7 Effective Ways to Improve Page Load Speed

[1Solutions]

Page load speed is a critical aspect of website performance that can greatly impact user experience and engagement. Slow page load speeds can lead to higher bounce rates, lower search engine rankings, and ultimately, fewer conversions. 

If your pagespeed is good, you get an added advantage over your competitors. Thats why these days any SEO company takes the page speed issue very seriously.

In this article, we will discuss seven effective ways to improve page load speed, including optimizing images, reducing HTTP requests, using content delivery networks, and more. 

By implementing these strategies, website owners can enhance the user experience and drive better business results

1. Turn on Gzip compression.

Compression reduces the size of your web page files, allowing them to be downloaded more quickly. It's one of the simplest and quickest methods for improving page load time. Gzip compression is the industry standard, but Brotli is another well-known method. Gzip can reduce the size of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript by up to 70% when enabled. (Run a Gzip test to see if you have it enabled.)

Most all-in-one WordPress performance plugins have the option to enable compression automatically. You can also enable compression manually in your.htaccess file if you are more hands-on or use a different CMS.

2. Image Optimization

Images are among the most common contributors to large page sizes. As a general rule, your images should be optimized and properly sized as follows:

less than 100kb

Set to the exact size that will be displayed

JPG file was saved (unless transparent, in which case use PNG)

Image compression results in a loss of quality, so don't let your desire for speed compromise the aesthetic of your site. At the very least, if your site's width is 600px, don't upload a 2500px wide photo.

Before uploading images, use photo editing software such as Photoshop (paid) or GIMP to optimize them. (free). You can also use an online optimizer like TinyJPG for additional compression.

If you're using a CMS like WordPress, Smush.it and EWWW Image Optimizer are both good supplemental plugins. Some plugins also allow you to enable a Lazy Load feature, which prioritizes above-the-fold content and only loads images when a user scrolls by them, significantly reducing server requests.

3. Turn on Browser Caching.

When a visitor returns to your site, their browser downloads files like images, scripts, and stylesheets again. Unless you have browser caching enabled.

Browser caching stores static files on your visitor's browser. So the next time they visit your website, they won't have to download anything, and everything will load much faster.

Caching is must if you're using WordPress. Plugins such as W3 Total Cache and WP Rocket can guide you through the process and practically set it up for you. Just remember to only use one of these plugins at a time. Manually enabling caching is a little more difficult.

4. Minimize HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are examples of markup languages.

Minification eliminates unnecessary or redundant code while maintaining performance. This includes removing code comments, spacing, and long function names, among other things. All things that are invisible to the user but increase load time.

WordPress plugins such as WP Rocket, WP-Minify, and W3 Total Cache are ideal for novice web developers looking to minify their code. Manual minification is required for other CMS and advanced admins. Some tools that can be useful include:

JSCompress or JSMin HTMLMinifier YUI Compressor or CSSMinifier

5. Minimize HTTP Requests

This is significant. It can also become complicated. But don't let it frighten you. The holy grail of page load optimization is reducing page requests. (You should strive to keep the number of HTTP requests under 50.)

There are numerous methods for streamlining and speeding up these requests. We had so many that we had to create a special "Reduce HTTP requests like a boss" tutorial.

6. Shorten the Server Response Time

Changing servers is not something you should do lightly or on the fly. However, your hosting server plays an important role in load time, so knowing whether you have the best setup goes a long way.

Above all, check with your provider to ensure that your servers have sufficient uptime, and bandwidth, and are located near your target audience. If not, it's time to think about switching to a different hosting service.

Other important factors to consider:

Version of PHP

If your website is PHP-based, you should use PHP 7 or higher. Calling your hosting provider is the simplest way to learn which PHP you're currently using and upgrade if necessary. Please keep in mind that changes to PHP can cause conflicts with some WordPress themes and plugins. If something appears to be wrong with your server's PHP, you can easily reverse it.

HTTP/2

HTTP/2 is a server-side protocol that improves site speed and efficiency significantly. When HTTP/2 is available, not all websites use it. Use this online tool to see if your server supports HTTP/2. Then, contact your hosting company to go over your options.

Hosting Type

The majority of small businesses make use of less expensive shared hosting servers. (like BlueHost, GoDaddy, and HostGator). Larger businesses with high site traffic usually require more powerful virtual private servers (VPS) or direct servers to deliver their content. Determine your category based on your budget and performance.

7. Think about implementing a CDN
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are ideal for web pages that serve multiple international locations or for those looking for a speed boost in addition to their regular hosting service. These third-party, paid services not only provide HTTP/2 support, but also significantly reduce request times by distributing your files across a large network of global servers.

Among the notable CDN options are:

• Cloudflare
• Stackpath
• Google Cloud CDN
• CacheFly

 

Despite what GTmetrix may tell you, not every site requires a CDN, so we recommend implementing the other methods on this list first. If your page load times are still slow after that, a CDN may be a viable option.

WordPress-Specific Enhancements
If you use WordPress, several other factors may be influencing your page load time. You should address each of these, in addition to the other methods listed above.

Reduce the number of plugins
Plugins are awesome and can do a lot to improve the speed of your site. (As previously stated.) However, the wrong plugins can have the opposite effect. Too many plugins installed can cause problems, significantly slowing down your site's performance.

That is why it is critical to:

• Maintain and update your plugins on a regular basis.
• Remove any unused or unnecessary plugins on a regular basis.
• Check to see if there are any faster or lighter alternatives.
• Determine which plugins' functionality overlaps.
• Remove plugins for tasks that can be completed manually.

 If you have a Google Analytics plugin installed, for example, you'd be better off manually adding the snippet, using Google Tag Manager, or the Insert Headers and Footers plugin. (which is smaller in size).

To assist in locating problem areas, Page Performance Profiler is a fantastic plugin assessment tool that can tell which plugins are causing page load issues. (Don't forget to remove it when you're finished.)

Organize Your Database

With time WordPress databases can become clogged with saved drafts, post revisions, and other unnecessary data. Cleaning up this mess on a regular basis can help your site run faster. Some all-in-one performance plugins (such as WP Rocket) include this feature, or you can use the WP Optimize plugin.

CMS and theme updates
Always use the most recent versions of your theme and WordPress installation. (Don't forget to backup your site first.) If your site is still sluggish after updating and making all of the changes listed above, you may want to try a different theme entirely. While themes make your site look great, they can also bring a lot of baggage that slows it down. Choose the best theme for you.

The page load time is more important than ever before.
In case you haven't heard, Google is now entirely focused on mobile. And it has no plans to back down anytime soon. As a result, it is critical that your pages load as quickly as possible.

Let's be honest. We all have short attention spans that are shrinking by the second. If your page doesn't load quickly enough, there are plenty of cat videos available. So, what are you holding out for? The clock is ticking. Begin implementing these page speed and user experience enhancements right away because SERPS (like cats) are impatient.

Looking to improve your website's search engine rankings and attract more organic traffic? Look no further than 1Solutions SEO services in Jacksonville! 

Our team of experienced professionals can help optimize your website, create high-quality content, and build authoritative backlinks to boost your online visibility and drive more conversions. 

Contact us today to learn more and start improving your search engine rankings!