Boost Page Speed: How to Lazy Load the First Image in Elementor

How to Lazy Load the First Image When You Use Elementor Page Builder on Your WordPress Website

Optimizing images is key to improving your WordPress website’s loading speed, particularly when using a popular page builder like Elementor. Lazy loading, a technique that defers the loading of images until they are needed, is especially useful for WordPress websites that want faster loading times and better SEO performance. In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps to lazy load the first image in Elementor, ensuring your pages load more efficiently and rank better in search results.

Why Lazy Load the First Image?

Lazy loading images reduces page load time, especially on mobile devices. By delaying the loading of the first image until it appears on the screen, you’ll improve WordPress site performance and user experience. This is particularly effective for Elementor sites, where high-quality visuals can slow down page load speeds.

Step-by-Step Guide: Lazy Loading the First Image in Elementor by using a Lazy Loading Plugins

Let’s dive into the methods for setting up lazy loading for the first image on your Elementor-built WordPress pages by using a lazy loading plugin.

Step 1: Install a Lazy Loading Plugin

WordPress offers many plugins that make lazy loading easy to implement on your Elementor site. Smush, Lazy Load by WP Rocket, and A3 Lazy Load are popular choices. These plugins allow you to configure lazy loading for all images, including the first one. Here’s how to set up lazy loading with a plugin:
  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
  2. Search for a lazy loading plugin, such as Smush or Lazy Load by WP Rocket.
  3. Click Install and then Activate the plugin.
After activation, most lazy load plugins automatically enable lazy loading for images across your site.

Step 2: Customize Lazy Loading for Elementor Images

Lazy loading plugins often apply lazy loading site-wide. However, for Elementor users, you might want to ensure that the first image on specific pages or sections is lazy-loaded for maximum impact.
  1. Open the page or post you want to edit in Elementor.
  2. Click on the first image you’d like to lazy load to access the Elementor editor settings.
  3. Look for the Advanced settings tab. Some lazy load plugins allow you to set custom attributes for specific images.

Step 3: Use Custom Attributes for the First Image (Optional)

To manually lazy load the first image, you can add a custom loading="lazy" attribute to the image HTML.
  1. In the Elementor editor, select the HTML widget.
  2. Add the following code, replacing your-image-url.jpg with your image’s URL:
    <img src="your-image-url.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="Your Image Description">
  3. This ensures the first image loads only when visible on the screen.

Step 4: Test Your Lazy Loading Setup

After setting up lazy loading, you should test your site’s performance to confirm that the first image is now loading on-demand. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix can show whether images are being lazy-loaded correctly, helping you understand how the setup impacts page speed.
  1. Visit Google PageSpeed Insights and enter your URL.
  2. Run the test and scroll down to see if lazy loading is working.
  3. Look for any warnings or suggestions related to images and address them as needed.

Step 5: Enable Mobile Optimization

To ensure lazy loading functions optimally on mobile devices, check your WordPress mobile settings in your lazy load plugin. Most plugins offer mobile-friendly options that allow you to customize lazy loading specifically for mobile. This will enhance mobile SEO and further improve loading speeds for users on mobile devices.

Lazy Loading the First Image in Elementor by using the Plugin Lazy Load Control For Elementor

The plugin Lazy Load Control For Elementor was created especially to lazy load the images added by the Elementor image widget. It adds a control to the Elementor image widget to remove the Lazy Load attribute. If you use Lazy Load Control For Elementor the steps will be very easy.

Step 1: Install Lazy Load Control For Elementor

Supposing you have purchased Lazy Load Control For Elementor:
  1. Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
  2. Click on Upload Plugin.
  3. Click Choose File, locate the plugin .zip file, then click Install Now.
  4. Activate the plugin.
 

Step 2: Lazy Loading the Elementor Images

Select “Do not lazy load” in the Elementor Image Widget related to the first image, and save.

Best Practices for Lazy Loading in Elementor

  1. Prioritize Above-the-Fold Content: While lazy loading is effective, avoid lazy loading above-the-fold content for the best user experience. Keep the first image just below the fold if possible.
  2. Optimize Image Sizes: Ensure all images, especially the first one, are optimized in size and format (e.g., WebP) for faster loading.
  3. Use WebP Format: Serving images in WebP format provides better compression, which improves loading times without sacrificing quality.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting Tips

While setting up lazy loading in Elementor, you may encounter some common issues. Here’s how to resolve them:
  1. Images Not Loading Properly: If images fail to load, double-check your plugin settings or custom HTML attributes.
  2. Delayed Rendering: Sometimes, lazy loading can cause a “pop-in” effect. To minimize this, make sure your images are sized correctly.
  3. Plugins Conflicts: If you’re using multiple optimization plugins, conflicts can occur. Test and disable any plugins that might interfere with your lazy loading plugin.

Final Thoughts

Implementing lazy loading for the first image on your Elementor WordPress site is an effective way to improve loading speed, SEO performance, and user experience. With a lazy loading plugin, simple customization, and testing, you can ensure your site performs well on both desktop and mobile. By following these steps, you’ll keep your WordPress website mobile-friendly and fully optimized for all visitors. Try lazy loading today and see the difference in your page speed and user engagement!
By following these tips and strategies, you can achieve a faster, more responsive website for your Elementor pages, benefiting both your SEO and your visitors’ experience.
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