Small sites don't need complex instrumentation to feel fast. Focus on the largest wins that are simple to implement.
Priority list:
- Image sizing: serve appropriately sized images and use modern formats (AVIF/WebP where supported).
- Critical CSS: inline minimal critical styles for above-the-fold content.
- Limit third-party scripts: each adds latency and potential layout shift.
- Defer nonessential JS and hydrate interactive parts only when necessary.
Tooling: Lighthouse for a quick audit; next/image or an image CDN to automate responsive images; prefetch/preload for critical assets.
Measure before and after: pick a slow page, apply one change, and measure perceived speed improvements.