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For the modern Internet user, page load speed is of great importance. Optimizing this aspect can therefore benefit your business in many ways. Learn how page-opening speed affects user experience and SEO ranking, as well as what tools you can use to measure and improve this important area.
Why is page load speed so important?
Page loading speed is a key element for success in today’s Internet world for several important reasons. First and foremost, it provides a high-quality user experience. Additionally, it improves business conversion and efficiency, and has a positive impact on search engine ranking. As a result, it is possible to expand your business on a larger scale and increase profits.
Page load speed vs. user experience
Providing visitors with a positive experience with the site is extremely important. Today, the average Internet user has a low tolerance level for slow sites. If a site doesn’t load within 3 seconds, they are likely to abandon it and look for faster options. This, in turn, can result in fewer visits, higher rejection rates and loss of potential customers. Optimizing a site for loading speed can help improve the user experience, making them more likely to use a company’s services or products.
Page load speed vs SEO ranking
With the growing number of websites, search engines such as Google are constantly improving their algorithms to provide users with the best possible results. Fast, efficient websites tend to rank higher, making them more visible to users. This, in turn, allows for more visits, which can translate into improved sales performance or other conversion goals.
What does the page loading speed depend on?
The loading speed of a page depends on many factors. Some of the most important issues in this aspect include:
- File size: The larger the files (images, CSS files, JavaScript files), the longer they take to download.
- Hosting: The quality of the hosting service has a direct impact on the loading speed of the site. Hosting with poor performance can lead to delays.
- External resources: Using external resources, such as ads, plugins or scripts from other sites, can slow down page loading.
- Caching: Cache-related mechanisms by storing previously downloaded resources can speed up page loading for users who have revisited the site.
How to measure the loading speed of a page?
Preparations to improve the loading speed of the page should, of course, start by taking measurements of this parameter. However, it is not necessary to use a stopwatch or count down the seconds yourself. To do this, you can use practical tools that are available online.
One of the most popular options is Google PageSpeed Insights, a free tool offered by the Google search engine itself. It is very simple to use and consists of typing the page address into the program’s search engine. The tool evaluates the page loading speed on computers and mobile devices. In addition, it provides tips for improving the site’s performance. The analysis is really very detailed and covers various areas, allowing you to optimize your site for specific problems.
You can also use other popular tools to get a report on page loading speed:
- Google Analytics Site Speed
- Google Test My Site
- GTmetrix
- WebPageTest
- Web.dev
- Pingdom
- KeyCDN Website Speed Test
How to improve page loading speed?
Improving page load speed is crucial to online success. With just a few steps, you can make your site open much faster. Here are our tips:
- Conduct an analysis of the page loading speed: By using the previously mentioned tools, you will get information on the areas that need improvement. This will make your operations more effective.
- Choose a good server: Choosing the right hosting provider can have a significant impact on your site’s performance. Betting on a fast, reliable server with adequate resources can speed up the page loading process.
- Optimize images: Reducing the size of images without sacrificing quality can significantly speed up page loading. To do this, reach for professional tools such as TinyPNG.
- Use a CDN: A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers located around the world that deliver content to users from the geographically closest server. This shortens the distance data must travel while speeding up page loading.
- Enable cache: Activate the browser’s cache, allowing cache files to be stored on the user’s device. You won’t have to download them when you visit again, speeding up page loading.
- Minify and merge CSS and JavaScript files: Minification involves removing unnecessary characters and spaces from CSS and JavaScript files, reducing their size. File merging is a process in which multiple files are combined into one, reducing the number of requests to the server. Both actions lead to improved page loading speed.
Need help optimizing your site for loading speed? Get in touch with us and we’ll try to solve the problem quickly!
