Slow loading web pages can be a real turn off for your readers and can negatively impact on user experience. In 2024, everyone expects web pages to load faster. Implementing lazy loading on a site is one of the best way to improve webpage loading speed. In this post, I will teach you how to lazy load images in blogger site. Also, I will share some bonus tips to optimize your blog.
What is Lazy Loading?
Lazy loading is a technique that defers the loading of non-essential content (like images) until the user needs it. This means that instead of loading all images when the page loads, they load only as the user scrolls down the page. It provides faster page load times, reduced bandwidth usage and an improved experience for users on slower connections.
How to Enable Lazy Loading in Blogger
Let’s explore how you can enable lazy loading in your blogger site using three different methods.
Method 1: Blogger Lazyload Option
Blogger provides a built-in option to enable lazy loading for images. It is a very simple and straightforward process. This method is perfect if you are looking for a quick and easy way to optimize your site. Here is how you can enable it directly from your blogger settings:
1. Log in to your blogger dashboard.
2. Go to “Settings“.
3. Locate the “Posts” section.
4. Toggle to enable “Lazy load images“
That’s it! You have successfully enabled lazy loading on your site without any hassle.
Method 2: Native Lazy Loading
Native lazy loading technology is a very simple method and works with modern browsers only. In this method, you only need to add a lazy loading attribute in your image html. See the example below:
<img loading="lazy" alt="alt_text_here" src="your_image_path"/>This simple addition tells the browser to delay loading the image until it is needed.
Method 3: Lazysizes Lazy Load Plugin
Lazysizes is an incredibly lightweight lazy loading plugin designed to optimize webpage media files. Follow the steps below to add lazysizes plugin in blogger site:
Note: Backing up your blogger template is highly recommended before making any changes so you can restore later if needed.
1. Log in to your blogger dashboard.
2. Choose a blog (only if you have multiple blogs).
3. Go to “Theme”
4. Locate the “Customize” button and click on the arrow icon. Then, click on “Edit HTML“
<script src='https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aFarkas/lazysizes/gh-pages/lazysizes.min.js'/>5. Search for </body> in the blogger template editor and paste the following script just above it.
<img class="lazyload" alt="alt_text_here" data-src="your_image_path"/>6. Click on the “Save” icon to save your changes.
Now, modify your images to add the lazyload class attribute and replace src with data-src. Follow the example below:
That’s it. Your images will now only load when your users need it.
Bonus Tips for Faster Page Speed
1. Compress Images: Reducing image file sizes through compression tools can further improve page load times. You can use online tools like TinyPNG or JPEG Optimizer to compress your images before uploading them.
2. Use WebP Format: WebP provides high quality images with a smaller file size. Almost all modern browsers support this format. So, consider using WebP formatted images on your site.
3. Content Delivery Network (CDN): If possible, use a Content Delivery Network to serve your images from servers located closer to your readers. It will reduce latency and improve load times.
4. Minimize HTTP Requests: Try to limit the number of images on a single page to reduce HTTP requests. Combine smaller images into a sprite sheet whenever possible.
Final Thoughts
Lazy loading images in blogger is a great way to boost your site’s performance. Lazy load can significantly improve both seo and user experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your blog is optimized for speed without compromising on content quality.
If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with your fellow bloggers. And stay tuned with our blog to get more blogging related tutorials, tips and tricks.
