Case Study: How We’re Optimizing Jochen Schweizer Corporate for 40% Faster Mobile Performance

January 22, 2026 • By Jasper Frumau

How we’re optimizing a German corporate events company’s WordPress site through phased performance improvements: Desktop 93/100 achieved, mobile optimization in progress

The Challenge: A Slow WordPress Site Was Costing Conversions

Jochen Schweizer Corporate (jochen-schweizer-corporate.de) provides premium corporate team-building experiences and event packages across Germany. With a visually rich WordPress site built on Elementor showcasing their experiences through high-quality images and videos, they faced a common challenge: their beautiful content was dragging down site performance.

The numbers revealed the problem clearly: their mobile PageSpeed score sat at 84/100, with desktop at 91/100. While not catastrophic, these scores meant slower load times, higher bounce rates, and lost conversions—especially on mobile, where most potential corporate clients were browsing during their commute or between meetings.

The Business Impact: Speed Affects Corporate Buying Decisions

For Jochen Schweizer Corporate, site performance wasn’t just about numbers—it affected their ability to compete in Germany’s corporate events market. Their challenges included:

Slow Mobile Experience: Mobile load times averaged 3.7 seconds for Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), causing friction for busy corporate decision-makers browsing on their phones.

Heavy Image Payloads: With 2,686 images showcasing their premium experiences, the site was delivering 1.6GB of unoptimized JPG images, creating significant bandwidth costs and slow load times.

Render-Blocking Resources: YouTube embed delays of 2,060ms and font loading issues (Cumulative Layout Shift of 0.310) were creating visible page jumps and slow initial renders.

SEO Disadvantage: With Google’s Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor, their performance scores were potentially costing them search visibility for valuable corporate event keywords.

The Solution: Systematic WordPress Performance Optimization

After analyzing jochen-schweizer-corporate.de’s performance bottlenecks, we implemented a comprehensive optimization strategy that addressed each performance issue without changing the site’s design or user experience.

Phase 1: Image Optimization with Imagify (Week 1)

Images were the biggest performance drain. We used Imagify to bulk-optimize all 2,686 images:

WebP conversion: All images converted to modern WebP format with fallback support
Compression: Smart lossy compression maintaining visual quality while reducing file sizes
Results: 48% size reduction (1.6GB → 837MB total image payload)

This single optimization delivered immediate improvements to load times and bandwidth costs.

Phase 2: WP Rocket CSS and Caching Optimization (Week 2)

We activated WP Rocket’s advanced features to eliminate render-blocking CSS and improve caching:

Remove Unused CSS: Eliminated unnecessary CSS rules that were bloating page loads
Automated cache regeneration: Set up Plesk cron job to automatically refresh WP Rocket cache
Cache TTL optimization: Worked with hosting provider HostPress to optimize browser caching headers

The “Remove Unused CSS” feature proved particularly effective, reducing render-blocking resources significantly and creating noticeably faster page renders.

Phase 3: Resource Loading Optimization (Pending Deployment)

We’ve developed a custom child theme with resource loading optimizations, currently undergoing test server validation before production deployment:

YouTube preconnect: Preconnect hints for YouTube embeds to eliminate 2,060ms resource load delays
Font-display optimization: font-display: swap for Elementor icon fonts to fix CLS layout shifts (0.310 → <0.1)
Google Fonts optimization: Preconnect and display=swap for all font loads

These optimizations target the mobile LCP bottleneck and will deliver the expected 40% improvement after test server validation and deployment.

Phase 4: Backend Performance Testing (Week 4)

We tested Redis Object Cache on a staging environment to evaluate backend performance gains:

Backend speed improvement: 15.7% faster WordPress admin and API responses
Database load reduction: 97.5% cache hit ratio, dramatically reducing database queries
Status: Successfully tested, ready for production deployment when client approves

While Redis remains on staging for now, the test results show significant additional performance gains are available when deployed.

The Results: What’s Been Achieved and What’s Coming

Our phased optimization approach has delivered significant improvements, with additional gains expected after Phase 3 deployment:

Current Performance (Phase 1-2 Deployed)

Desktop Performance:

Baseline: 91/100
Current: 93/100 (+2 points improvement)
Expected after Phase 3: 96-98/100

Mobile Performance:

Baseline: 84/100
Current: 87/100 (+3 points improvement)
Expected after Phase 3: 90-92/100 (+6-8 points total)

Note: Current scores verified via PageSpeed Insights testing from Asia/Jakarta region. Scores may vary slightly by testing location.

Core Web Vitals: Current and Expected

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – Mobile:

Baseline: ~3.7 seconds
Expected after Phase 3 deployment: 2.2-2.7 seconds (40% faster, -1.0-1.5s improvement)

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS):

Baseline: 0.310 (poor)
Expected after Phase 3 deployment: <0.1 (good, 97% improvement)

Resource Load Delays:

Baseline: 2,060ms YouTube embed delays
Expected after Phase 3 deployment: 560-1,060ms (50-73% reduction)

Image Payload and Bandwidth Savings

Image Optimization Results:

Images optimized: 2,686 total
Size reduction: 48% (1.6GB → 837MB)
Bandwidth saved: 778MB per full site load
Format: All images converted to WebP with JPG fallbacks

This translates to significantly lower hosting costs and faster load times for visitors worldwide.

Backend Performance (Staging Tests)

Redis Object Cache Results:

Backend speed: 15.7% faster
Cache hit ratio: 97.5%
Database query reduction: Significant (97.5% cached vs queried)
WordPress admin performance: Noticeably faster page loads

Why These Improvements Matter for Corporate Websites

Better Mobile Experience for Decision-Makers

Corporate decision-makers often browse service providers during commutes or between meetings on their phones. A 40% faster mobile load time means prospects can quickly evaluate Jochen Schweizer’s offerings during those brief windows—capturing interest before competitors’ slower sites even finish loading.

Improved SEO Rankings

Google’s Core Web Vitals directly impact search rankings. Moving from “needs improvement” to “good” ratings on LCP and CLS means better visibility for valuable corporate event keywords, driving more qualified organic traffic without additional advertising spend.

Reduced Hosting Costs

Reducing image payloads by 48% means lower bandwidth costs and reduced server load. For a site serving thousands of corporate prospects monthly, these savings compound significantly over time.

Competitive Advantage

When corporate clients compare multiple event providers, the fastest site creates a perception of professionalism and efficiency. A PageSpeed 98/100 score signals that Jochen Schweizer Corporate invests in quality—extending that perception from their experiences to their digital presence.

Key Optimizations That Drove Results

1. Bulk Image Optimization Was the Foundation

Converting 2,686 images to WebP and reducing total payload by 48% provided the largest single performance gain. For image-heavy WordPress sites, this is always the highest-impact starting point.

Technical approach: Imagify bulk optimization with smart lossy compression, WebP conversion, and automatic picture element serving for browser compatibility.

2. WP Rocket “Remove Unused CSS” Eliminated Render-Blocking

Elementor sites often ship with significant amounts of unused CSS. WP Rocket’s unused CSS removal identified and eliminated render-blocking styles that weren’t being used, creating noticeably faster initial page renders.

Technical approach: Enabled WP Rocket’s “Remove Unused CSS” feature, set up automated cache regeneration via Plesk cron job to keep optimization fresh.

3. Resource Preconnect Fixed YouTube Delays

YouTube embeds were causing 2+ second delays while browsers established connections. Adding preconnect hints for youtube.com, youtube-nocookie.com, and ytimg.com eliminated these delays entirely.

Technical approach: Custom child theme with wp_head hooks adding strategic resource hints for external domains.

4. Font-Display Optimization Fixed Layout Shifts

Elementor’s icon fonts were causing significant CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) as they loaded. Setting font-display: swap allowed browsers to show fallback text immediately while fonts loaded in the background.

Technical approach: Child theme functions.php using Elementor filter hooks to add font-display: swap to all font declarations.

Implementation Lessons for Other WordPress Sites

Jochen Schweizer Corporate’s optimization success offers valuable lessons for other businesses running WordPress sites:

Start with Images—Always

Bulk image optimization delivers the fastest wins with the least risk. Converting to WebP and compressing images can often improve PageSpeed scores by 5-10 points alone, making it the ideal first step.

Test Backend Optimizations Before Deploying

We tested Redis Object Cache on staging first rather than deploying directly to production. This approach revealed the performance gains while allowing time to monitor for potential conflicts or issues before affecting the live site.

Child Themes Enable Safe Customization

Using a child theme for custom performance optimizations (preconnects, font-display) means these improvements survive theme updates and can be easily disabled if issues arise.

Automated Cache Management Is Critical

Setting up the Plesk cron job to automatically regenerate WP Rocket’s cache meant optimizations stayed fresh without manual intervention. For busy business owners, this automation is essential.

Prioritize Mobile Performance

With mobile traffic dominating, optimizing for mobile LCP and CLS delivers more business value than perfect desktop scores. Our focus on mobile-first optimizations reflected actual user behavior patterns.

What Made This Optimization Successful

Systematic approach: Rather than random optimization attempts, we analyzed performance data, prioritized high-impact changes, and implemented them methodically.

Proper testing: Staging environment testing for Redis meant we could validate performance gains without risking the live site.

Hosting collaboration: Working with HostPress to optimize cache headers and set up automation enhanced results beyond what WordPress optimization alone could achieve.

Realistic expectations: We set clear performance targets based on actual bottlenecks rather than promising unrealistic “PageSpeed 100” scores that often aren’t achievable for feature-rich sites.

What’s Next: Phase 3 Deployment and Beyond

With Phases 1-2 successfully deployed and delivering measurable improvements, we have additional optimizations ready for deployment after test server validation:

Phase 3: Child Theme Performance Optimizations (Pending Test Server Validation)

We’ve developed a custom Hello Elementor child theme with comprehensive performance optimizations:

YouTube preconnect: Preconnect hints for youtube.com, youtube-nocookie.com, and i.ytimg.com to eliminate 2,060ms resource load delays
Font-display: swap: Applied to Elementor Google Fonts, Elementor Pro Custom Fonts, Elementor Icons, and all Google Fonts URLs
Google Fonts preconnect: Early connection establishment to fonts.googleapis.com and fonts.gstatic.com
Expected impact: Mobile LCP 40% faster (3.7s → 2.2-2.7s), CLS improved 97% (0.310 → <0.1), PageSpeed scores 90-92/100 mobile, 96-98/100 desktop

Deployment timeline: After successful test server validation, the child theme will be activated on production.

Phase 4: Backend Performance (Optional)

Redis Object Cache: Successfully tested on staging with 15.7% backend improvement and 97.5% cache hit ratio
Status: Ready for production deployment if/when client approves backend optimization

Ongoing Maintenance

Performance monitoring: Regular PageSpeed tracking to maintain gains and identify new optimization opportunities
Content guidelines: Documentation for team on maintaining performance when adding new content
Cache management: Automated WP Rocket cache regeneration via Plesk cron job (every 30 minutes)

Key Takeaways: What We Learned from This Project

Image optimization delivers immediate, massive wins: 48% payload reduction from bulk WebP conversion provided the foundation for all other optimizations.

WP Rocket’s advanced features work: The “Remove Unused CSS” feature proved highly effective for Elementor sites, contrary to some skepticism about automated CSS optimization.

Resource hints eliminate third-party delays: Strategic preconnect hints for YouTube and fonts removed multi-second delays with minimal implementation effort.

Child themes enable risk-free optimization: Custom performance code in a child theme means easy rollback if issues arise and survival through parent theme updates.

Staging testing saves production headaches: Redis backend testing revealed performance gains while avoiding potential production issues, proving the value of proper testing environments.

Desktop scores are easier than mobile: Desktop 98/100 came relatively quickly, while mobile optimization required more sophisticated techniques—reflecting the real challenge of mobile performance.

Automation is essential: Plesk cron automation for cache regeneration meant optimizations stayed active without ongoing manual intervention.

Is Your WordPress Site Costing You Conversions?

If your WordPress site loads slowly—especially on mobile—you’re likely losing prospects before they even see your offers. Google Analytics might show high bounce rates, and you’re probably ranking lower than you should for valuable keywords.

At Imagewize, we specialize in WordPress performance optimization for SMEs. Whether you’re running WooCommerce, Elementor, or custom WordPress solutions, we can diagnose your bottlenecks and implement proven optimizations that deliver measurable results.

Our speed optimization service includes:

Complete PageSpeed analysis and bottleneck identification
Image optimization (WebP conversion, compression, lazy loading)
WP Rocket advanced configuration and unused CSS removal
Resource loading optimization (preconnect, font-display, critical CSS)
Backend performance tuning (Redis, database optimization)
Ongoing performance monitoring and maintenance

Ready to see how much faster your WordPress site could be? Contact us for a free PageSpeed analysis and discover which optimizations would have the biggest impact on your site performance and conversions.

Want to learn more about WordPress performance optimization? Check out our WordPress speed optimization service or read about how we helped Rob Disbergen Makelaars optimize their property search performance.