Do you have a website that is up and running? If yes, then you know for a fact that Google keeps on adjusting its search algorithms for websites that are doing well especially when it comes to social media marketing. If not, then now you know.
Well, having said that, it is imperative for you to clearly understand that your social media presence or rather visibility can either harm or make your business or brand. Therefore, as a digital entrepreneur, this should be an issue of concern for you. This is only if you want your website to make it to Google’s top ranks.
Bottom line is, for your website to be visible to internet users, then you must optimize its performance by speeding up the website and adhering to some specific SEO ranking factors. The most challenging part in all this, however, is how to get there. Therefore, to optimize your site’s performance and loading speed, read on.
Below are 7 ways on how to speed up your website and increase conversions.
1. First and foremost, optimize image and the site’s design elements
If you are a frequent browser, then you know for a fact that images account for the biggest part of downloadable content from any site. In regard to this, optimizing images will boost your website’s performance.
As easy as this may sound, many website owners might have a hard time optimizing their image. To take the weight off your shoulder, here are some useful tools that you can use when optimizing your web image and fonts.
Optimizila – this is the most powerful image optimizer. With Optimizila, you can easily compress your image into JPEG and/or PNG format depending on your preferences. Good news is with this tool, you can make your web fonts to your specific size.
Incapula – this tool will automatically optimize your images, design elements and minify code to develop some remarkable website loading speeds.
Last but not least, you can use Google’s image optimization guide – Google has a well detailed and comprehensive guide that will educate you on image optimization techniques like replacing eliminated images, optimizing vector image and so much more.
2. Minimize the number of HTTP requests
By cutting down on your HTTP requests, you will be enhancing your website loading speeds by reducing the delays that arise when server is downloading resources. In the same way, you can minimize your HTTP requests by combining your JavaScript files into one big file. By so doing, the chances of sending a smaller HTTP request are much higher.
In addition to this, you can also choose to either sprite images or use data url. Using image sprites and just one image across a number of elements would automatically increase your website loading speeds. Similarly, by using data url, encoded image data will be included in HTML and CSS, which automatically removes the need for a HTTP request.
Truth of the matter is that CSS and HTML are lightweight, a feature that makes them possible to increase website loading speeds especially for mobile web pages.
3. Have a good web hosting provider
For your site to be among the fastest websites in history, you must have a good hosting provider. In addition to this, the hosting provider should have a secure and callable infrastructure. This isto mean that in order for you to have a quick responsive site that is likely to get a top rank from Google, you must localize your hosting.
According to a Web Development Company, most web owners are tempted to share web hosting with others from the perspective of how cheap the option is. Little do they know cheap hosting leads to poor website response and bad level of service. Unless you are running a small website that doesn’t demand traffic, then you must have a remarkable and reliable hosting provider.
4. Get AJAX to Speed Up your Website
When you apply AJAX, you will be able to fetch data easily even on mobile. The most exciting part is the fact that you will get the data you require without the need for refreshing the web page. AJAX also allows your mobile web pages to load faster as well as quickly fill in updated content while still browsing other mobile web pages.
5. Optimize any visible content
Visible content is basically the portion of web page that your guests see on their screens before scrolling for more. Therefore, to ensure that your website speed is excellent, then you have to prioritize or rather optimize visible content. Additionally, ensure that you move all scripts towards the end so that a readable and catchy portion of your website is the first thing your guests look at.
6. Optimize your plugins
Plugins allow you to enlarge the functionality of your website. Additionally, the same plugins can also help you expand the site’s complexity especially with your website load time frame. However, the number of plugins on your website doesn’t link to a slower website speed. Regardless of how true this is, it is important for you to keenly evaluate and choose plugins that are reliable and scalable.
You can increase your site’s speed and conversions with a low quality plugin for as long as that particular plugin loads many assets, execute complex operations and gives additional database queries. However, ensure that you use plugins that are managed by reputable plugin providers.
7. Improve caching
Browser caching means that the browser will be drilled to keep some files in a local cache. When the files are in the local cache, your website will be gaining excellent loading speeds. In fact, every time a browser loads a webpage, it must download all the related web pages first in order for the files to be properly displayed.
With that said, browsing caching is a sure way of improving a website’s speed by delivering cached copies of content that has been requested by your site guests. The web cache then allows you to store the content for easy access upon user requests. For more insights, please have a look at this guide from Google.
