Having a website that is both appealing and functional should be one of the main concerns you have a business owner. Without a great online presence, reaching a wider audience will be nearly impossible. Not only will you need to focus on keeping the information on your business website updated, you will need to make sure your site is fast as well.
Some business owners get so wrapped up in making their website appealing that they forget all about page load speed. Neglecting to keep your site fast and operational can lead to lots of problems in the future.
The following are some of the things you need to know about page load speeds and how to fix issues your website may have.
Why Is Page Load Speed so Important?
One of the main things most inexperienced business owners want to know is why page load speed is so important. For starters, having a website that loads fast can actually help you keep users engaged for a longer period of time.
A recent study found that websites that loaded within 5 seconds or less saw a 70 percent increase in the average amount of time users stayed on the page. The longer users stay on your website, the higher the likelihood becomes of them reaching out to get more information about your products and services.
Most business owners fail to realize that having a fast-loading website can help them increase their rank on powerful search engines like Google. Updated Google algorithms take into account things like page load speed and a website’s social proof when assigning rank. Having a fast and reliable website can help you in your pursuit of search engine dominance.
Common Problems That Can Slow Your Website Down
Are you currently experiencing page load issues with your website? If you answered yes, getting to the bottom of these issues should be your main priority. The best way to pinpoint these problems is by keeping a watchful eye on the error logs generated. If you are having a hard time keeping up with these error logs, be sure to read these Python logging basics – the ultimate guide to logging for more information. Here are some of the most common causes of page load issues and how to fix them.
Problems with Unoptimized Images
One of the first things users of your website will see are images on your homepage. If the file sizes of these images are exceptionally large, it can lead to slow load speeds. The best way to fix this problem is by using one of the many free file compression programs online. By reducing the size of these files, you can speed up page load times substantially.
Too Many WordPress Plugins Can Be a Bad Thing
The most popular website building and hosting platform on the planet is WordPress. The WordPress platform has become so popular in part due to the wide variety of plugins they offer. These plugins are designed to make things like creating image carousels and optimizing a website for search engine success easier.
While using these plugins can make a site more functional and appealing, they can create problems if too many of them are being used. If your WordPress website starts to slow down, you need to disable your plugins one by one. By doing this, you can figure out which program is causing the problem and delete it. While this troubleshooting process can be time-consuming, it is worth the effort considering the solutions it can provide.
Reaching out for Professional Help
If you are in the midst of a website page load crisis and can’t figure out a solution, working with professionals is your best course of action. With their help, you can pinpoint and fix the problems your website has in a hurry.
