✓ Free Checklist

GHL Page Speed Checklist

The exact image compression, script audit, Core Web Vitals, and mobile optimization steps ATJ uses to push GoHighLevel funnel pages to 90+ PageSpeed scores - and turn faster load times into higher conversions.

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Baseline Audit

Measure before you optimize - data drives decisions

6 items

Run each funnel page through Google PageSpeed Insights and record scores

pagespeed.web.dev. Record both mobile and desktop scores. Mobile is the one that matters for ad traffic.

Record Core Web Vitals: LCP, INP, and CLS for each page

LCP target: <2.5s. CLS target: <0.1. INP target: <200ms. These directly affect Google ad Quality Score.

Check real-user data in Google Search Console Core Web Vitals report

Lab data (PageSpeed) and field data (real users) often differ. Both matter for diagnosis.

Run GTmetrix or WebPageTest for a waterfall view of all loading resources

The waterfall shows which specific files delay rendering. Export for reference during optimization.

Note your current bounce rate and average session duration in GA4

Speed improvements that don't move these numbers may indicate a copy or UX issue instead.

List all third-party scripts loading on the page (GTM, pixels, chat widgets, etc.)

Open DevTools → Network → filter by "script". Third-party JS is typically the #1 speed culprit.

Image Optimization

Images are usually 60-80% of page weight - fix these first

7 items

Convert all hero and section images to WebP format

WebP saves 25-35% vs JPEG at equivalent quality. Use Squoosh.app or TinyPNG for batch conversion.

Compress all images to under 200KB (hero) and under 80KB (body images)

Target 80% quality for JPEG/WebP. Visually identical, half the file size.

Set image dimensions to match display size (no 2000px images displayed at 400px)

Oversized images waste bandwidth. In GHL, match the image container width in the builder.

Add loading="lazy" to all below-the-fold images

GHL's page builder doesn't add this automatically. Add in Custom CSS or via GTM if needed.

Add explicit width and height attributes to all images to prevent CLS

Images without dimensions cause layout shifts as they load. CLS score directly affects Google ad cost.

Replace animated GIFs with MP4 (autoplay, muted, loop) for any motion elements

An MP4 is typically 10x smaller than an equivalent GIF. Massive LCP improvement on pages with hero animations.

Preload the hero (LCP) image using <link rel="preload"> in the page head

Funnel Settings → Head Tracking Code. Add: <link rel="preload" as="image" href="your-hero.webp">

Font & CSS Optimization

Eliminate render-blocking resources above the fold

5 items

Limit to 2 font families maximum (1 is better for landing pages)

Every additional font weight or family adds a render-blocking request. Cut to essential weights only.

Add font-display: swap to Google Fonts requests

Prevents invisible text during font load. Add &display=swap to the Google Fonts URL in GHL settings.

Inline critical above-the-fold CSS in the <head> (hero section styles)

Critical CSS loaded inline renders immediately without waiting for external stylesheet. Eliminates FOUC.

Audit GHL's built-in CSS for unused rules (use Chrome Coverage tab)

DevTools → Coverage → Reload. Red = unused CSS. For GHL pages, 40-60% is often unused.

Move non-critical CSS to load asynchronously using media="print" trick

For stylesheets that don't affect above-fold rendering, use onload to swap media to "all" after load.

JavaScript & Third-Party Script Audit

Scripts are the primary LCP and INP killer on GHL pages

6 items

Audit every third-party script and remove any that aren't actively used

Old Zapier embeds, abandoned chat widgets, unused heatmap scripts - each adds 100-500ms of blocking time.

Load all third-party scripts with async or defer attributes

async = load + execute when ready. defer = execute after HTML parsed (preferred for analytics).

Delay GTM initialization until first user interaction on organic/SEO pages

Delaying GTM init by 3 seconds or until first interaction significantly improves LCP on organic traffic.

Audit the GHL chat widget - load it only on pages where support is needed

The GHL live chat widget adds 180-320ms of blocking time. Disable on high-traffic ad landing pages.

Check for duplicate script tags (GTM loaded twice, multiple GA4 instances)

GHL + platform-injected scripts often duplicate tracking. Use Tag Assistant to detect duplicates.

Minify any custom JavaScript added to GHL page Custom Code sections

Use jscompress.com or Terser. Whitespace and comments add 10-30% to JS file size unnecessarily.

Mobile-Specific Optimization

Most ad traffic is mobile - optimize for 3G/4G conditions

6 items

Test the funnel on a real mobile device (not just browser resize)

iOS Safari and Android Chrome render GHL pages differently than desktop Chrome DevTools mobile emulation.

Check touch target sizes - all buttons and links must be at least 44×44px

Small tap targets increase accidental mis-taps and form abandonment on mobile.

Verify the opt-in form doesn't trigger zoom on focus (font-size must be ≥16px)

iOS zooms in on inputs with font-size below 16px. This creates a jarring UX that kills mobile conversions.

Ensure no horizontal scroll on any screen width below 375px

Use Chrome DevTools at 375px width. Overflow content suggests a fixed-width element not capped by max-width.

Test on a throttled 3G connection (Chrome DevTools → Network → Slow 3G)

Real mobile ad traffic often loads on 3G/4G. A page that "feels fast" on WiFi can take 8+ seconds on 3G.

Verify the CTA button is visible above the fold on mobile without scrolling

On iPhone 12 (390px height): the CTA should appear within the first 600px of page height.

Post-Optimization Verification

Confirm improvements and monitor ongoing

5 items

Re-run PageSpeed Insights and compare scores to baseline

Document: before vs after mobile score, LCP, CLS, INP. Screenshot for client/stakeholder report.

Verify all tracking still fires correctly after optimization changes

Speed changes (deferred scripts, async loading) can break analytics event order. Retest all conversion events.

Monitor bounce rate and conversion rate for 7 days post-optimization

Speed improvements typically show measurable conversion lift within 3-7 days on high-traffic pages.

Set a PageSpeed Insights reminder to re-audit quarterly

GHL platform updates, new GTM tags, and new integrations erode speed gains over time.

Share optimized page with Google Ads rep to request Quality Score review (if running paid traffic)

Landing Page Experience is a direct Quality Score component. Documented speed improvements can lower CPC.

Want ATJ to run a full Speed + Funnel Audit?

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