What You Should Know About Dedicated Wordpress Hosting In 2023
29 Jan
How to speed up your website & why it’s important
May 19, 2023
So if your website takes a long time to load, imagine how many potential customers you could be losing out on.Do you want a faster website that people will revisit and tell their friends about?Keep reading to find out how to circumvent errors like first input delay to speed up your website to get more web traffic today.
Why web traffic is important
Conversions
While most business owners understand the importance of having an online presence, they don’t know the ins-and-outs of running a successful website nor the time to do it. However, website speed can have such a big impact on a business’ sales with a study showing that one website had a 25% conversion loss when their website loaded one second slower.Faster website = more sales
Search ranking
Website speed is something that Google takes into account. So if your website is lagging, then your business is going to rank lower in search results.Since 2015, mobile phone searches started outnumbering desktop searches, resulting in Google catering its search results for mobile users.That means it’s in your best interest to make sure your website is responsive for mobile phone and tablet users.
How To Speed Up Your Website
Use WordPress Plugins
Many websites are made using WordPress, so I wanted to talk about some plug-ins that can be used that can help to speed up your website.
WP Rocket
WP Rocket is one of the most popular WordPress plug-ins to improve speed. Best of all, it requires minimal effort and has a one-time fee of $65.92 (USD$50).There are also various free WordPress plug-ins like W3 Total Cache that deals with caching or minifying files. You can search for these in the WordPress Plug-n store and choose one that suits your needs.Another type of plug-in you can look for is lazy loading, which doesn't load your website's images until the user scrolls down to them. However, in some cases this can slow the website down, so it’s best to test it out first.
Minify & Combine Code
What is minification? It’s simply removing unnecessary script from your website’s code (the CSS, JavaScript and HTML).You’re probably wondering how on earth you’re going to be able to do this without breaking your website.It’s probably safer to leave this job to someone who can read and understand coding, otherwise you might delete important information.Get a developer to go through code and get rid of anything that is unnecessary.For example, script writers can sometimes leave comments to themselves, line breaks and white space that can be taken out without interfering with how the website works.Getting rid of all of this can really speed up your website because it’ll take less time for the browser to load it.
Leverage Caching
What’s that, you ask? Caching is when a user’s browsers saves a copy of your website’s pages so it doesn’t have to reload the whole website again when they return, making your website loading time faster.You can specify how long web browsers should keep the CSS, JS and image files from your website, so that the user’s browser downloads less data which will improve the loading speed of your website.If you see a warning that says ‘Leverage Browser Caching’ when you do performance test results, this means that the cache-control or expires headers are missing from your website’s server (or the third party).Google also has more information on caching here.
Use a CDN
A content delivery network (CDN) is a network of servers used to deliver website content faster around the world. The way it does this is by downloading your website and storing copies of it at several locations worldwide. Now, when users closer to these locations try to access it, they'll be able to do it much quicker.Popular CDN's include:
- Cloudflare
- StackPath
- KeyCDN
- Google Cloud CDN
- Cachefly
- Amazon Cloudfront
It's also quite common for hosting providers to have a CDN built-in, so make sure to check with your provider.
Minimize HTTP Requests
HTTP requests, i.e., redirects, add loading time to your website as the visitor's device has to request more information from the domain.You can reduce the number of redirects to the essential ones, which will make your website load a lot faster.
Remove Unwanted Plugins, Apps, etc.
No matter what CMS you're using, it's likely that you have some apps or plug-ins. These will make your website load slower. While it’s important to have some for the functionality of your website, you should remove the ones that you don't need.It’s also best practice to use code if possible, rather than plug-ins or apps.For example, things like tracking codes or share buttons can just be added using code, so there is no need to download a plug-in to add these.
Compress Images
Image file sizes can greatly affect the speed of your website. You can compress PNG files without worsening the quality of the image and the file size will be significantly smaller. Images are some of the biggest files on any website, so compressing them can make quite a big difference.There are various plug-ins such as Imagify that can help you do this if you're using WordPress. You can also websites like tinypng.com, where you upload your images and then download the compressed versions.
Final Thoughts
That's it! We hope you have enjoyed this article on how to improve your website speed. If you would like us to work on your website or SEO, make sure to contact us here.If you’d like to read a little more about SEO, web design and related topics, check out some of our recent posts below:502 Gateway Error - Find Out What It Is and How To Navigate It5 Reasons Why You Should Invest Into an SEO StrategyHow To Do Keyword Research: An Actionable Guide4 Steps To Creating a Flawless Website
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Your Provide Case Studies Or Examples Of Previous Work?
Yes, we can provide case studies and examples of our previous work. Potential clients frequently request these to see concrete evidence of our past successes. They want to understand how we’ve helped similar businesses achieve their goals through SEO and website development. Our case studies typically highlight our clients’ challenges, the strategies we implemented, and the measurable results we achieved, such as increased traffic and higher conversion rates. This builds trust and demonstrates our ability to deliver on our promises.
Do You Offer Ongoing Maintenance And Support After The Website Is Launched?
Post-launch support is crucial for maintaining website performance and security. Clients want to know if the company provides:
Regular Updates: Ensuring the website remains up-to-date with the latest software versions and security patches.
Technical Support: Assisting with any issues that arise, such as bugs or downtime.
Content Updates: Offering services to update or add new content as the business evolves.
Performance Monitoring: We regularly check the site’s speed, uptime, and other critical metrics to ensure optimal performance. This ongoing support provides peace of mind, ensuring that the client’s website remains effective and secure over time.
What is SEO, And Why Is It Important For My Business?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a digital marketing approach focused on boosting your website’s presence on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. By refining different elements of your site—such as content, meta descriptions, and backlinks—SEO works to improve your website’s position in search engine results. This increased visibility is vital as it attracts more organic traffic, potentially leading to a rise in leads, sales, and overall business success. Businesses frequently discuss the basics of SEO, its importance in attracting targeted visitors, and how it supports wider business goals.
How Long Does It Take To See Results From SEO?
SEO is a strategy that requires a long-term commitment, and it's essential to have realistic expectations from the outset. Typically, businesses may notice significant improvements within 3 to 6 months. However, this can differ depending on factors such as the level of competition, the industry, and the website's current condition. While addressing technical issues can result in some early successes, meaningful increases in rankings and traffic usually develop over time. Clients often ask for a clear timeline to gauge when they might start seeing a return on their investment (ROI).
What Does Your SEO Process Involve?
Website Audit and Analysis: Conduct a thorough evaluation of the site to pinpoint strengths, weaknesses, and areas that can be enhanced.
Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords that your potential customers actively search.
On-Page Optimisation: Improving various on-page elements such as meta tags, headers, content, and internal linking to increase site effectiveness.
Content Development: Crafting high-quality, engaging content tailored to the needs of your target audience.
Link Building: Securing backlinks from credible websites to enhance the site's domain authority.
Technical SEO:Ensuring the website is technically robust, with fast loading speeds, mobile responsiveness, and secure connections.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment: Regularly track performance and make necessary adjustments based on data and trends. Clients ask about these steps to ensure they are investing in a thorough and effective SEO strategy.
How Do You Measure The Success Of An SEO Campaign?
Success in SEO is measured through a variety of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including:
Organic Traffic: The number of visitors coming to the website from search engines.
Keyword Rankings: The position of targeted keywords in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Conversion Rates: The percentage of visitors who take desired actions (e.g., filling out a form, making a purchase)
.Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing only one page.
Domain Authority: A score that predicts how well a website will rank in SERPs based on factors like link quality.
ROI (Return on Investment): Evaluating the financial return from SEO activities in comparison to the cost. Clients want to understand these metrics to gauge the effectiveness and profitability of their SEO investments.
How Do You Stay Updated With The Latest SEO Trends And Best Practives?
SEO is an ever-evolving field, with search engines like Google regularly updating their algorithms. We make it a priority to stay ahead of these changes.This might involve:
Continuous Learning: Attending industry conferences, webinars, and training sessions.
Membership in Professional Organisations: Being part of SEO communities or organisations that provide the latest insights.
Regular Testing and Experimentation: Consistently testing new strategies and adapting to changes in algorithms.Industry Research: Staying informed with the latest studies, white papers, and expert opinions in the digital marketing sector.We are confident that our SEO strategies are current and that we are proactive in adopting best practices.
Do You Offer Ongoing Maintenance And Support After The Website Is Launched?
Post-launch support is crucial for maintaining website performance and security. Clients want to know if the company provides:
Regular Updates: Ensuring the website remains up-to-date with the latest software versions and security patches.
Technical Support: Assisting with any issues that arise, such as bugs or downtime.
Content Updates: Offering services to update or add new content as the business evolves.
Performance Monitoring: We regularly check the site’s speed, uptime, and other critical metrics to ensure optimal performance. This ongoing support provides peace of mind, ensuring that the client’s website remains effective and secure over time.
How Do You Ensure That My Website Is User Friendly And Optimised For Conversions?
Yes, we ensure that your website is both user-friendly and optimised for conversions. We understand that clients want a website that attracts visitors and encourages them to take action. To achieve this, we focus on several key areas:
User Experience (UX) Design: We create an intuitive and engaging interface that makes navigation easy and enjoyable for users.Responsive Design: We ensure your website is mobile-friendly and looks great on all devices.
Call to Action (CTA): We strategically place buttons and forms to prompt users to take the desired actions.
Speed Optimisation: We ensure fast load times to reduce bounce rates and keep users engaged.
Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO): We analyse user behaviour and make data-driven adjustments to increase the percentage of visitors who convert.By incorporating these principles, we maximise the chances of turning your website visitors into customers.
