The Ultimate Guide to Optimize Images for Showit: Boost Speed, SEO & Rankings

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Optimize images for Showit by following this complete, step‑by‑step guide — from choosing file types to writing alt text — so your site looks good, loads fast, and earns serious trust from Google.

Before we dive in, hey, I’m Jordin — web designer, SEO strategist, and the creative behind Unica Formo. I’ve helped wellness professionals, therapists, photographers, service providers, and creative entrepreneurs build Showit websites that don’t just look good — they perform. I care about helping you get found, fast. That means satisfying Google’s algorithm just as much as serving your people.

If you want your Showit site to load quickly, rank better, and get taken seriously by Google, this is your one-stop guide. I’m giving you everything I know about image optimization — including free tools, step-by-step examples, video walkthroughs, and where to place images or GIFs to help your audience understand. You don’t have to do it all at once, but start now and build good habits.

And yes — this applies to every main website page and every single blog post.

Why You Have to Optimize Images for Showit

Sure, slow websites lose visitors — but more importantly, Google pays close attention to your load time, structure, and image SEO. Optimizing your images shows Google that your site is fast, accessible, and worth ranking.

Your goal isn’t just to make your site look good — it’s to be seen as a credible, valuable resource by Google. Every image contributes to that perception.

“For every 100ms decrease in homepage load speed, conversion rates increase by 1.11%.” — Deloitte

That’s why optimizing images is crucial: it’s the quiet SEO powerhouse behind your visuals.

As part of my design workflow (you can read more in my custom web design process post), I always resize and compress before I ever upload images—it’s non-negotiable.

Choose the Right File Format

Choosing the right format for your images affects both how they look and how fast they load.

Showit supports JPG, PNG, and GIF. JPG is your go-to for most images. PNG should only be used when you truly need transparency (like for logos). GIFs can work for simple animations, but don’t overuse them.

Format	Best For	Notes
JPG/JPEG	Photos, canvas backgrounds	Best for Showit. Balanced quality + file size.
PNG	Logos, icons, transparency	Use sparingly. Heavy file sizes.
GIF	Simple animations	Use only when necessary.

WebP is more efficient, but currently not supported in Showit. If you’re using WordPress for your blog, install Smush to auto-optimize blog images with WebP.

Resize Before You Upload

Uploading a 6000px image when you only need 1200px is like parking a semi truck in a compact spot — it slows everything down and wastes space.

Showit recommends a max width of 3500px on the long edge.

Here’s how to resize images with the most common tools:

Canva:

• Open your image and click “Resize” in the top toolbar
• Enter 3500px for the width
• Export as JPG

Preview (Mac):

• Open image in Preview
• Go to Tools > Adjust Size
• Change width to 3500px (height adjusts automatically)
• File > Export > Format: JPEG

Photoshop:

• Open image
• Go to Image > Image Size > set width to 3500px
• File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy) > JPG > adjust quality

Illustrator:

• File > Export > Export As > JPG
• Select “Use Artboards” if needed
• In the export settings, set resolution to 72ppi and max width to 3500px

Compress Without Killing Quality

Once resized, it’s time to compress. Compression reduces file size without sacrificing visible quality. This is what keeps your site fast.

Target Sizes:

• Canvas background images: 300–500KB (keep these limited)
• All other images: under 250KB

Showit’s magic number = under 300KB

How to Compress:

TinyPNG / TinyJPG:

• Go to TinyJPG
• Upload images (up to 20 at once)
• Download compressed versions

11zon:

• Visit 11zon Image Compressor
• Upload images
• Choose compression level (start with 70–80%)
• Download optimized files

Squoosh:

• Go to Squoosh
• Upload an image
• Adjust sliders for quality, format, and file size
• Export

Photoshop:

• File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy)
• Choose JPG format
• Set quality until file is below 300KB

Illustrator:

• File > Export As > JPG
• Under export settings, check “Use Optimized” and adjust quality slider

Rename Your Files for SEO

Google reads your image file names. Renaming your images is a chance to describe them using keywords, build context, and support your overall SEO.

Good Naming Practices:

• Use hyphens to separate words: charlotte-therapist-office-couch.jpg
• Keep it descriptive: who, what, where
• Avoid spaces, underscores, symbols
  

Bulk Rename (Mac):

• Highlight all images
• Right click > Rename > Format: Name and Index
• Start with a base name (like “bride-victoria-plantation”)
• Tweak manually if needed

Example Names:

Photographer:

• bride-posing-red-rocks-utah.jpg
• wedding-ceremony-vineyard-golden-hour.jpg

Therapist:

• cozy-therapy-room-neutral-decor.jpg
• woman-writing-notes-in-office.jpg

📸 Image Suggestion: Screenshot of Mac rename tool with batch renaming

🎥 Video Suggestion: How to rename multiple images with one click and customize them

Write Alt Text That Works for SEO + Accessibility

Alt text does two big things: it makes your site accessible to screen readers and helps Google understand your image content.

Good vs Bad Examples:

✅ Good	❌ Bad
“Blonde therapist journaling by window”	“image1.jpg”
“Bride and groom kiss at sunset at Jorgenson Farms in Columbus, Ohio”	“wedding photo Charlotte”
“Cozy neutral-toned Dallas, TX counseling office”	“photo of office”

What to Aim For:

• Keep it under 125 characters
• Describe exactly what’s in the photo
• Include a keyword if it fits naturally
• Don’t keyword stuff or use vague phrases

Free Tools to Help:

• Ahrefs Alt Text Generator
• AltText.ai
• WebAIM Guide
• Tink’s Accessibility Resources

Audit Your Showit Site Speed After Image Optimization (Check Your Work!)

Even when you do everything right, something can get missed. That’s why a site speed test is crucial.

Use These Tools:

• Google PageSpeed Insights
• GTmetrix
• Pingdom Tools

These tools will flag:

• Oversized images still on your site
• Slow loading pages
• Mobile performance issues

📥 Cheatsheet: Showit Image Optimization

Step	Recommendation
File Type	JPG for most, PNG only for transparency
Max Width	3500px max (long edge)
File Size	250KB general, 300–500KB for large visuals
Naming	Hyphenated, descriptive, keyword-relevant
Alt Text	Clear, keyword-aware, under 125 characters
Speed Check	Run tests using PageSpeed + GTmetrix

Final Thoughts: Start Where You Are

Optimizing images doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t have to fix everything overnight. Instead, work it into your existing routine:

• Compress while you’re editing
• Rename before upload
• Write clear alt text as you go

And remember: this work matters on every main page and every blog post. Google notices when you put in the effort — and it rewards you with better rankings, faster indexing, and more traffic.

Want to deepen your website’s credibility even further? Check out my post on 5 Ways to Build Trust on Your Website for simple, actionable strategies.

Want help making your Showit site a search-friendly powerhouse? That’s what I do.
👉 www.unicaformo.com

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