WordPress Speed Optimisation (Advanced)

We are currently experiencing slow load times, particularly on the homepage across both mobile and desktop, where sections take time to fully appear. From our performance reports, the main issue appears to be related to media, specifically how videos and images are being loaded.

This is not a basic cache or plugin job - the core issue seems to be video loading and overall content delivery.

We would like to keep all videos self-hosted and maintain the current visual design. No visual or layout changes are required - the focus is purely on improving how content loads.

This needs to be implemented globally across the site, as many service pages are duplicated across multiple area pages.

All work should be carried out on a staging environment first, with no changes made directly to the live site. Once approved, changes can then be pushed live.

We are looking for the following:

• Videos should not load on initial page load; only a static poster (preview) image should be displayed initially
• Video files should only load on user interaction (e.g. hover or tap), not automatically in the background
• Poster images should maintain a clean, premium appearance without visible play controls
• Lazy loading should be applied across media to prevent unnecessary loading
• Videos should remain self-hosted, avoiding third-party platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo
• Mobile devices should be served optimised video versions or fallback images where appropriate
• Images should be properly resized, compressed, and served in modern formats to reduce file size without affecting visual quality

The goal is to significantly reduce initial page weight and improve load speed while maintaining a smooth, premium user experience.

While media loading appears to be the main issue, we would also expect a full performance review of the site, including scripts, CSS, and overall loading behaviour, to ensure any additional bottlenecks are identified and addressed as part of the optimisation.

Before proceeding, could you please confirm:
1. Whether you can achieve strong performance improvements while keeping videos self-hosted
2. What level of improvement we can realistically expect (particularly for initial load and homepage performance)
3. What approach you would take to implement this, especially regarding video loading strategy

If possible, please also provide examples of similar work, particularly on video-heavy websites.

We are specifically looking for someone who understands video and image optimisation and loading strategies, not just general WordPress speed plugins.

Note: There is also a minor issue on Safari where the layout appears to shift slightly on load, likely related to fonts or responsive behaviour. This is secondary but would also want this to be reviewed and rectified alongside the performance work.

We are not looking for a separate paid audit or discovery phase - we expect a clear outline of approach before proceeding, with implementation included within the agreed scope.

Strong communication is important, and we are happy to discuss further via call if needed once initial approach has been outlined.

Thanks