Hi all 👋 We’ve had a few good questions about image compression in our coaching community (https://skool.com/pixelhaze-community), so let’s tackle why it’s still important and how to approach it—especially if you’re using platforms like Squarespace. Why Does It Matter? If your site loads slowly, visitors won’t stick around. Google notices this, too, and your rankings can take a hit. A faster site = happier visitors = better SEO. But the balance depends on your audience: - Quick purchases? Speed is everything. - Creative portfolios? Quality needs to shine, so don’t over-compress. My Workflow for Squarespace Here’s how I handle image optimization without overcomplicating it: 1. Crop Before Uploading: Use the Squarespace photo editor to trim down your images—no need to load what won’t be visible. 2. External Compression: I use Compressor.io to reduce file sizes without losing quality. 3. Organize Your Library: Keep compressed images in a folder within Squarespace for quick access. Canva Users—A Heads Up! Canva is great for creating designs, but its compression tools aren’t the best. Instead: - Export images at high quality (90% or higher). - Compress them externally before uploading to Squarespace. What’s Your Workflow? I’d love to hear how you manage your images. Are you using other tools? Have you seen improvements in speed or rankings after optimizing? Drop your thoughts or questions below. If you’re new here, remember that The Classroom section has loads of resources to help with these challenges. Cheers, Elwyn

Here's a new 'Tip of the Day' thread that I am launching on this page. It combines the best advice I can give beginner web designers from my 20 years of learning these things the hard way! Instead of adding a string of different posts, I will build it up one message at a time. If you are an experienced designer, feel free to post your own tips in this thread as well. No sales 🚫 Please remember that members can contact you via profile if your advice is good. 👍

I had a call with Cherie from the coaching community this morning and she generously allowed me to record my design process based on potential tweaks and adjustments that I recommended. This live video is from our Website Builders YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/odBVTaGgUwk?si=tTOPKhp21EdRvcuT When tackling a project like this, there are always elements that come down to personal taste, but at the same time, there are good structures that we know will work on just about every project. Our job as designers is to find that balance so each project looks unique, yet is easy for the viewer to navigate. Cherie did a fabulous job with her website, especially when you take on board that this was her first Squarespace website. The original design is on the left, and my edited version is on the right. If you are interested in finding out more about our Pixelhaze Coaching Community, here's the link: https://www.skool.com/pixelhaze-community Cheers, Elwyn

@Kenneth Rees (who runs our Pixelhaze Studio) and I have prepared something special for Week 4. One of our clients permitted us to share our progress through the project just before the halfway point. With a creative project like this, there are so many options, which brings its own challenge for a web designer. We discuss how to identify our client's target audiences and how we can signpost the website to detailed landing pages that appeal to each demographic. If you ever want a glimpse into the life of a web design agency or studio, this is the video! Enjoy! 😊 P.s. He doesn't know this yet, but I will be recording next week's live session with our technical and digital marketing specialist, @Will Hammond - and I am giving you the opportunity to choose your preferred topic. Vote for your preferred option via the poll below:

In case you missed it, here's our live recording from last week: https://youtu.be/KPUaPSryDaA These tips will give you a solid foundation of applying professional results to your website designs or digital artwork. Enjoy! 😊