How to avoid using large png files in your WSOs and websites.

I've been on a campaign against the use of MASSIVE png files for a while now but given that some people still insist on loading MASSIVE png files anyway (without thinking) here's a quick solution.

https://compressor.io/

It's a free service, just load your MASSIVE png files in and it spits out a lighter version, you can choose between lossless and lossy but the better alternative (for images that don't require both millions of colours AND a transparent background) is to use fairly high quality jpegs. If you use photoshop always use File --> Save for web - jpg high (alt+shift+ctrl+s for you shortcut addicts). You'll almost always end up with a much smaller image which will not only keep google happy thereby earning a higher spot on the SERPs but it will also provide a MUCH better experience for your visitors.

I just tested it (again) on an image I found that someone was using for a normal banner image. It took ages to load so I suspected MASSIVE png syndrome and I was right so I tested it. Here are the results (please forgive the wide images - which is a whole other thread)...

The original as found image was 1,014px Ã-- 161px no transparency used.

1) As found on site - 459.42 KB png
2) After compression using compressor.io using lossless compression - 255kb (46% smaller - no loss in quality)
3) After compression using compressor.io allowing for some loss in quality - 255kb (46% smaller- identical to the lossless - interesting.)
4) After saving in photoshop on "jpeg - high" 42kb!! (almost 90% size reduction! and it looks identical to the original image).

Here are the 4 images...can you tell which one is which?









...I didn't think so and if you can then you're being pedantic and it's not going to affect your visitor's experience one tiny little bit as far as quality goes.

All you guys who think it's clever to slam MASSIVE images into your WSOs might want to consider that you're also totally eliminating any chance that google has of understanding what your WSO is about (can you afford to give up your number 1 spot on google?) and it makes it impossible for any sight impaired warriors (yes there are a few) from being able to "read" what your WSO is about and don't even think about saying "who cares about blind people?" because I can tell you I know of one very active vision impaired warrior who buys WSOs and I'm sure there are many more.

Using MASSIVE pngs is dumb and using MASSIVE pngs in WSOs is even dumber. Warrior forum has extreme power to propel your thread straight to the front page of google if you let google read it (i.e. USE REAL TEXT!) and often straight to the number 1 position. If you can afford to ignore Google then good luck to ya but think before you decide to wow us all with your fancy MASSIVE png graphics.

I have mental issues (clearly) so I always take a look at MASSIVE pngs used in WSOs and here's the current world record holder...



...correct, that's 6.9MBs (WTF?!!) and a WHOPPING 12,000 pixels high! Twelve thousand pixels high! I almost passed out - people in the room asked me if I was ok.

Insanity...pure insanity. Think people, think, think THINK!

I can think of only excuse and that's ignorance but now that you've read this post that's no longer an excuse.

Thank you for listening. [/rant]

P.S. In case you doubt the immense power of the Warrior Forum on google take a look at this thread which went straight to number 1 on google within 11 minutes and this was on merger day when everyone was talking about it and also note that I did not use quotes in the search. I also did NOT use MASSIVE pngs in my sales copy - I just used plain google-readable text and a few light jpgs and look at the result. Can you afford to NOT get to google in 11 minutes? If so, good luck to ya, for the rest of us, an instantly high ranking on page 1 of google is fairly desirable.