Let’s start with a thought: a Google PageSpeed score is like a first date. It’s great, and it gives you a general vibe—but it doesn’t always tell you everything going on under the hood. And it skews toward, well, Google.

You want a real performance audit? One that tells you what’s slowing down your site, what’s worth fixing, and what’s just a bunch of technical fluff? You’ve come to the right nerds.

At RPS, we don’t just chase numbers. We dig into the guts of your site to figure out what’s actually causing problems—and how to fix them.

So, What Is a Website Performance Audit?

It’s a full breakdown of how your site performs in the real world. Not just how it scores on a test, but how fast it loads, how stable it is, and whether your visitors are having to fight a digital boss battle just to reach your contact form.

Key Metrics We Look At:

• Time to First Byte (TTFB) – How fast your server responds.
• First Contentful Paint (FCP) – How quickly something (anything!) shows up.
• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – When the main stuff is fully visible.
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – Does your content jump around like it’s had too much coffee?
• Time to Interactive (TTI) – How fast your site actually lets people use it.

The Tools That Matter

Sure, you can use Google PageSpeed—but we pair it with some real-deal diagnostics.
Enter: WebPageTest.org. This is our favorite tool for good reason.

Why? Because it shows things like:

• Waterfall charts (what loads when, and what’s hogging the party)
• Visual load progress (how your site actually appears to users)
• Global testing locations (how your site performs around the world)

We also like:

• Lighthouse reports for technical flags
• GTmetrix for quick breakdowns
• Chrome DevTools for in-depth code-level audits

Each tool gives us a different lens to look through—and together, they tell the full story.

What’s Slowing Down Your Site?

Here’s where it gets spicy. Common culprits include:

• Oversized images (because your homepage doesn’t need a 12MB PNG)
• Poorly coded themes or page builders
• Too many plugins doing the same job
• No caching, or the wrong kind
• Third-party scripts running wild in the background (hello, chatbots and trackers)

What We Actually Fix First

Every site’s different, but generally we look for:

1. Quick wins – Compress images, enable caching, clean up scripts
2. Structural issues – Is your theme bloated? Are you loading 14 fonts for no reason?
3. Server-side problems – Bad hosting? Slow TTFB? Let’s talk migration.
4. Mobile problems – Because your site should work everywhere, not just on desktop.

TL;DR? Here’s Your Audit Game Plan

1. Don’t just look at your PageSpeed score.
2. Run your site through WebPageTest and Lighthouse.
3. Identify bottlenecks using waterfall charts.
4. Prioritize changes that improve real user experience.
5. Fix the easy stuff. Then tackle the big stuff.
6. Still stuck? That’s why we exist.

Ready for a Performance Audit That’s More Than a Score?

We offer performance scans that go beyond the numbers—and give you clear, human-friendly next steps. No BS. No “just install this one plugin” advice.

📥 Drop us a message, and let’s dig in.

You Can’t Just “Set It and Forget It.”

When you first launched your website, it was exciting, right?
Fresh design. Clever copy. Buttons that worked. Dreams of new customers rolling in. 

But fast-forward a year (or three)…

-A few broken links here
-A plugin held together with duct tape there
-A homepage that loads slower than your uncle’s dial-up in 1998
Yeah. Not quite the dream anymore.

Here’s the thing: Websites are living, breathing parts of your business.
Not fine china that you stuff on a shelf and admire once a year.
Not a crockpot you leave alone for 12 hours hoping dinner doesn’t catch fire.

If you want your website to actually work for you, you have to take care of it.

Here’s what regular maintenance actually does:

Keeps You Safe from the Internet Boogeymen:
Outdated plugins and ignored security updates are basically an open invitation to hackers. (“Come on in, the firewall’s fine!”)

Keeps Your Site Fast:
Spoiler alert: nobody waits 10 seconds for a homepage to load. They’re gone faster than you can say “broken cache.”

Boosts Your SEO:
Search engines want fresh, functional websites. If your site is broken, outdated, or otherwise crying for help, Google notices. And not in a good way.

Makes You Look Like You Actually Care:
Because nothing says “trust us with your business” like a 404 error on your services page.

Saves You Big Money Later:
Tiny problems turn into giant problems when ignored. Regular maintenance prevents costly rebuilds, SEO penalties, and tech emergencies later on.

Keeps Your Customers Happy:
Fast, intuitive websites = happy users = better sales.
(Also fewer angry emails about how your “contact us” form mysteriously vanishes halfway through filling it out.)

The good news?
You don’t have to channel your inner IT wizard to keep things running.

At Rock, Pixel, Scissors, we offer website maintenance packages that handle all the boring (but crucial) stuff — so you can focus on, you know, running your business.

This month, we’re offering a Spring Website Refresh Special — because your website deserves a little self-care too.

✅ Routine updates
✅ Security patches
✅ Speed optimization
✅ Broken link repairs
✅ Plugin tune-ups
✅ An overall health check (minus the awkward small talk)

If your site is starting to feel like a haunted house of glitches and broken links…
It’s time.

There are many conversations about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and its ongoing relevancy. SEO at its root tends to be a very long-term strategy. It is rare that a new website that is just getting started with SEO and creating will outrank competitors immediately, but it doesn’t mean that it will stay that way forever. SEO will always be important as long as humans are searching for things whether it be on-page information, a video online, or a social media post. 

One area of SEO that we work with consistently is on-page SEO and head tags. When it comes to optimizing a website for search engines, heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) play a vital role in organizing your content and enhancing your site’s readability and SEO performance. But how exactly does the hierarchy of heading tags affect SEO, and why should you care about their proper usage? 

Today we are talking about hierarchy, and not in a way that resembles every high school movie ever. No matter how fetch they were.

What are Heading Tags?

In the simplest terms (with the most convenient definitions), heading tags are HTML elements used to designate headings on a web page. They range from <H1> to <H6>, with H1 being the most important and H6 the least. These tags not only structure the content for your readers but also signal to search engines what the page is about, helping with content ranking. They help prevent Google from totally buggin.

The Hierarchy of Heading Tags

The hierarchy of heading tags follows a logical order:

• H1: This is the main title or heading of your page and should be used once per page. It tells both users and search engines what the main topic is.
• H2: These tags are used for section headings and can be used multiple times on a page. They typically break the content into digestible subtopics.
• H3: These are used for subsections under H2 headings. They go into more detailed breakdowns of the content.
• H4 to H6: These are used for further subdivisions within the page if necessary, though they are less commonly used. In almost 30 years of making web pages, I am not sure I’ve even seen an H6 in the wild.

To best showcase this in practice, please notice our own heading tags matching the color coding established above. Fancy.

Why is Heading Tag Hierarchy Important for SEO?

Improved Readability and User Experience

 A well-structured webpage is easy to scan. Most visitors won’t read every word on the page, so clear headings help them quickly find the information they need. When users stay longer on your page due to easy navigation, it reduces bounce rates, which is a positive SEO signal.

Search Engine Crawling and Indexing 

Search engines, such as Google, use heading tags to understand the structure and content of a webpage. Proper heading tag hierarchy helps search engines determine the relevance and importance of different sections. For instance, an H1 tag signals the main topic, while H2s and H3s break it down into subtopics, allowing search engines to better interpret the content’s organization.

Keyword Optimization 

Heading tags offer a strategic place to include your target keywords. By using primary keywords in your H1 tag and secondary or related keywords in H2 and H3 tags, you reinforce the relevance of your content for those search terms. However, avoid keyword stuffing; use them naturally to maintain a good user experience.

Featured Snippets and Ranking Opportunities 

Google often pulls content for featured snippets from well-structured pages with a clear heading hierarchy. Pages that use properly formatted H2 and H3 tags for specific sections or questions are more likely to be highlighted in featured snippets, increasing visibility in search results.

Best Practices for Using Heading Tags

Use Only One H1 Tag Per Page 

Every page should have a single, clear H1 tag that describes the page’s main topic. Avoid multiple H1 tags, as they can confuse search engines about the primary focus of the page.

Use Headings to Create Logical Structure 

Follow the natural flow of your content. Use H2 tags for main sections, H3 tags for sub-sections, and so on. Don’t skip levels; for instance, don’t jump from an H2 to an H4 without an H3 in between. Think of a term paper outline. (Do they still teach that? It’s been a while.)

Include Keywords Strategically 

Incorporate relevant keywords into your heading tags without forcing them. Ensure they align with the content beneath each heading to maintain a natural flow for both users and search engines.

Keep Headings Concise

Use short, descriptive headings that clearly summarize the content. This helps users quickly understand the topic of each section and enhances the user experience.

Use Headings for Both SEO and Usability 

While SEO is important, headings should primarily be used to improve the readability and navigation of your content. Don’t over-optimize or create unnatural headings solely for ranking purposes.

How to work with Heading Tags in WordPress

In WordPress, the page title will turn into the H1 tag.

You can turn something into a heading by clicking this paragraph symbol-

And set H2 through H6 with the heading tool in the text editor-

One last H2

Heading tags are a crucial aspect of both user experience and search engine optimization. Properly implementing a heading tag hierarchy improves the structure of your website, making it easier for visitors to navigate and for search engines to understand your content. By using clear, keyword-optimized heading tags, you not only enhance readability but also boost your chances of ranking higher in search results. Keep your headings logical, concise, and relevant to strike the perfect balance between SEO and usability.

Your pages will be a lot cooler if you do.

A slow website can drive visitors away before they even get a chance to see what you have to offer. 

Many people know this, and with this in mind, run automated tests at Google or Hubspot or wherever, and then want to take action to speed things up.

Which is great, but, what I am finding more and more is that these reports are not always practical. More than once I’ve had Google PageSpeed flag Google Tag Manager and other Google code as problems. Not always an option to remove that, Google.

To help cut through some of the noise and anxiety that these reports can cause business owners, we created a list of some of the top things that you can control and take a look at on your WordPress website to improve performance. 

1. The Host With The Most 

Your web hosting service plays a crucial role in the speed and performance of your WordPress site. Opt for a hosting provider that specializes in WordPress hosting and offers robust server resources, storage, security, and scalable solutions with enough support from the host itself in case any technical issues do arise. While our personal favorite is WP Engine, other hosting platforms such as SiteGround and Kinsta also offer secure web hosting and remain on the list of “hosting companies I am willing to deal with.”

2. A Picture Holds … Way Too Much Data 

Large image files are one of the most common culprits of slow-loading websites. By optimizing your images, you can significantly reduce load times. Use tools like TinyPNG or PhotoShop or Canva to compress images without losing too much quality. A good rule of thumb is to keep your image file size as small as possible while still looking OK on the screen sizes you are targeting. Even a full screen photo can be compressed while still looking great. And beware of uploading photos straight from your phone, camera, or stock photo site. Some of those can run large. It is better to compress the images offline, and not rely on WordPress or plugins to “help” because you can have unintended consequences, from crappy looking graphics, to hundreds of extra files in the site.

3. Video Killed The Speed of Your Website

Hosting videos on your website server can consume a lot of bandwidth and slow down your site. Instead, use external video hosting services like YouTube or Vimeo or Wistia. These platforms not only handle the heavy lifting of streaming video content but also provide additional exposure and audience engagement opportunities.

4. Unplug Those Out of Date Plugins

Outdated plugins can not only slow down your site but also pose security risks. Regularly updating your plugins ensures they are optimized for performance and compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Consider performing a plugin audit to identify any that are no longer needed or that can be replaced with more efficient alternatives. Waiting too long to update plugins can cause further issues down the line such as the plugin becoming so inoperable that updating or removing it could break your site in its entirety.  

5.  Caching Up with the CDN’s 

I hate cache. The computer kind, not the money kind. I do. Really. But caching can improve your site’s load times by storing a static version of your site for visitors to access. Use caching plugins like WP Rocket can also help remove some of the hot button triggers that Google PageSpeed and Hubspot complain about. Additionally, a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare distributes your site’s content across multiple servers worldwide, reducing latency and speeding up load times for visitors regardless of their geographical location.

The down side of all this cache is, you may never see edits that you make on your site. Maybe ‘never’ is the wrong word, but, it can take a while for edits to show up. This is especially frustrating during development or any period of many edits. So have patience, if you have a lot of cache.

6. Comments and Data and Media, Oh My

An excessive number of comments and outdated data or even too many media items can bloat your database, slowing down your site both on the front end (your customers) and the back end (your marketing and web team). If having comments on your blog posts won’t make or break your users ability to understand the content, then it is best recommended to simply turn off commenting. Because the bots will fill it right up. If you do need to keep comments on so you can engage with a user, looking into tools such as Akismet to manage comments can be useful. Regularly clean up your database using plugins like WP-Optimize, which can help you remove unnecessary data and keep your database streamlined.

While these items are all pertaining to WordPress sites, in the future we will give more knowledge about other website builders such as Wix and SquareSpace and the things that you CANNOT fix or control on these platforms so you have a more informed decision about where you want your site to be developed. Different platforms do different things, and not even all WordPress sites are equal.

Keep it fast, folks.

All in all, A fast-loading WordPress site is essential for providing a great user experience and achieving better search engine rankings.

By investing time and resources into your WordPress site you can ensure that it runs as efficiently as possible. If you have any further questions about your WordPress site we are always happy to help and you can book with us using the following link https://calendly.com/robert-lodi/30min-intro. 

As the flowers bloom and the birds chirp, the arrival of spring signifies a time for renewal and rejuvenation. Unless you are on the East Coast in which you are taking a daily guess on whether you need your snow shovel or rain boots. But it’s not just our homes that benefit from a thorough cleaning; our digital spaces, such as WordPress websites, also deserve some attention. Just as clutter can accumulate in our physical environments, digital clutter can bog down our websites, affecting performance, security, and user experience.

Spring cleaning your WordPress website isn’t just about tidying up; it’s about optimizing and revitalizing your online presence. Here are some essential tips to help you declutter and maintain your WordPress website this season:

1. Update Everything: Start by ensuring that your WordPress core, themes, and plugins are all up to date. Regular updates not only provide new features but also patch security vulnerabilities and improve performance. Remember to backup your website before performing any updates to avoid potential issues. If you are nervous about performing any sort of maintenance because you have put off doing any for such a long time that updating might potentially break your site entirely, we can surely help. 
2. Audit Your Plugins and Themes: Over time, you may have accumulated plugins and themes that you no longer use. Unused plugins and themes not only take up space but can also pose security risks by providing easy access points for hackers. Review your installed plugins and themes and remove any that are unnecessary or outdated. 
3. Optimize Images and Media: Large image and media files can slow down your website’s loading speed. Use image optimization tools or plugins to compress images without compromising quality. 
4. Clean Up Your Database: Your WordPress database can become cluttered over time with revisions, spam comments, and other unnecessary data. Use database optimization plugins to clean up unused data and improve database performance. Remember to back up your database before performing any optimization tasks, the goal is spring cleaning of the database, not a complete wipe.
5. Check for Broken Links: Broken links not only frustrate visitors but also harm your website’s SEO. Use a broken link checker plugin to scan your website for broken links and fix them promptly. Consider setting up automatic link monitoring to catch broken links as they occur.
6. Secure Your Website: Security should always be a top priority, not just for you but for any of the visitors or customers who visit your account. Ensure that your WordPress installation, themes, and plugins are regularly updated to patch any security vulnerabilities. Consider implementing additional security measures such as SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, and security plugins to protect your website from threats.
7. Review User Permissions: Regularly review user roles and permissions to ensure that only authorized users have access to your WordPress dashboard. Remove any inactive or unnecessary user accounts to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. I am sure we have all wanted to do this with our homes and physical spaces at some point too.
8. Backup Your Website: Regular backups are essential for disaster recovery. Schedule automated backups of your WordPress website, including files and databases, and store them securely offsite. In the event of a security breach or data loss, you can quickly restore your website to a previous state. It is recommended that you don’t always rely solely on the cloud for these sorts of backups. For an added lair of security consider investing in a physical hard drive that you can keep updated  and in a secure location– bonus points if you can REMEMBER the secure location.
9. Evaluate Your Content Strategy: Take this opportunity to assess your content strategy and make any necessary adjustments. Identify high-performing content and replicate its success. Remove outdated or irrelevant content and consider refreshing existing content to keep it relevant and engaging. This also might be a great time to rework your content into any marketing strategies that you might have, reminding your customers about the value that you provide. 

By following these spring cleaning tips, you can ensure that your WordPress website remains in top shape, providing an optimal experience for your visitors. Remember that website maintenance is an ongoing process, and most of these things can and should happen on a monthly basis. To make managing your site easier we offer a free download with a monthly checklist of maintenance you should run on your WordPress site.

If you are still needing help, feel free to schedule a consultation with us at anytime. 

“Mobile Browsing Overtakes Desktop Browsing” – a headline that we have seen time and time again within the land of websites. With it coming as a shock to none, since many social media platforms are the most visited sites on the internet, and only 21% of all social media traffic is being accessed from a desktop computer. 

When mobile browsing first became readily available – back when we started working with it – most mobile web use was sort of a last option/emergency while on the go. 

Today, it’s normal and every day. And the rest of the World Wide Web has been following close behind social sites, with an estimated 50% of all traffic to websites being from a mobile device. 

So how can your website be ready for mobile visitors?

The first thing to keep in mind when deciding the development and design of your website is that “mobile” doesn’t just mean a cell phone, and it doesn’t just mean the model of phone you have, either. These days developers have to take into consideration iPads, Amazon Fire, iPhones, Androids, and at least one person who still is hanging onto that BlackBerry phone for dear life. 

It used to be that we would take these different users into account by building multiple versions of the website. Anyone who remembers trying to check your Facebook in the early days of mobile internet might remember the prompt to use the mobile version of the website. 

These days, and for the last decade or so, we use “responsive web design” or a “Mobile First” design method. So what is responsive or mobile about it? A responsive design has aspects of the site such as layouts and grids that are fluid enough to allow for varying screen sizes. When you use a smaller screen, elements on the page adjust to fit or stack or otherwise adapt.

One of the best examples of this can be seen with images.

In the past when an image was placed on the website it was with the intent that a desktop browser would be accessing the site. But when a mobile user viewed the same site, the image would not resize to fit the user’s screen, meaning that certain content might not have been readable, menus might not function properly, and ultimately the user would have a negative experience. Boo.

At this point, we can build designs with flexible grids by adjusting sizes using flexible units such as percentages rather than more rigid units such as pixels or points. 

Okay, so why is this important?

Improved User Experience: Improving the website function of the user ensures that you are giving your website the best chance for the user to take further action such as purchasing from the site or converting them into a lead. If they are frustrated enough to leave without any further action, it is indicative of a low user experience.

SEO Boost: Google has been very open with the fact that they are looking for sites that are optimized for mobile to place higher in search results. Having a responsive website can mean the difference between being ranked first or fourth on the Google search results which can mean the world to a small business.

Future-Proofing (up to a point): At RPS we want our clients to have a website that will last. Having a responsive website means that even as new screen sizes come out, your website will be able to adapt, and will result in fewer major redesigns. Of course, this might change in the future – who knows how long it will be before we are optimizing websites for Neuralink (or SkyNet or who knows), but it is as future-proof as it can be for now. 

How do I know if my website is responsive?

There are a few steps someone can take to see if your website is responsive or designed for mobile. The quick way is to change your browser window size and see what happens. If elements shift and stack on a smaller screen, chances are it’s at least a little responsive.

Or you can book a consultation with us and we can test the site for you and give feedback. 

If you are ready for an updated website and want a site that is ready for your mobile visitors, you can book a call with us here: CALENDLY LINK