The Performance Workflow
Most performance advice is random.
People install plugins. They enable random settings. They chase a PageSpeed score.
That’s not how engineers work.
Speedbase is built around a simple, structured workflow:
Measure → Diagnose → Optimize → Secure → Monitor
Each step has a purpose.
1. Measure
Section titled “1. Measure”Before changing anything, you measure.
You need to understand:
- What is slow?
- Is it TTFB?
- Is it LCP?
- Is JavaScript blocking rendering?
- Is it mobile only?
Tools you might use:
- Lighthouse
- PageSpeed Insights
- WebPageTest
- DebugBear
Without measurement, you are guessing.
2. Diagnose
Section titled “2. Diagnose”Metrics tell you what is slow.
Diagnosis tells you why.
This is where you:
- Read the waterfall chart
- Inspect network requests
- Identify render-blocking resources
- Check server response timing
- Look for large images
- Spot third-party scripts
Diagnosis is the most important step.
Most people skip it.
3. Optimize
Section titled “3. Optimize”Only after diagnosis do you fix things.
Optimization can happen at multiple layers:
Frontend
Section titled “Frontend”- Compress images
- Remove unused CSS
- Reduce JavaScript
- Defer non-critical scripts
WordPress
Section titled “WordPress”- Configure caching layers correctly
- Remove heavy plugins
- Reduce database overhead
Server
Section titled “Server”- Tune PHP-FPM
- Optimize MariaDB
- Configure NGINX properly
- Use Cloudflare effectively
Optimization without diagnosis leads to wasted effort.
4. Secure
Section titled “4. Secure”Security and performance often conflict.
Poorly configured firewalls and security plugins can:
- Increase TTFB
- Block caching
- Add heavy database queries
You must secure your site intelligently.
Security should not destroy performance.
5. Monitor
Section titled “5. Monitor”Performance is not a one-time task.
After deployment:
- Plugins update
- Themes change
- New scripts are added
- Traffic patterns shift
Without monitoring, regressions happen silently.
You should:
- Track performance over time
- Set alerts for regressions
- Periodically retest critical pages
Why This Workflow Matters
Section titled “Why This Workflow Matters”This system prevents chaos.
It keeps you focused on impact.
It allows you to:
- Avoid random fixes
- Save time
- Achieve consistent 90+ mobile scores
- Build stable performance long term
Next Step
Section titled “Next Step”If you’re new to performance testing, start here:
→ How to Run a Speed Test