Site speed isn’t just a “nice to have”—it directly impacts user experience, SEO rankings, and sales. Recently, we completed a Shopify speed optimisation for a local business, and the results were outstanding:
- Google PageSpeed Desktop score jumped from 27 to 99
- Mobile score increased from 52 to 95
In this post, we’ll break down what was done, why it matters, and what kind of improvements you can expect for your own store.
Why Speed Matters for Shopify Stores
If your site takes too long to load, visitors won’t stick around. Here’s why speed is so crucial:
- Better user experience – Customers can browse and shop without frustrating delays
- Higher conversion rates – Faster sites mean fewer drop-offs at checkout
- Improved SEO – Google considers page speed a ranking factor
- Mobile-first performance – With so many shoppers using phones, mobile speed is critical
The Starting Point: Slow and Costing Sales
Before optimisation, the Shopify store was struggling:
- Google PageSpeed scores were 27 (desktop) and 52 (mobile)
- Product pages and the homepage took several seconds to load
- Customers were bouncing before even seeing key content
This slow performance was likely hurting both conversions and organic search rankings.
What We Did to Optimise the Site
Speed optimisation for Shopify isn’t about installing a magic app—it’s about making smart, targeted improvements. Here’s a summary of what we did:
1. Theme Audit & Cleanup
- Removed unused apps and leftover app code
- Cleaned up excessive JavaScript and CSS files
- Minified CSS and JavaScript for faster loading
2. Image Optimisation
- Compressed large image files without sacrificing quality
- Converted key images to WebP format for faster delivery
- Implemented lazy loading so images load only when needed
3. Third-Party App Management
- Identified and removed resource-heavy apps affecting performance
- Replaced some with lighter alternatives or integrated directly into the theme
4. Liquid Code Improvements
- Reorganised and simplified custom code in theme files
- Deferred non-essential scripts to load after main content
5. Leverage Browser Caching & Preloading
- Enabled browser caching for static assets
- Used preload directives for fonts and critical resources
The Results: Lightning Fast Performance
After the optimisation, the improvements were clear:
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Score | 27 | 99 |
| Mobile Score | 52 | 95 |
The site now loads quickly across all devices—especially mobile, which is crucial for ecommerce in 2025.
What This Means for Business Owners
If your Shopify store is running slowly, it’s likely costing you sales and search traffic. The good news? You don’t need a full rebuild—just smart optimisation.
Benefits of a faster Shopify store:
- Lower bounce rates
- Faster checkout experience
- More sales from mobile users
- Better SEO rankings
- Happier customers
Want Similar Results for Your Store?
Whether you’re in Sydney or anywhere in Australia, a faster Shopify store is within reach. If you’ve noticed your site dragging or scoring low on Google PageSpeed Insights, let’s chat.
📞 Book a free Shopify speed review today – I’ll take a look and let you know what’s holding your site back.