The Need for Speed
The Internet is fragile. You need to know when your site is in danger.
Internet speeds are faster than ever, and expectations about website load time high.
According to Google, if a web page takes longer than 3 seconds to load on a mobile device, chances are it will be abandoned. And did you know that slow load times negatively impact search engine optimization (SEO)?
Although a major event like a site crash or hack grabs attention, often site owners don’t realize they have a problem with speed because they don’t review their sites often enough to notice.
The quickest way to measure website speed is to run a page speed test. Use Google PageSpeedInsights, GTMetrix, or Pingdom to get insights into load times.
Following are the most common issues that affect load speed.
Problem #1: Oversized Images
If an image isn’t sized appropriately, it takes much longer to shrink down in the browser and slows load speed. There are a number of tools available for image compression. If you have a WordPress site, the proper rules for image sizes can be saved in advance, so when an image is called, the website will know the right image to select for appropriate display.
Problem #2: Improper Caching
Caching is a method that involves storing a copy of certain website files to enable faster load time. That way users won’t have to completely reload the site each time they hit “refresh.” Caching isn’t easy to implement, although WP Rocket is a WordPress plug-in that is easy to configure and can clear your website cache when needed.
Problem #3: Hosting Issues
If your website is on a “shared” hosting plan, your site is susceptible to slow processing speeds at times when other sites on the same server are experiencing heavy traffic. It’s worth considering whether you should upgrade your hosting plan because it can significantly impact your website performance.
Take a close look at your website. Pretend to be a visitor. If page downloads are slow, all the insightful, relevant content in the world won’t prevent people from leaving. It’s vital that you pinpoint what’s causing the slowness.
Need Help?
You could do this yourself, but to understand what to do and how to do it could take several hours. And it’s not something you’ll probably get around to. Meanwhile, you’re paying the cost of people abandoning your site because of slow loading speeds.
I’m offering a one-time website “oil change” that includes a free home page speed test. If you have a WordPress site, it also includes:
- Creating a full site backup
- Updating WordPress
- Updating plug-ins
- Updating themes
- Site testing
The cost for a complete checkup is $75—a 25-percent discount off the regular price of $100. Offer is good through Monday, Feb. 24. To arrange for your free speed test, please call 414.771.8906 or email nancy@cavanaughinteractive.biz.