I'm looking for tips on how to effectively share PageSpeed or Lighthouse results with clients without bombarding them with lengthy reports. I often feel stuck between options that don't seem right, such as raw Lighthouse screenshots that come off as unprofessional, lengthy GTmetrix reports that are too technical, or custom slide decks that take too much time to prepare. I want to know what actually resonates with clients. When performance issues arise, how should I present the information? Do clients really care about metrics like Core Web Vitals, or are they mostly focused on the general feeling of speed? And if I do need to send a report, what's the minimum information I should include? I'm looking for real-world experiences and what's been effective for others in similar situations.
3 Answers
I think most clients don’t really ask for detailed PageSpeed reports until they feel something is wrong, usually when the site feels slow. They often just want reassurance. If you do provide something, a simplistic before/after visual representation is often enough, especially if the site feels faster after tweaks. But sometimes, it can help to back it up with solid data. I usually just common sense the situation and convert some easier-to-understand metrics into visuals that aren't overwhelming.
From my perspective, clients don’t often request PageSpeed reports unless there’s a glaring issue. Most discussions about performance happen when site speed visibly drops. I’ve noticed that scores can vary widely, and often an 85 vs a 95 doesn’t make a visible difference to most users. If a client says the site is slow, I prefer showing real user monitoring data or just visiting the site myself for context. It’s usually clear to me what’s happening before I even dig into detailed reports.
That makes a lot of sense. So what’s your go-to proof when a client mentions slowness? Is it just checking the site yourself, or do you also use metrics like TTFB?
Honestly, in my experience, most non-technical clients don’t care about specific metrics like Core Web Vitals—they more so focus on whether the site 'feels fast' and if they are losing rankings. For sharing results, I’ve found a simple one-page summary works best with a max of three key metrics (like LCP, overall score, and comparisons for mobile vs desktop). Including a before/after screenshot of the score circle, plus a couple of straightforward bullet points about what we fixed and why it’s important, is super effective. I usually share it as a quick screenshot with a Notion doc or a Loom walkthrough if they’re more involved. Sometimes clients appreciate a shared link from PageSpeed Insights too, since the interface is clean and user-friendly.
I appreciate that! So when you mention a before/after screenshot, do you generally compare mobile, desktop, or both? Also, do clients prefer seeing the 'score improved' or knowing what fixes you implemented and why they matter?
Totally! But do you find clients buying into those visuals more when you throw in real metrics, or is it more about just showing improvements?