Your website’s speed is more important than ever in 2024.
Fast-loading pages are essential because they affect everything, from your conversion rates to your search engine rankings.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know, including:
What is page speed?
Page load speed is how fast a page on your website loads. It’s a general term that actually refers to the overall speed of your entire site.
Here are the different parts that make up page speed and the various methods used to measure it.
Time to first byte (TTFB)
This is the time it takes for the first byte of data from your page to load. It’s a good indicator of how fast your server is.
Time to interactive (TTI)
TTI (Time to Interactive) measures how long it takes for the interactive features on a page to load. It helps identify if JavaScript is slowing down your website.
First contentful paint (FCP)
This odd term actually refers to the time it takes for the first piece of content on your website to load. It could be text, an image (even a background image), or an SVG.
Load time
Load time is the total time it takes for a page and all its elements to completely load.
Mobile first
While not technically a page speed measurement, “mobile first” is key in determining your website’s load time. This means the tool evaluates your site’s speed based on its mobile version rather than its desktop version.
This approach is crucial because speed is even more important on mobile devices, where basic page speed optimizations are often overlooked.
Why is page speed important for SEO?
Improving page speed is one of the easiest SEO tasks you can do. It boosts user experience, increases conversion rates, and improves your rankings.
It’s a unique instance of an SEO tactic that benefits everyone equally!
Site speed and SEO
Page and site speed are now crucial for SEO rankings. Google wants to avoid showing slow-loading results that frustrate users. They aim to display the most relevant and user-friendly websites.
Page loading speed and UX
Search engines now consider website speed a key factor in their rankings because it’s crucial for user experience. People online have very short attention spans, often just a few seconds. If your webpage takes longer than three seconds to load, most visitors won’t stick around. To wait that long, they’d have to be very interested in your content.
Search engines prefer faster websites with lower bounce rates because they offer a better user experience.
Website speed and CRO
One of the biggest benefits of a fast website is that it boosts your conversion rate. When your pages load quickly, you’re less likely to lose users who might get frustrated waiting. This means faster pages can significantly improve your conversion rates.
So, by speeding up your website, you’re not only likely to rank higher and give visitors a better experience, but you also increase your chances of getting those important transactions.
Also Read: Overcoming Content Duplication Issues
What is the ideal page speed for SEO?
Most people would say that a good page load time is two seconds or less. But the exact answer can vary depending on the type of page you have and how you measure speed.
Keep in mind that users don’t need to wait for your whole page to load before they can start using it. Sometimes, what’s more important is how quickly the first bit of content appears (FCP) or how soon the page becomes interactive (TTI).
What is the average page load speed?
In real life, page load times can vary a lot from one site to another, so averaging speeds might not be very helpful.
Instead of comparing your site to others, it’s better to focus on your own goals and best practices. Aim to get your FCP (first content paint) and TTI (time to interactive) down to two seconds or less.
Why is my website slow?
There are lots of reasons why a website might load slowly, but here are some common ones and how to fix them.
Website speed and code overhead
Code bloat, or code overhead, is a big reason why websites slow down, especially if you’re using a platform like WordPress.
When you use a ready-made content management system (CMS), it comes with a lot of extra code that you don’t really need. This unnecessary code can slow down your website significantly.
Page speed and assets
The assets on your website, like images and videos, can really impact how quickly your pages load.
A lot of people upload their highest-resolution photos, thinking this will make them look the best. While it does improve quality, it’s also important to reduce the file size to keep your pages loading fast. Starting with a high-quality image is great, but don’t forget to compress it to avoid slowing down your site.
How your server affects page speed
A slow server is a common culprit behind sluggish loading speeds. If your server takes too long to deliver the first byte of data, it’s a clear sign that your hosting service might not be up to par.
Even if your files are optimized for speed, they’ll still come across as slow if your server can’t send them out quickly. Many people opt for the cheapest hosting plans, thinking they’re saving money, but this often ends up hurting both the speed and security of their website.
How to check your page speed
There are plenty of tools out there for checking page speed, but Google PageSpeed Insights is one of the best—and it’s free!
It makes sense to use Google’s tool to see how your website performs since Google’s assessment can affect your site’s ranking. PageSpeed Insights not only gives you a score for your loading speed but also highlights what’s slowing your site down and offers tips on how to fix it.
For even more insights, you might want to try the Experte Bulk Page Speed Test. This free tool analyzes each page on your site, giving you details on metrics like TTFB and FCP, so you can see how each page is performing.
How to optimise website speed
There are lots of ways to speed up your website, and starting with these key techniques can make a big difference. They address some of the most common problems that slow down your pages, so they’re a great place to begin.
Get a good host
We’ve talked about how important it is for your website to load quickly, but if it’s on a slow server, you won’t see much benefit. That’s why choosing the right web hosting provider is crucial.
Consider where your hosting provider’s servers are located. For example, if most of your visitors are in the UK but your files are stored on servers in the US, their requests have to travel a long way to reach your site.
Even though data travels fast, the longer the distance, the more time it takes. So, it’s usually best to have your servers close to your audience, ideally in the same country.
Static site generation
WordPress and similar platforms are known for their slow plugins, bloated code, and loading speed issues.
But there’s a way to get around these problems while still enjoying the benefits of these platforms: static websites.
Static site generation creates a complete HTML version of your site, separate from your content management system. This means users are served the static HTML instead of loading the entire CMS with all its code.
So, you get all the perks of a powerful CMS without the bloat and slow loading times. You can make updates in your CMS, and those changes will be reflected on your static website, giving you the best of both worlds.
Reduce image and file sizes
When it comes to page speed, images often cause the most trouble. A simple fix is to use responsive images. This means your website will load appropriately sized images for different devices, so mobile users don’t have to wait for large desktop images to load.
Another key step is to reduce file sizes. There are some great tools like TinyPNG that can help you compress your images without losing quality. This keeps your site fast and efficient.
Convert images to WebP
Another way to speed up image loading is to use the WebP format instead of jpg, png, or gif. WebP loads much faster without cutting back on image quality. However, keep in mind that some older browsers don’t support WebP, so you might need to use a more traditional format for those cases.
Caching
When a browser uses caching, it saves parts of your webpage so you don’t have to reload everything each time you visit. This is a simple tweak that can really boost your website’s speed. If you’re using WordPress, there’s even a plugin that takes care of caching for you automatically.
Minified code
Code bloat or overhead can really slow down your website, so to keep your pages loading fast, it’s important to minify your code. This means stripping out unnecessary bits to make it more efficient. If you’re using pre-made software or platforms, this can be tricky. If you want to simplify things, consider starting with a custom-built website to keep your code lean and mean.
Simplify redirects
If your website has been around for a while and has gone through a few redesigns, you might be dealing with redirect issues. Redirects are used to guide users from old URLs to new ones, but if there are too many redirects, loops, or chains, it can slow down your site. Every time someone clicks through these redirects, it adds extra time to their journey.
To fix this, try simplifying your redirects. This way, users get to the right page faster, and it helps your site load more quickly. Plus, it makes it easier for Google to crawl your site, which is great for your SEO.
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A content delivery network (CDN) keeps copies of your website on servers all over the world. This means that when someone visits your site, they get the files from a nearby server instead of having to wait for them to travel a long distance.
CDNs are especially useful if you have a large, complex website with lots of pages or if you get a lot of visitors. They help your site load faster by reducing the distance data has to travel.
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