1. Measure before making changes
Choose three representative pages and record load time, device and conditions. For shops, include product, cart and checkout. Separate slow server response from large images or scripts delaying display. Keep the baseline for comparison after each change.
2. Prepare staging
Back up files and database, then work on a copy. Record the theme, plugins and recent changes. Disabling a feature on a live shop may interrupt payment or ordering. Change one thing at a time.
3. Reduce page weight
Resize images for their actual use and compress without compromising product detail. Reduce videos or animations loaded immediately. Avoid lazy-loading the main image if it delays display. Review fonts, third-party scripts and widgets too.
4. Configure caching carefully
Use caching suitable for the server rather than competing plugins. Verify invalidation after edits. WooCommerce cart, checkout and customer account pages must preserve individual data; never serve a shared cached cart to different visitors.
5. Investigate plugins and database work
Look for heavy plugins, external calls and background jobs. Compare staging results with and without the suspected feature. Do not remove tables or orders to save space. Slow queries need targeted investigation.
6. Validate and assess capacity
Repeat measurements under the same conditions and check login, forms and orders. If CPU or memory remain saturated, request a hosting review. A VPS can offer capacity and control, but cannot substitute for fixing inefficient code.
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