Make WordPress Fast
The Complete Blueprint for Blazing-Fast WordPress Sites
A full-stack WordPress performance and optimization course for WordPress professionals and agencies who want faster sites, better scores, and fewer headaches.
Hi, I’m Remkus de Vries, a WordPress Performance Specialist, WP Consultant, and Educator for over 20 years. See what others have to say.
- 25-module, full-stack performance curriculum
- The most up-to-date tactics available in 2025
- Works with ANY builder or theme – beat the bloat
- Works on ANY stack – no hosting or plugins pitches
- Real-world demos with DevTools, Query Monitor
- Support for one year
- Agency license available
- Performance proposal add-on template
- Video and text assets for all videos
- Transcripts for accessibility, searching, and summarization
- Certificate of completion to showcase your expertise
- Perfect for WordPress Agencies, WordPress Professionals & Pagebuilder specialists
★★★★★
Remkus has a deep and thorough understanding of everything WordPress – from the core to the most cutting-edge developments in the ecosystem.
Rosanne van Staalduinen
★★★★★
Remkus was thorough, detail-oriented, and results driven. I truly understood my next steps. Highly recommended!
Corey Maass
In this course, you will learn
Spot performance issues across the full stack
From DNS to WordPress to DevTools, you’ll learn to trace slowdowns across every layer — infrastructure, runtime, frontend, and beyond — with a systems-level understanding that sets you apart.
Build WordPress sites with performance at the core
Learn how to make performance part of your build process, not a post-launch repair with a caching plugin. From architecture to caching, you’ll create fast sites by design.
Deliver measurable speed gains that last
Master the debugging, caching, and optimization strategies used by top professionals, and confidently ship WordPress builds that pass Core Web Vitals and wow your clients.
→ Who Is This Course For?
For WordPress Professionals
Master every layer of site performance, from DNS to DevTools, and confidently deliver faster, more scalable WordPress builds.
This course gives you the skills to diagnose, fix, and prevent slowdowns like a pro.
For WordPress Agencies
Stand out by making performance a competitive advantage.
Equip your team to launch faster sites, impress clients with Core Web Vitals, and reduce post-launch firefighting with proven full-stack strategies.
For WooCommerce Builders
Stop fighting slow product pages and cart bottlenecks.
Learn how to optimize high-traffic stores for speed and reliability — from server-level caching to scalable object storage and checkout optimization.
For Technical SEOs
Performance is SEO. Go beyond audits and actually fix what’s slowing down rankings, including TTFB, CLS, LCP, and third-party scripts, with hands-on tactics you can control.
For Page Builder Specialists
Make even heavy layouts fly. Discover how to work with builders like Elementor or Bricks without sacrificing speed and how to make smart tooling and hosting choices that support your stack.
For You
Whether you’re a freelancer, site owner, or just sick of slow sites, this course shows you how to make WordPress fast — without the guesswork.
Learn what actually matters, why your site is slow, and how to fix it for good.
Explore 25 Modules
Caching doesn’t solve all your performance problems. Focus on what moves the needle instead.
Let’s take a look at the modules of the course, and see how we’re covering every single layer that ties into the real performance of your WordPress site.
Module 1: Performance Foundations
Understand how visitors experience a WordPress site from request to render
Performance beyond speed: perceived performance, interactivity, and layout stability
Learn to identify real bottlenecks using UX-focused metrics, not just synthetic scores
Map the full-stack performance layers you’ll optimize throughout the course
Shift from fixing speed to building performance into every layer of your stack
Module 2: DNS & Domain Optimization
Configure DNS for speed and resilience using modern providers
Understand TTL, edge caching behavior, and propagation timelines
Use preconnect and DNS prefetch to accelerate third-party resources
Module 3: TLS, SSL & HTTP Optimization
Tune TLS settings for faster handshakes and stronger security
Understand the role of HTTP versions (1.1, 2, 3) in performance
Benchmark and improve certificate loading and reuse
Module 4: CDN & Edge Delivery
What is the Edge?
Implement a CDN for global edge caching
Optimize cache hit ratio
Module 5: Web Server & Hosting Layer
What does good WordPress Hosting look like
Hosting features vs. hosting fixes
Scaling WordPress the easy way
Module 6: WordPress Runtime Optimization
WordPress loading sequence
Internal Caching Layers
What is bloat in WordPress
Hook profiling with Debug Bar Actions or Query Monitor
Module 7: Database Performance
How WordPress uses the Database
Query Optimization
To autoload or not to autoload
Identify slow queries with Query Monitor
Database optimization with plugins
Module 8: Object Caching
What is Object Caching: persistent vs. transient
Monitoring and Measuring Object Cache Hit Rates
Object Caching solutions for WordPress and when to use them
Module 9: Full-Page Caching
Caching Is Not a Trick, It Is a Shortcut
Avoid cache-busting with cookies and query strings
Module 10: Core Web Vitals (Concepts & Measurement)
What Core Web Vitals Actually Measure
Why Core Web Vitals Matter
Tools for Measuring and Monitoring
How CWV Evolved and What Problems It Solves
Why the entire course affects CWV — and how to think beyond these metrics
Module 11: Frontend Rendering & Page Experience
Rendering Is the Real Bottleneck
Lean HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
Template Bloat in WordPress Themes
Themes, Builders, and Core Web Vitals
Module 12: Image Optimization
Images: The Silent Performance Killer
Optimizing Images at Upload Time
Optimizing Images at Delivery Time
Module 13: Font & Third-Party Optimization
Why Fonts Block Rendering
Controlling Font Loading in WordPress
Building a Lean Font System
Module 14: Plugin Impact & Alternatives
Measure the performance cost of plugins
Deep-Dive Diagnosis
Evaluate plugin code quality and security
Explore alternatives: custom code vs. lightweight solutions
Plan a plugin reduction or replacement strategy
How to build WordPress sites measuring impact per change
Module 15: WordPress Core Configuration
The Hidden Weight of Defaults
Tuning Core Behaviors Without Breaking Safety
wp-config.php as Policy
Perfmatters as Your Control Panel
Turning Core Configuration Into a System
Module 16: Browser DevTools & Frontend Profiling
Use the Network and Performance tabs in DevTools to spot frontend bottlenecks
Profile layout shifts, long tasks, scripting delays, and paint timing
Identify render-blocking resources and unused code on real page loads
Understand how users actually experience your site’s frontend performance
Module 17: Debugging Tools & Deep Analysis
Understand how WordPress loads, step-by-step
Cache Invalidation & Hidden Performance Killers
Use Query Monitor or Laps, and New Relic for backend insight
Profile slow database queries, hooks, and REST endpoints
Module 18: API, Cookie & Header Hygiene
Identify and remove unnecessary API calls
Debug cookie issues that prevent caching
Optimize response headers for performance
REST API optimization
Module 19: Scaling with Transients API
Understand the Transients API and object cache usage
Storing complex queries or third-party API responses
Pitfalls: expired transients still in DB, autoloaded transients
Module 20: Performance Tools & Plugins
Compare popular optimization tools and plugins
Why Edge Caching always wins
Choose the right tools based on your stack and goals
Know when not to use a plugin — and when to reach for server/CDN solutions
Module 21: Monitoring, Testing & Reporting Tools
Track performance metrics with Lighthouse, Scanfully, RUM, and synthetic tools
Automate performance tracking over time
Learn how to report results to clients or stakeholders in meaningful ways
Understand what’s worth monitoring — and what noise to ignore
Module 22: Debugging WordPress Performance Issues
Trace backend issues with Query Monitor
Use the Network and Performance tabs to analyze bottlenecks
Profile layout shifts, long tasks, and scripting issues
Learn how to diagnose render-blocking resources
Module 23: Background Jobs, Cron & Async Performance
WP-Cron vs. real server cron
WooCommerce Action Scheduler optimization
How scheduled actions work in WordPress
Module 24: Page Builders, DOM Bloat & Visual Editors
DOM complexity and depth from page builders (Elementor, Divi, WPBakery)
Font loading and duplicated scripts
Inline CSS, JavaScript injection, and render-blocking assets
Page builder extensions, smart or stay away
Module 25: Multisite & Network Performance Optimization
Reducing switch_to_blog() overhead
wp_blogs, wp_sitemeta, and global table bloat
Strategies to scale WordPress across multiple sites in a single installation
What You Should Know First
Prerequisites
To get the most out of this course, you should:
Know what caching is (at a high level): You don’t need deep knowledge yet as we’ll cover it in depth, but you should know that caching exists and why it matters.
Be comfortable with WordPress fundamentals: You should understand how themes, plugins, and the WordPress admin interface work. Experience building or managing WordPress sites is expected.
Have basic technical proficiency: You don’t need to be a backend engineer, but you should be familiar with where WordPress lives on a server.
Understand basic front-end concepts: familiarity with HTML, CSS, JavaScript.
Optional: how browsers render pages will help when tackling client-side performance.
Real performance wins. Real business impact.
Whether you’re shipping faster builds or solving complex issues, this course gives you the expertise to stand out, and charge what you’re worth.
Diagnose and fix real client performance issues — fast
Learn how to go beyond vague “slow site” complaints and pinpoint real bottlenecks using DevTools, Query Monitor, and Cloudflare analytics. Become the expert clients turn to when performance matters.
Build performance into every project from day one
Stop retrofitting speed. Start making it a foundation. With this course, you’ll confidently build WordPress sites that are fast by design — from DNS to DevTools, caching to concurrency.
Offer premium performance as a service
Turn your skills into new revenue by packaging audits, speed fixes, and high-performance builds into irresistible offers. Impress clients, justify higher retainers, and win more technical projects.
Make WordPress Fast now
The difference between average WordPress builds and exceptional ones starts here.
Stop piecing together fixes from random tutorials. This course gives you the full system — every layer, every tool, every insight — so you can build faster WordPress sites with confidence and clarity.
Whether you’re solving tough client issues or building high-performance sites from scratch, this is the edge you’ve been missing.
Choose the license that fits your workflow — solo or team
Single License
$279
prelaunch price, one time
Perfect for freelancers, solo developers, site owners.
Get this course now for $279 instead of $339, and never guess about performance again
- 25-module, full-stack performance curriculum
- The most up-to-date tactics available in 2025
- Works with ANY builder or theme – beat the bloat
- Works on ANY stack: no hosting or plugins pitches
- Real-world demos with DevTools, Query Monitor
- Support for one year
- Agency license available
- Performance proposal add-on template
- Video and text assets for all videos
- Transcripts for accessibility, searching, and summarization
- Certificate of completion to showcase your expertise
100% Course completeness guarantee
Agency-Use License
Best Value
$1399
prelaunch price, one time
Built for teams solving client problems at scale.
Get this course now for $1399 instead of $1629, and never guess about performance again
- Team access (unlimited number of licenses)
- 1:1 Agency onboarding session
- Priority support for one year
- Performance lead onboarding doc
- 25-module, full-stack performance curriculum
- The most up-to-date tactics available in 2025
- Works with ANY builder or theme – beat the bloat
- Works on ANY stack – no hosting or plugins pitches
- Real-world demos with DevTools, Query Monitor
- Support for one year
- Agency license available
- Performance proposal add-on template
- Video and text assets for all videos
- Transcripts for accessibility, searching, and summarization
- Certificate of completion to showcase your expertise
100% Course completeness guarantee
Frequently asked questions
Do you have any questions? Check the FAQs below — or reach out, and we’ll help you get the clarity you need.
Our most common FAQs
When will the Make WordPress Fast course be launched?
The Make WordPress Fast course will be launched early 2026. Buy the pre-launch and save big time! You’ll automatically get access when the course is released on the release date.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for WordPress professionals, developers, and agencies who want to build faster, more scalable sites, and understand performance at every layer, from the DNS layer, through WordPress, all the way to the DevTools in your browser.
I’m afraid this might be too technical for me?
Not at all. While the course covers technical topics in depth, every concept is explained clearly, step by step, and with real-world examples. Whether you’re a beginner or just new to performance, you’ll learn what each layer does, why it matters, and how to apply it, without getting lost in jargon. If you’re comfortable working with WordPress, you’ll be right at home here.
Will this help with WooCommerce or client sites?
Yes, several modules specifically address WooCommerce and high-traffic client setups. You’ll learn how to handle real-world performance challenges agencies face daily.
Is this course up to date with modern WordPress and Core Web Vitals?
Absolutely. It’s built to align with the latest versions of WordPress, and performance metrics like LCP, FID, and CLS are covered in depth.
Will this work for my specific stack or hosting setup?
The course covers both managed hosting and self-hosted environments (e.g., GridPane, RunCloud), with practical guidance for most setups. You’ll learn how to adapt performance best practices to any stack.
Will this course help me tune and make my server faster?
This course is designed to help you understand all the layers that go into building the fastest WordPress site possible. Finetuning your server falls out of scope for that as it is my philosophy that your webhost should provide you with the best server setup. Not you forever finetuning a server. Whichever way you put that, that’s the job of a DevOps engineer.
Does this course cover Cloudflare, caching plugins, and real tools?
Yes, you’ll learn when and how to use tools like NitroPack, WP Rocket, APO, Perfmatters, Query Monitor, Scanfully, Redis, and more.
What does “100% Course completeness guarantee” mean?
This guarantee means that every single thing, every single component, and every single layer that has an impact on the performance of your site will be covered in this course.
Support for one year, what does this mean?
When you buy Make WordPress Fast, you’ll always have access to the entire course and 1 year of direct support from me. That means you can revisit the material anytime, and for a full year, you can reach out with questions, get clarification on tough topics, and apply the lessons with expert guidance if you get stuck.
Meet Remkus, the man behind the course
Hi, I’m Remkus de Vries, and I run Within WordPress.
I’m a seasoned WordPress veteran with more than 20 years of performance and security expertise, dedicated to building, refining, and sharing methods, best-practices, and tools that keep WordPress sites fast, secure, and reliable
Over the years, I’ve helped agencies, developers, and businesses untangle performance bottlenecks, scale high-traffic WordPress sites, and make infrastructure decisions that actually stick.
This course distills everything I’ve learned, the hard way and the smart way, into one clear, no-nonsense blueprint for making WordPress fast, reliably and repeatedly.
Remkus de Vries is a WordPress Performance Specialist, WordPress Consultant and Educator for almost 20 years.
Start learning how to Make WordPress Fast today!
What are you waiting for?
If you care about building WordPress sites that are fast, scalable, and built the right way, this is the course you’ve been looking for. Skip the scattered tutorials and vague advice.
Learn performance from someone who’s been in the trenches for two decades, and walk away with a proven, full-stack process you can use on every project.
Let’s make WordPress fast. For real.
- 25-module, full-stack performance curriculum
- The most up-to-date tactics available in 2025
- Works with ANY builder or theme – beat the bloat
- Works on ANY stack: no hosting or plugins pitches
- Real-world demos with DevTools, Query Monitor
100% completeness guarantee
If you’ve made it far enough to consider one of my courses, you probably already know my work. I don’t run ads, I don’t chase trends, and I don’t create surface-level content. You’ve likely read my newsletter, watched my videos, or learned something from the way I approach performance, security, tooling, and the broader WordPress ecosystem.
For more than twenty years, I’ve built a reputation on showing WordPress Builders and Developers how to work smarter, think deeper, and understand the platform beneath the plugins. Thousands of people have used my guidance to build faster, safer, more reliable sites. I’m proud of that track record, and I’m protective of the quality behind it.
These courses represent my highest level of work. They combine everything I’ve learned operating WordPress at scale with everything I wish someone had taught me earlier. They’re structured to take you from understanding concepts to actually applying them, without the fluff or shortcuts that usually lead to mediocre results. When you enroll, you’re getting the same principles and practices I use myself.
Because of that, these courses are built for people who are ready to commit. The material only delivers its full value when you genuinely engage with it. If you’ve followed my work for a while, you know what to expect: clarity, depth, practicality, and a strong bias toward long-term thinking. If that aligns with the way you build websites, you’ll get far more out of these courses than the price you pay.
This is also why I ask you to make an intentional decision before purchasing. If you’re uncertain about whether you have the time to work through the material, or if you’re unsure whether the course fits your level or goals, you’re always welcome to reach out and ask. I’d rather you choose with confidence than buy on impulse.
To maintain the integrity of these courses and continue investing in the quality and support behind them, all sales are final. I do not offer refunds. This allows me to dedicate my energy to the students who are committed to doing the work and getting the most from it.
Thank you for considering my courses thoughtfully and for being part of a community that values depth, mastery, and high standards.