Don’t you just hate it when you see an interesting post or link, but when you try to click it, its webpage takes forever to load? You check if you’re still connected to the...
Don’t you just hate it when you see an interesting post or link, but when you try to click it, its webpage takes forever to load? You check if you’re still connected to the internet and try to open a different site to see if it loads faster. As frustrating as slow-opening websites can be, the problem isn’t with your connection — it’s on the web page itself.
But how do you fix a slow web page? What is a good website speed that will reduce bounce rate?
This blog discusses what makes a website slow and shares tips on how to improve website loading speed.
Don’t let your readers and consumers trudge through the net with your slow web pages. Below are common reasons why websites are slow and actionable steps on how to fix a slow website.
The root of the problem can be traced directly back to its source. In this case, your website’s managed service provider (MSP). Your page will have difficulty loading if you have a low-quality hosting service right from the start. Think of it as the foundation of your website. You’d want to establish everything with a sturdy base so that the rest of your page will have good support.
You should also avoid shared hostings as server resources such as processor and memory are also divided among users. What’s worst is that you could get the short end of the stick as the resources are not divided evenly.
What you can do:
Have you ever noticed how fast your favorite site loads whenever your visit it? That’s because of cache, and issues with your caching layers can contribute to what makes your webpage slow.
Caching is a site speed optimization technique that stores a copy of your web page’s files in “web cache.” When your site lacks a layer of caching, your reader’s browser will have to request your page files (HTML, CSS, JS) every single time. The data include text, image, and video. Instead of getting assets from your origin server and having easy access, it’s a much longer process resulting in slow web pages.
Additionally, servers can only handle a limited number of requests simultaneously. Once the limit is reached, the user’s request is put on queue, resulting in a longer load time and slower responses.
Network latency (or lag) is an issue that pages encounter when they don’t use a CDN. It defines the amount of time needed for your data to be requested, transmitted, processed, and decoded. CDNs are servers that help speed up the loading time of your website by bringing the server closer to where your users are.
It helps to think of CDNs as ATM machines. When there’s one nearby, you don’t have to travel farther or wait in line. Similarly, the closer you are to the server, the faster it is for your page to load. Webpages with visitors from all over the world will benefit significantly from using a CDN as there’s always a server closest to them.
A picture is worth a thousand words, as the famous saying goes. But if you’re talking about websites, “a picture makes up about half of all bytes on an average page.”
It’s always enticing to scroll through a page filled with images instead of just reading plain text. However, images may be the reason why your website is slow. Image optimization uses various techniques to reduce file size so your user’s browsers can load them much faster. You can also compress your videos but it’s usually better to host them externally instead. Page speed also depends on your webpage design as it incorporates extensions and API integrations.
Webpages are like computer documents. The bigger the file is, the longer time it takes to open. The same goes for websites that use more codes to execute on the server. In 2022, a good website speed is about three seconds. Meanwhile, for e-commerce websites, your website should take about two seconds to load.
You should simplify your code by avoiding unnecessary characters and line breaks. Moreover, minify and remove useless and redundant data.
Render blocking resources are files that are prioritized and downloaded first before loading the rest of your webpage. These data include fonts, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Prioritizing these files puts the entire rendering process on hold. Your user’s browser must know which content is crucial to enjoying faster load time and utmost performance.
Plugins and third-party extensions are codes that must be loaded when opening your webpage. Installing a lot of these can slow down your site. Remember that it’s always better to be straightforward in coding to avoid unnecessary data.
Time is of the essence when it comes to loading web pages — don’t keep your users waiting to see your content. Understand why website speed matters and ensure your page loads seamlessly to provide your consumers with the best experience possible.
Optimize your code and watch out for these common reasons why web pages are slow. Follow the tips we’ve provided to speed up their loading process. If you need help optimizing your site, partner with Growth Rocket. Get in touch with us or check out our blog for more insights.
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