Preventing regression.
WHAT MAKES A SITE SLOW AGAIN
Images uploaded without preparation Plugins added and never removed Third-party scripts accumulating The database growing A theme or plugin update adding weight
THE HABITS THAT PREVENT IT
Resize and compress every image before upload Install a plugin that compresses on upload Audit plugins twice a year Clean the database quarterly
FOR ANYONE ELSE EDITING THE SITE
Show them how to prepare images.
That single instruction prevents most regression.
WHAT TO CHECK AFTER ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE
Page size Load time That caching still works
AFTER A THEME OR PLUGIN UPDATE
Test speed as well as function.
Updates occasionally add weight.
WHAT TO MEASURE OVER TIME
Page size on your main pages, recorded quarterly.
A rising trend tells you something is accumulating.
THE ANNUAL CHECK
Full audit: images, plugins, scripts, database, PHP version.
