \/><br \/>\n  <title>Improve Largest Contentful Paint: 17 Proven Fixes<\/title><br \/>\n  <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Improve largest contentful paint with 17 proven fixes to speed up your site, boost Core Web Vitals, and win conversions. WordPress friendly playbook.\" \/>\n  <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\" \/>\n  <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n  {\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n    \"headline\": \"Improve Largest Contentful Paint: 17 Proven Fixes\",\n    \"description\": \"Improve largest contentful paint with 17 proven fixes to speed up your site, boost Core Web Vitals, and win conversions. WordPress friendly playbook.\",\n    \"author\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Person\",\n      \"name\": \"Morne de Heer\"\n    },\n    \"publisher\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n      \"name\": \"Brand Nexus Studios\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.brandnexusstudios.co.za\"\n    },\n    \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n      \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/improve-largest-contentful-paint\"\n    },\n    \"datePublished\": \"2025-10-08\",\n    \"dateModified\": \"2025-10-08\",\n    \"image\": [\n      \"https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png\"\n    ]\n  }\n  <\/script><br \/>\n  <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n  {\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"What is a good Largest Contentful Paint score?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"A good Largest Contentful Paint score is 2.5 seconds or less for at least 75 percent of real user visits. Focus on field data, not just lab tests, to improve largest contentful paint in a way that users feel.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"How do I find the LCP element on a page?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"Use PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse to identify the LCP element and its timing. In DevTools, enable Performance recording and check the Largest Contentful Paint entry. This makes it easier to improve largest contentful paint with targeted fixes.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"Does lazy loading affect LCP?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"Yes. Never lazy load the hero image or other potential LCP elements. Exclude the LCP image from lazy loading and consider fetchpriority=high to improve largest contentful paint reliably.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"Do web fonts impact LCP?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"They can. Flash of invisible text delays paint, which can harm LCP. Use font-display: swap, preconnect to the font host, and limit families and weights to improve largest contentful paint.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"Is a CDN required to pass LCP?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"A CDN is not strictly required but often helps a lot. Shorter network distance and edge caching reduce TTFB and resource latency, which helps improve largest contentful paint across regions.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"How does INP relate to LCP in Core Web Vitals?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"INP measures interaction latency, while LCP measures loading performance. Optimize both. JS bloat harms both metrics. Cutting render blocking scripts helps improve largest contentful paint and also improves INP.\"\n        }\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"Question\",\n        \"name\": \"How long until I see LCP improvements?\",\n        \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n          \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n          \"text\": \"Lab results update immediately. Field data in the CrUX dataset and Search Console usually updates over 28 days. Keep iterating to improve largest contentful paint and sustain wins.\"\n        }\n      }\n    ]\n  }\n  <\/script><br \/>\n  <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n  {\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"HowTo\",\n    \"name\": \"How to improve largest contentful paint in WordPress\",\n    \"description\": \"A practical sequence to optimize LCP on a WordPress site.\",\n    \"totalTime\": \"PT30M\",\n    \"step\": [\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n        \"name\": \"Measure current LCP\",\n        \"text\": \"Run PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse. Note the LCP element, timing, and opportunities.\"\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n        \"name\": \"Fix the hero image\",\n        \"text\": \"Serve next gen formats, correct dimensions, no lazy loading, add fetchpriority=high and preload.\"\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n        \"name\": \"Cut render blocking CSS and JS\",\n        \"text\": \"Inline critical CSS, defer non critical JS, and remove unused code.\"\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n        \"name\": \"Reduce TTFB\",\n        \"text\": \"Use fast hosting, CDN, server caching, and optimize database queries.\"\n      },\n      {\n        \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n        \"name\": \"Monitor field data\",\n        \"text\": \"Track Core Web Vitals in Search Console and real user monitoring.\"\n      }\n    ]\n  }\n  <\/script><\/p>\n<style>\n    \/* Minimal, WordPress friendly tweaks for responsive images *\/\n    figure { margin: 1.25rem 0; }\n    img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; }\n    figcaption { font-size: 0.95rem; color: #555; }\n  <\/style>\n<p><\/head><br \/>\n<body><\/p>\n<article>\n<header>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Largest_Contentful_Paint_17_Proven_Fixes\"><\/span>Improve Largest Contentful Paint: 17 Proven Fixes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>By Morne de Heer, Published by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandnexusstudios.co.za\">Brand Nexus Studios<\/a><\/p>\n<figure>\n        <img data-opt-id=1366113313  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" \n          src=\"https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png\" \n          alt=\"Dashboard and audit panels that improve largest contentful paint on a modern website\" \n          title=\"Improve Largest Contentful Paint - Feature\" \n          style=\"width:100%;height:auto\"\n          loading=\"eager\" \/><figcaption>Feature image: A performance workflow focused on how to improve largest contentful paint. All images on this page are compressed for page speed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Speed sells. When pages feel fast, visitors stay longer, convert more, and trust your brand. If you want reliable, measurable wins, focus your efforts to improve largest contentful paint because it captures how quickly the main content becomes visible.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the playbook. You will see exactly how to improve largest contentful paint with server upgrades, code-level tweaks, smart image handling, and WordPress specific settings. Each step is practical, easy to test, and proven to move the needle.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout this guide we keep paragraphs short, highlight the why behind each tactic, and show how these changes work together. You will also see how caching and image compression combine with resource hints to improve largest contentful paint for real users on real devices.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Largest_Contentful_Paint_explained_and_why_it_matters\"><\/span>Largest Contentful Paint explained and why it matters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Largest Contentful Paint, or LCP, measures the time it takes for the largest visible element in the viewport to render. In practice that element is often the hero image, a large text block, or a prominent video poster frame.<\/p>\n<p>Google considers LCP one of the Core Web Vitals. A good LCP is 2.5 seconds or less for at least 75 percent of page views. When you improve largest contentful paint to meet that threshold, you reduce bounce rates and increase conversions.<\/p>\n<p>LCP is not a single setting. Network latency, server speed, render blocking resources, image weight, and JavaScript execution all contribute. That is why a systematic checklist is the fastest path to improve largest contentful paint without guesswork.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_measure_and_audit_LCP_the_right_way\"><\/span>How to measure and audit LCP the right way<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before you improve largest contentful paint, you need to know where you are. Use both lab and field data to get a complete picture. Lab tests show immediate impact. Field data validates that real users feel your changes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tools_to_pinpoint_your_LCP_element\"><\/span>Tools to pinpoint your LCP element<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Use performance tools to identify the LCP element and its timing. In DevTools, record a Performance trace and filter for Largest Contentful Paint. Note the element type, size, and when it appears. That evidence will help you improve largest contentful paint with targeted fixes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_your_audit_should_capture\"><\/span>What your audit should capture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Which element is LCP on mobile and desktop<\/li>\n<li>How long it takes to render and what blocks it<\/li>\n<li>Server timing and TTFB<\/li>\n<li>Requests that start before the LCP paint and their priorities<\/li>\n<li>Opportunities to compress, preload, or inline assets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Document these findings. When you improve largest contentful paint, you will want to confirm progress against a baseline, not a hunch.<\/p>\n<figure>\n        <img data-opt-id=343076743  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" \n          src=\"https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/LCP-Timeline-Diagram.png\" \n          alt=\"Timeline diagram showing steps that improve largest contentful paint from request to paint\" \n          title=\"LCP Timeline Diagram\" \n          style=\"width:100%;height:auto\" \n          loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>A simple timeline helps you map requests that occur before the LCP paint so you can improve largest contentful paint by removing or reprioritizing blockers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"17_ways_to_improve_largest_contentful_paint_today\"><\/span>17 ways to improve largest contentful paint today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>These are the highest impact tactics. Tackle them top to bottom. Each one is a lever to improve largest contentful paint with predictable results.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Prioritize_the_critical_rendering_path\"><\/span>1. Prioritize the critical rendering path<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Start by making the browser do less work before the first render. Inline only the CSS needed for above the fold content and push everything else later. This reduces render blocking and helps improve largest contentful paint across templates.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Reduce_server_response_time_and_TTFB\"><\/span>2. Reduce server response time and TTFB<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Server speed sets the floor for every metric. Move to performant hosting, enable server caching, and tune your database to cut TTFB. A faster first byte means your LCP element can arrive sooner, which will improve largest contentful paint across geographies.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Use_a_CDN_for_global_delivery\"><\/span>3. Use a CDN for global delivery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Distribute assets close to users. A CDN shortens network distance, reduces latency, and allows edge caching. Together these changes reduce wait time for the hero image and instantly improve largest contentful paint for international audiences.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Add_resource_hints_preconnect_dns-prefetch_and_preload\"><\/span>4. Add resource hints: preconnect, dns-prefetch, and preload<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Tell the browser what matters most. Preconnect to critical origins, dns-prefetch third party hosts, and preload the LCP resource. These small tags often improve largest contentful paint by hundreds of milliseconds.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Eliminate_render_blocking_CSS\"><\/span>5. Eliminate render blocking CSS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Audit stylesheets. Split critical CSS, inline it, and defer non critical styles. Remove unused CSS where possible. This step alone can improve largest contentful paint if CSS is a major blocker.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Defer_or_delay_non_critical_JavaScript\"><\/span>6. Defer or delay non critical JavaScript<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Stop shipping heavy scripts in the critical path. Use defer or async for scripts that are not needed for the first paint. Consider delay tactics that wait for user interaction. Less blocking JS will improve largest contentful paint and also tighten INP.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Reduce_JavaScript_execution_time\"><\/span>7. Reduce JavaScript execution time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Even deferred JS can cause main thread contention. Tree shake bundles, remove unused libraries, and prefer native browser features. When the thread is free, images decode faster and you improve largest contentful paint.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Optimize_the_hero_image_perfectly\"><\/span>8. Optimize the hero image perfectly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Most pages have an image as the LCP element. Serve the right dimensions, compress aggressively, use next gen formats, and set an explicit width and height. These changes reliably improve largest contentful paint without harming visual quality.<\/p>\n<figure>\n        <img data-opt-id=961077732  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Critical-CSS-vs-Deferred-CSS.png\"  decoding=\"async\" \n          src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20100%%20100%%22%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" \n          alt=\"Illustration of critical CSS and deferred CSS that improve largest contentful paint\" \n          title=\"Critical CSS vs Deferred CSS\" \n          style=\"width:100%;height:auto\" \n          loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Inline just enough CSS for the initial view. Deferring the rest can improve largest contentful paint without breaking layout.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Never_lazy_load_the_LCP_image\"><\/span>9. Never lazy load the LCP image<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Lazy loading is powerful for below the fold media, but it delays the hero. Exclude the LCP image from lazy loading. This single change often improve largest contentful paint more than any plugin setting.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Use_fetchpriority_for_the_LCP_image\"><\/span>10. Use fetchpriority for the LCP image<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Add fetchpriority=high to the hero image so the browser requests it sooner. Combined with preload, this can improve largest contentful paint by making the most important resource arrive early.<\/p>\n<figure>\n        <img data-opt-id=166941616  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fetchpriority-for-LCP.png\"  decoding=\"async\" \n          src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20100%%20100%%22%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" \n          alt=\"Code snippet showing fetchpriority high to improve largest contentful paint for the hero image\" \n          title=\"Fetchpriority for LCP\" \n          style=\"width:100%;height:auto\" \n          loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Use preload and fetchpriority on the hero image to improve largest contentful paint on image led layouts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Compress_and_deliver_modern_image_formats\"><\/span>11. Compress and deliver modern image formats<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Convert hero images to WebP or AVIF and tune compression for balance. Keep the file under 150 KB if possible. Lighter images decode faster and improve largest contentful paint on mobile connections.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Serve_responsive_images_with_srcset\"><\/span>12. Serve responsive images with srcset<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Ship the right size for each device. Use srcset and sizes so small screens do not download desktop sized heroes. This reduces transfer time and can improve largest contentful paint for budget devices.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_Optimize_fonts_with_font-display_and_preconnect\"><\/span>13. Optimize fonts with font-display and preconnect<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Invisible text delays paint. Use font-display: swap, subset fonts, and preconnect to font hosts. Reducing font overhead will improve largest contentful paint and stabilize layout quickly.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Trim_the_DOM_and_avoid_heavy_layout_work\"><\/span>14. Trim the DOM and avoid heavy layout work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A bloated DOM increases style recalculation and layout cost. Keep the initial view lean. Smaller, simpler markup helps improve largest contentful paint and keeps the main thread responsive.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_Cache_smartly_at_every_layer\"><\/span>15. Cache smartly at every layer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Edge caching, server caching, and client side caching work together. Set long cache lifetimes for static assets and validate with cache headers. Robust caching strategies improve largest contentful paint on return visits and even cold starts.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"16_Remove_or_postpone_third_party_scripts\"><\/span>16. Remove or postpone third party scripts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Marketing tags, heatmaps, and widgets are common blockers. Stagger their load until after interaction. You will improve largest contentful paint and preserve analytics accuracy by loading essentials first.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"17_Pick_a_performance_first_theme_and_minimal_plugins\"><\/span>17. Pick a performance first theme and minimal plugins<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>On WordPress, the theme and plugins define your baseline. Choose a lightweight theme, audit plugins quarterly, and remove overlaps. A clean stack makes it easier to improve largest contentful paint and keep it green over time.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Advanced_tactics_to_squeeze_every_millisecond\"><\/span>Advanced tactics to squeeze every millisecond<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Once basics are done, advanced approaches can further improve largest contentful paint, especially on JavaScript heavy sites and headless front ends.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Server_side_rendering_and_hydration_strategy\"><\/span>Server side rendering and hydration strategy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Render the initial view on the server so content appears fast. Hydrate only what is interactive. Partial or island hydration reduces main thread pressure and can improve largest contentful paint without sacrificing modern UX.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Edge_runtime_and_HTML_caching\"><\/span>Edge runtime and HTML caching<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Cache full HTML at the edge for anonymous traffic and vary smartly for personalized sections. Faster HTML arrival shortens the path to the first paint and helps improve largest contentful paint globally.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_Priority_Hints_correctly\"><\/span>Use Priority Hints correctly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Apply importance high to the LCP image, and importance low to non critical assets. Combined with fetchpriority and preload, priority hints improve largest contentful paint with precise control.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Progressive_enhancement_and_conditional_hydration\"><\/span>Progressive enhancement and conditional hydration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Ship lean HTML and CSS first, then enhance when needed. Conditional hydration loads code only when a component is visible or used. This pattern can improve largest contentful paint on content pages without rewriting your app.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"WordPress_focused_checklist_to_improve_largest_contentful_paint\"><\/span>WordPress focused checklist to improve largest contentful paint<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you run WordPress, use this checklist to improve largest contentful paint within hours, not weeks.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Audit your homepage and top landing pages. Identify the LCP element and timing. Document before metrics.<\/li>\n<li>Replace the hero with a compressed WebP or AVIF. Set exact width and height and remove lazy loading on that image.<\/li>\n<li>Add a preload tag for the hero with as=image and correct type, and set fetchpriority=high on the img element.<\/li>\n<li>Inline critical CSS for the header, hero, and first section. Defer or async all non essential JS files.<\/li>\n<li>Disable unused plugins and remove duplicate functionality. Every plugin you remove can improve largest contentful paint.<\/li>\n<li>Enable page caching and object caching. Verify that cache control headers are set for static assets.<\/li>\n<li>Activate a CDN and serve images, CSS, JS, and fonts from the edge. Confirm lower TTFB in your waterfall.<\/li>\n<li>Use srcset and sizes on hero images. Supply 1x and 2x variants and test on mobile.<\/li>\n<li>Limit web fonts. Use two families max and only the weights you need. Add preconnect to the font origin.<\/li>\n<li>Defer analytics and marketing tags until after the first interaction if possible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Follow this list, then retest. You should see measurable gains. On many sites these steps alone improve largest contentful paint by 500 ms to 1.5 s.<\/p>\n<figure>\n        <img data-opt-id=1787125283  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WordPress-Performance-Dashboard.png\"  decoding=\"async\" \n          src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20100%%20100%%22%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" \n          alt=\"WordPress dashboard settings that improve largest contentful paint using caching and image optimization\" \n          title=\"WordPress Performance Dashboard\" \n          style=\"width:100%;height:auto\" \n          loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>WordPress settings that prioritize caching and media optimization can improve largest contentful paint without code changes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Measurement_discipline_that_keeps_LCP_green\"><\/span>Measurement discipline that keeps LCP green<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You cannot improve largest contentful paint once and forget it. Release cycles, new plugins, and content changes will creep in. Create a cadence to measure and act.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Track Core Web Vitals weekly and monitor the 75th percentile for mobile users.<\/li>\n<li>Validate key templates before publishing new sections.<\/li>\n<li>Automate synthetic tests for your top 10 pages.<\/li>\n<li>Set budgets for image size, CSS, and JS to control bloat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When regressions appear, roll back or hotfix fast. A small image or script regression can undo weeks of work to improve largest contentful paint.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_LCP_meets_SEO_UX_and_revenue\"><\/span>Where LCP meets SEO, UX, and revenue<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Good performance is not only a technical checkbox. When you improve largest contentful paint, you create an immediate perception of quality. Fast pages reduce pogo sticking, lift engagement, and make every channel more efficient.<\/p>\n<p>If your team needs help turning these tactics into a plan, consider partnering with a specialist. The right blend of technical SEO, UX, and engineering can improve largest contentful paint and unlock compounding wins across your funnel.<\/p>\n<p>For example, aligning a clean codebase with strong internal linking and optimized media can improve largest contentful paint while also strengthening topical relevance. That synergy is valuable for search and for users.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Smart_internal_linking_and_platform_foundations\"><\/span>Smart internal linking and platform foundations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Content strategy and platform foundations work together. Good information architecture helps users discover content faster, and a well tuned stack ensures it appears quickly. That mix will improve largest contentful paint and overall Web Vitals.<\/p>\n<p>If you are planning a redesign, anchor your decisions in performance. A thoughtful build will improve largest contentful paint by design, not as an afterthought. See our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandnexusstudios.co.za\/website-design-development\/\">website design and development<\/a> approach for principles that keep speed central.<\/p>\n<p>Technical SEO complements build quality. Structured data, clean markup, and fast rendering send stronger signals. If you want a roadmap and implementation partner that can improve largest contentful paint while strengthening search, review our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandnexusstudios.co.za\/seo-services\/\">SEO services<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Ongoing visibility matters. Dashboards and reporting keep teams focused on real outcomes. To operationalize these metrics and continue to improve largest contentful paint over time, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandnexusstudios.co.za\/analytics-reporting\/\">analytics and reporting<\/a> services can help you separate signal from noise.<\/p>\n<p>Note: this article mentions image compression and caching repeatedly because they are high leverage. Compress images, set caching headers, and enable page caching to improve largest contentful paint on every visit.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_pitfalls_that_keep_LCP_high\"><\/span>Common pitfalls that keep LCP high<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Even experienced teams hit snags. Avoid these traps so your attempts to improve largest contentful paint are not undermined.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lazy loading the LCP image by accident. Exclude it explicitly.<\/li>\n<li>Preloading too many resources. Only preload what is essential for the first view.<\/li>\n<li>Shipping heavy AB testing libraries on all pages. Scope them to experiments only.<\/li>\n<li>Overusing web fonts and icons. Simplify and subset.<\/li>\n<li>Ignoring third party blockers like chat widgets that delay paint.<\/li>\n<li>Compressing images once and forgetting future uploads. Automate compression in your media pipeline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you correct these, your other optimizations will work as intended and you will improve largest contentful paint consistently across templates.<\/p>\n<figure>\n        <img data-opt-id=1388395551  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CDN-and-Caching-Strategy.png\"  decoding=\"async\" \n          src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20100%%20100%%22%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" \n          alt=\"Edge CDN and caching strategy flowchart to improve largest contentful paint at global scale\" \n          title=\"CDN and Caching Strategy\" \n          style=\"width:100%;height:auto\" \n          loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Edge caching and smart cache headers reduce distance and waiting, which improve largest contentful paint for users everywhere.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Developer_tips_and_implementation_patterns\"><\/span>Developer tips and implementation patterns<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Engineers can wire in patterns that improve largest contentful paint by default. A few habits go a long way.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Adopt a performance budget that fails builds when hero images exceed a size cap.<\/li>\n<li>Set fetchpriority=high on the largest image in the initial viewport programmatically.<\/li>\n<li>Automate critical CSS extraction during the build process.<\/li>\n<li>Use HTTP 2 or HTTP 3 to parallelize and speed up resource delivery.<\/li>\n<li>Audit third party dependencies quarterly and remove unneeded code paths.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These practices reduce manual oversight. You will improve largest contentful paint in every release without rework.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_style_scenarios_and_expected_gains\"><\/span>Case style scenarios and expected gains<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Realistic scenarios help set expectations. These composite examples show how teams improve largest contentful paint and what gains are typical.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heavy_hero_image_on_mobile\"><\/span>Heavy hero image on mobile<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Problem: a 900 KB hero image with no width or height, lazy loaded by default. Fix: convert to AVIF, compress to 120 KB, add width and height, remove lazy loading, add fetchpriority and preload. Outcome: improve largest contentful paint from 4.1 s to 2.1 s on a mid tier phone.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Blocking_CSS_and_multiple_web_fonts\"><\/span>Blocking CSS and multiple web fonts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Problem: three full CSS files in the head and four font weights. Fix: inline critical, defer the rest, subset fonts, and use font display swap. Outcome: improve largest contentful paint by 1.2 s and stabilize text quickly.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Slow_server_on_global_traffic\"><\/span>Slow server on global traffic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Problem: users far from origin see high TTFB. Fix: move to faster hosting and add a CDN with edge caching. Outcome: improve largest contentful paint by 800 ms in distant regions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"JS_heavy_landing_page\"><\/span>JS heavy landing page<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Problem: large framework and analytics load block the main thread. Fix: defer non critical scripts, split by route, and delay marketing tags. Outcome: improve largest contentful paint by 600 ms and improve INP by 30 percent.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_good_LCP_score\"><\/span>What is a good LCP score?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A good LCP is 2.5 seconds or less at the 75th percentile. Aim to improve largest contentful paint for mobile first, since mobile is often slower.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_find_my_LCP_element\"><\/span>How do I find my LCP element?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Run a performance trace and look for the Largest Contentful Paint entry. The tool will show the element. Fix that element first to improve largest contentful paint.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_lazy_load_images\"><\/span>Should I lazy load images?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes for below the fold images. Never for the hero. Excluding the hero from lazy loading will improve largest contentful paint dramatically.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_fonts_and_icons_affect_LCP\"><\/span>Do fonts and icons affect LCP?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>They can. Limit fonts, subset glyphs, and use swap. Lighter resources improve largest contentful paint and reduce layout shifts.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_should_I_test\"><\/span>How often should I test?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Test weekly and after any major change. Continuous checks help you improve largest contentful paint and keep it stable over time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_a_CDN_fix_everything\"><\/span>Will a CDN fix everything?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A CDN helps a lot but it is not a silver bullet. Pair it with code and media optimization to improve largest contentful paint in a sustainable way.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_about_INP_and_CLS\"><\/span>What about INP and CLS?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Optimize all Core Web Vitals. Defer heavy JS and stabilize layout to improve largest contentful paint, INP, and CLS together.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"References\"><\/span>References<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Explore authoritative resources used to shape this guide:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.dev\/lcp\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Largest Contentful Paint guide on web.dev<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/appearance\/core-web-vitals\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Core Web Vitals documentation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<footer>\n<p>If this guide helped you improve largest contentful paint, share it with your team and subscribe for more practical breakdowns. Have a question or need a custom plan for your stack? Email info@brandnexusstudios.co.za. If you want a partner who blends strategy with execution, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brandnexusstudios.co.za\">Brand Nexus Studios<\/a> is ready to help.<\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/body><br \/>\n<\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improve Largest Contentful Paint: 17 Proven Fixes Improve Largest Contentful Paint: 17 Proven Fixes By Morne de Heer,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[143,5],"tags":[658,419,425,87,408,752,361,660,748,424,93,519,731,751,750,676,657,749],"class_list":["post-2374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-digital-marketing","tag-caching","tag-cdn","tag-cls","tag-core-web-vitals","tag-critical-css","tag-fetchpriority","tag-image-optimization","tag-inp","tag-largest-contentful-paint","tag-lcp","tag-page-speed","tag-performance-optimization","tag-preload","tag-render-blocking-resources-2","tag-resource-hints","tag-server-response-time","tag-ttfb","tag-wordpress-speed"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",1024,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:150\/h:150\/q:mauto\/rt:fill\/g:ce\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:300\/h:300\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:768\/h:768\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",640,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",640,640,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",1024,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",1024,1024,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:825\/h:575\/q:mauto\/rt:fill\/g:ce\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/ml7ewxmv24ng.i.optimole.com\/cb:5G8L.116b\/w:590\/h:410\/q:mauto\/rt:fill\/g:ce\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Improve-Largest-Contentful-Paint-Feature.png",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"info":["Morne de Heer, CEO &amp; Founder of Brand Nexus Studios"]},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/category\/business\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Business<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/category\/digital-marketing\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Digital Marketing<\/a>","tag_info":"Digital Marketing","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2374"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2374\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2383,"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2374\/revisions\/2383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandnexusstudios.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}