How to Increase Your Website Speed?

What will you do if the website you are surfing is taking too much time to load?

Stay and wait patiently for the site to open or leave the page.

Most people will leave the page and go to some other site that will load quickly.

If you want to increase your website traffic and sales, you need to increase the speed of your website.

A slow website is as good as no website. People on the internet are very impatient.

They won’t even wait a few seconds for the website to load unless it is important.

Here are some statistics to prove the importance of a high-speed website.

Website loading delay leads to,

• A decrease in page views by 11%
• The decrease in customer satisfaction by 16%
• A decrease in conversions by 7%

So if you don’t want to lose visitors or customers make sure your website loads in lesser time.

Here is how your website speed is rated.

Website speed rating:

• Less than one second = Excellent
• 1 to 3 seconds = Good
• 3 to 7 seconds = Average
• More than 7 seconds = Poor

This rating was given by customers who like to make online purchases.

Now, if you have an e-commerce website, make sure it is fast and loads quickly to avoid losing potential customers.

The speed of your website is directly related to two important factors,

• Visibility
• Conversions

Let’s see how speed affects these factors.

Website Speed and Visibility:

The most famous search engine Google ranks the sites on the basis of speed.

If your website is super-fast, it will appear on top of the search results. But if it’s slow, nobody will find your website.

Now, people are using their smartphones to search for everything instead of the desktop.

Because of this Google considers the time your website takes to load on a mobile platform.

So if your website loads really fast on the desktop but perform poorly on mobile, your site will naturally be ranked low.

In order to appear on the top, you need to enhance the mobile user’s experience.

So make sure your site works well on the mobile platform.

Website Speed and Conversions:

The speed of your website is directly related to conversions. If your site doesn’t load in 2 seconds are less, you will lose customers.

Let’s take the example of Walmart. We all know what Walmart is.

After they increased their website speed, their conversion rate increased as well as revenue.

• 1 second load time increase = 2% conversions
• 100 milliseconds speed improvement = 1% revenue

So this proves that customers choose only fast-working sites to make purchases.

If your site takes even 1 extra second to load, your conversion rate will drop by 25%.

What to do if your site is slow?

There are a number of steps you need to follow. The first step is to check the speed of your site.

Website Speed Test: 

You need to test the speed of your site to know how much time it takes to load. It will give you a clear idea.

There are a number of reasons that make your site slow i.e. image size, redirects, etc.

Good Load time:

The next thing you need to know is, what the recommended load time is.

As per Google, the load time should be 3 seconds or less. However, a lot of websites are not even close to the mark.

Many websites take nearly 10 seconds to load. And mobile sites take 22 seconds to load fully. The customers won’t wait that long.

Make it fast: 

The last and most important step is to make your website load quickly.

For this, you need to follow some tips and techniques.

You can easily increase the speed of your website by following these tips.

15 Common Ways to Increase Your Website Speed

In today’s fast-paced digital world, website speed plays a crucial role in determining the success of an online presence.

Users expect quick and seamless browsing experiences and a slow-loading website can lead to frustration and abandonment.

Fortunately, there are numerous common strategies that website owners can implement to optimize their website’s performance.

This section explores 15 tried-and-tested techniques that can help enhance website speed and provide visitors with a smooth and enjoyable browsing experience.

1. Minimize HTTP Requests

Minimizing the number of HTTP requests made by your website is a key factor in improving its speed. Each element on a webpage, such as images, scripts, stylesheets, and fonts, requires a separate HTTP request to the server. Here are some strategies to minimize HTTP requests:

Combine files:

Instead of having multiple separate CSS and JavaScript files, combine them into a single file each.

This reduces the number of HTTP requests required to retrieve these resources.

Use CSS sprites:

CSS sprites combine multiple small images into a single image file.

By utilizing background positioning, different parts of the combined image can be displayed as separate elements on the webpage.

This technique reduces the number of image requests.

Inline small CSS and JavaScript:

For small CSS or JavaScript code snippets that are essential for rendering above-the-fold content, consider inlining them directly into the HTML.

This eliminates the need for an additional HTTP request.

Example: Suppose your webpage has five separate CSS files and five separate JavaScript files.

By combining them into one CSS file and one JavaScript file, you reduce the number of HTTP requests from ten to two.

2. Enable Caching

Caching allows the browser to store certain website files locally, reducing the need to re-download them with every visit.

When a user revisits a website, their browser can retrieve the cached files instead of requesting them from the server.

This significantly improves loading times. Here are a few caching techniques:

Leverage browser caching:

Set appropriate caching headers for static resources, such as images, CSS, and JavaScript files.

This instructs the user’s browser to cache these files locally, reducing subsequent requests.

Implement server-side caching:

Use caching mechanisms like Redis or Memcached on the server side to store dynamic content.

This reduces the processing time required to generate the content for each request.

Example: Let’s say a user visits your website and downloads the CSS and JavaScript files.

With caching enabled, the next time the user visits the same page, their browser retrieves the cached files, eliminating the need for additional HTTP requests to the server.

3. Optimize Images

Images often contribute to the bulk of a webpage’s size, leading to slower loading times.

Optimizing images can significantly improve website speed.

Here are some image optimization techniques:

Compress images:

Use image compression tools or services to reduce the file size of images without compromising quality.

This reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred, resulting in faster loading.

Use appropriate image formats:

Choose the appropriate image format for each image.

For example, use JPEG for photographs and PNG for graphics with transparency.

Using the right format can further reduce file sizes.

Specify image dimensions:

Specify the dimensions of images in your HTML or CSS.

This allows the browser to allocate the required space for the image during rendering, preventing layout shifts and improving overall performance.

Example: If you have an image that is initially 1 MB in size, optimizing it through compression techniques can reduce its size to, let’s say, 200 KB.

This significantly reduces the time required to download the image.

4. Minify CSS and JavaScript Files

Minifying CSS and JavaScript files involve removing unnecessary characters such as whitespace, comments, and line breaks.

This reduces file sizes, resulting in faster downloads. Here’s how it can be done:

Use minification tools:

Utilize tools like UglifyJS or CSSNano to automatically minify your CSS and JavaScript files.

These tools remove unnecessary characters without affecting functionality.

Concatenate files:

Concatenate multiple CSS and JavaScript files into a single file each.

This reduces the number of HTTP requests required to fetch these resources.

Example: A CSS file that is initially 100 KB in size can be reduced to 50 KB or even less through minification.

This leads to faster downloads and improved website performance.

5. Reduce Server Response Time

Server response time is the time taken by the server to respond to a user’s request.

A slow server response time can significantly impact website speed.

Here are a few ways to reduce server response time:

Optimize database queries:

Ensure that database queries are properly indexed and optimized for performance.

This helps speed up data retrieval and reduces the processing time on the server.

Implement caching mechanisms:

Utilize server-side caching to store frequently accessed data.

This reduces the need to generate the same content repeatedly, improving response times.

Upgrade hosting infrastructure:

If your website experiences slow response times, consider upgrading your hosting plan or switching to a faster and more reliable hosting provider.

Example: Suppose a user requests a webpage, and the server takes five seconds to respond.

By optimizing database queries and implementing caching mechanisms, you can reduce the server response time to, let’s say, one second, resulting in faster overall website loading.

6. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers distributed globally.

It helps improve website speed by caching and delivering static content from the server closest to the user’s location.

Here’s how a CDN can be beneficial:

Caching static resources:

CDNs store copies of static website files, such as images, CSS, and JavaScript, on their servers across various geographic locations.

When a user requests these files, they are served from the nearest CDN server, reducing latency and improving loading times.

Reducing server load:

By offloading the delivery of static content to CDN servers, the load on your origin server is reduced.

This allows it to focus on delivering dynamic content and processing requests more efficiently.

Handling traffic spikes:

CDNs are designed to handle high traffic volumes and distribute the load across multiple servers.

This helps prevent server overload during peak usage periods, ensuring consistent website performance.

Example: Let’s say your website is hosted in New York, but a user from London accesses it.

Without a CDN, the user’s request would have to travel all the way to New York to retrieve static content.

However, with a CDN, the static files would be cached on a server in London, significantly reducing the latency and improving the website’s speed for that user.

7. Enable Gzip Compression

Gzip compression is a method of compressing files before sending them to the browser, reducing their size and improving transfer speeds.

Here’s how it works:

File compression:

Gzip compresses CSS, JavaScript, HTML, and other files before they are transmitted over the network.

The compressed files are then decompressed by the user’s browser.

Smaller file sizes:

Compressed files are significantly smaller, resulting in faster downloads and reduced bandwidth usage.

Browser compatibility:

Gzip compression is supported by all modern browsers and web servers, making it a widely adopted and effective technique for speeding up website delivery.

Example: Suppose you have a CSS file that is 100 KB in size.

Enabling Gzip compression can reduce the file size too, let’s say, 30 KB.

When a user requests this file, the compressed version is sent over the network, resulting in faster download times.

8. Use Asynchronous Loading for JavaScript

JavaScript plays a crucial role in modern websites, but if not handled properly, it can slow down page rendering.

Asynchronous loading of JavaScript allows the browser to continue rendering the page while JavaScript files are being fetched.

Here’s how it helps:

Non-blocking loading:

By adding the “async” attribute to the JavaScript tags in your HTML, you ensure that the browser doesn’t wait for the JavaScript file to load before rendering the page.

This prevents JavaScript from blocking other resources from loading.

Improved parallelism:

Asynchronous loading allows multiple JavaScript files to be downloaded simultaneously, enhancing the loading speed.

Enhanced user experience:

By reducing the time it takes for a page to become interactive, asynchronous loading provides a smoother user experience.

Example: Let’s say you have a large JavaScript file that takes some time to download.

Without asynchronous loading, the browser would halt rendering until the JavaScript file is completely fetched.

With asynchronous loading, the browser can continue rendering the rest of the page while fetching the JavaScript file in the background.

9. Eliminate Render-Blocking Resources

Render-blocking resources refer to CSS and JavaScript files that prevent the browser from rendering the page until they are fully loaded and processed.

Eliminating render-blocking resources involves optimizing their delivery to improve website speed.

Here’s how it can be done:

Critical CSS:

Extract the essential CSS required for rendering above-the-fold content and inline it directly into the HTML.

This allows the browser to render the page faster, even before the external CSS file is loaded.

Asynchronous and deferred loading:

Place JavaScript files at the end of the HTML document or use techniques like “async” and “defer” attributes to load them without blocking rendering.

Code splitting and lazy loading:

Split large JavaScript files into smaller modules and load them only when they are needed, reducing the initial load time.

Example: Consider a website with a large CSS file. By extracting critical CSS and inlining it into the HTML, the browser can render the visible content while the external CSS file is being fetched.

This results in faster perceived loading times for the user.

10. Optimize CSS Delivery

CSS files can impact website performance, especially when they are large or loaded inefficiently.

Optimizing CSS delivery can significantly improve loading times.

Here’s how it can be achieved:

Minify and combine CSS files:

Minify CSS by removing unnecessary characters, and combine multiple CSS files into a single file to reduce the number of HTTP requests.

Inline critical CSS:

Inline the CSS required for rendering above-the-fold content directly into the HTML. This eliminates the need for an additional HTTP request.

Use media queries:

Utilize media queries to load CSS files selectively based on the user’s device or viewport.

This ensures that only the necessary CSS is loaded, reducing file sizes and improving performance.

Example: Instead of having multiple CSS files for different components of your website, you can combine them into a single file, minify it, and then serve it to the user.

Also, you can inline the CSS required for the initial viewport directly into the HTML, improving the website’s speed by reducing HTTP requests.

11. Reduce the Number of Plugins and Scripts

Excessive use of plugins and scripts can weigh down your website and slow down its performance.

Each additional plugin or script adds extra HTTP requests and increases the processing time required to render the page.

Here’s how you can reduce their impact:

Evaluate plugin necessity:

Regularly review the plugins installed on your website and assess their usefulness.

Remove any unnecessary or redundant plugins that are not essential for your site’s functionality.

Combine functionality:

Instead of relying on multiple plugins for similar features, look for opportunities to consolidate their functionality into a single plugin or custom code.

This reduces the number of external resources and improves performance.

Opt for lightweight alternatives:

Choose lightweight plugins or scripts that have a smaller footprint and are optimized for speed.

Avoid resource-intensive or poorly coded plugins that can negatively impact website performance.

Example: If you have separate plugins for contact forms, social sharing buttons, and analytics tracking, consider using a single plugin or custom code that integrates all these functionalities into one.

12. Use Lazy Loading for Images and Videos

Lazy loading is a technique that defers the loading of non-visible images and videos until they are about to enter the user’s viewport.

This significantly improves initial page load times, especially for pages with numerous media elements.

Here’s how it works:

Load visible content first:

With lazy loading, images and videos below the fold or not immediately visible on the screen are not loaded until the user scrolls down to them.

This prioritizes the loading of visible content and speeds up the initial rendering.

On-demand loading:

As the user scrolls down, images and videos that enter the viewport are loaded dynamically.

This approach saves bandwidth and reduces the total number of resources loaded at once.

Implement lazy loading libraries:

There are many JavaScript libraries available, such as lazysizes and Intersection Observer, that make it easy to implement lazy loading functionality on your website.

Example: On a long-scrolling page with several large images, lazy loading ensures that only the images that are initially visible are loaded, reducing the initial page size and improving loading times.

13. Enable Browser Caching

Browser caching allows the temporary storage of static resources on the user’s device, reducing the need to retrieve them from the server on subsequent visits.

Here’s how it helps improve website speed:

Set cache headers:

Configure your server to send appropriate caching headers, such as “Expires” and “Cache-Control,” to specify how long the browser should cache specific resources.

Leverage ETag and Last-Modified:

Implement mechanisms like ETag (Entity Tag) and Last-Modified headers to enable conditional requests.

This allows the browser to send a request to the server only if the resource has changed since it was last accessed.

Use a caching plugin:

If you’re using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, utilize caching plugins that handle browser caching automatically and provide granular control over caching settings.

Example: By setting appropriate cache headers, the browser can store static resources like images, CSS files, and JavaScript files locally.

This eliminates the need to download these resources with every page visit, resulting in faster subsequent page loads.

14. Use a Fast and Reliable Hosting Provider

Choosing the right hosting provider is crucial for website speed and performance.

A fast and reliable hosting provider ensures that your website is served quickly and reliably to users.

Consider the following factors when selecting a hosting provider:

Server response time:

Look for a hosting provider with low server response times.

A server that responds quickly to requests reduces the time it takes to start loading your web pages.

Uptime and reliability:

Opt for a hosting provider with a strong track record of uptime.

Downtime can lead to slow or inaccessible websites, negatively impacting user experience.

Scalability and resources:

Ensure that your hosting provider offers sufficient resources and scalability options to handle your website’s traffic and growth without compromising performance.

Example: A high-quality hosting provider with data centers strategically located around the world can deliver your website’s content faster by reducing latency and ensuring reliable access.

15. Remove Unnecessary Code and Whitespace

Removing unnecessary code and whitespace from your website’s HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files can significantly reduce file sizes and improve loading times.

Here’s what you can do:

Minify code:

Use minification tools or plugins to remove unnecessary characters, such as whitespace, comments, and line breaks, from your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.

This reduces file sizes and improves download times.

Remove unused code:

Conduct regular code audits and remove any unused or redundant code that is no longer necessary for your website’s functionality.

Unnecessary code increases file sizes and can slow down performance.

Optimize CSS and JavaScript:

Combine multiple CSS and JavaScript files into single files to reduce the number of HTTP requests.

Also, consider using CSS preprocessors like Sass or LESS to write more efficient and maintainable CSS code.

Example: By minifying your CSS and JavaScript files and removing unused code, you can significantly reduce file sizes.

For example, a minified and optimized CSS file might be 30% smaller than its original size, resulting in faster downloads.

10 Unique Ways to Increase Your Website Speed

While there are common strategies that are widely known and implemented to improve website speed, some lesser-known yet highly effective techniques can give your website an extra edge in terms of performance.

This section explores 10 unique ways to increase website speed that may not be as commonly discussed.

These lesser-known techniques have the potential to significantly boost website speed and provide users with a lightning-fast browsing experience.

1. Implement Server-Side Rendering (SSR)

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) is a technique where web pages are rendered on the server and then sent to the client as fully formed HTML documents.

This approach can improve website speed by reducing the processing required on the client side.

Here’s how you can implement SSR:

Use a server-side rendering framework:

Frameworks like Next.js (for React) or Nuxt.js (for Vue.js) enable server-side rendering out of the box.

These frameworks handle the server-side rendering process and allow you to build high-performance websites.

Render dynamic content on the server:

Instead of relying on client-side JavaScript to render dynamic content, perform the rendering on the server.

This ensures that the client receives pre-rendered HTML, reducing the time required for initial page load and enhancing performance.

Example: With server-side rendering, when a user requests a web page, the server generates the HTML on the server side and sends the complete HTML document to the client.

This eliminates the need for the client to perform additional rendering and speeds up the initial page load.

2. Use a Lightweight Framework or CMS

The choice of framework or content management system (CMS) can significantly impact website speed.

Opting for a lightweight framework or CMS that prioritizes performance can help improve loading times.

Consider the following:

Evaluate framework or CMS performance:

Research and compare the performance of different frameworks or CMS options. Look for ones that are known for their speed and efficiency.

Consider minimalistic frameworks:

Choose frameworks that only include essential features and avoid unnecessary overhead.

Examples include lightweight frameworks like Flask for Python or Express.js for Node.js.

Optimize CMS configuration:

If using a CMS, optimize its configuration to ensure it operates efficiently.

Disable unused features and plugins, and utilize caching mechanisms provided by the CMS.

Example: A website built with a minimalistic framework like Flask or a CMS that is known for its performance, such as Statamic or Grav, can result in faster loading times compared to heavier alternatives like Drupal or Magento.

3. Optimize Your Database Queries

Database queries can be a bottleneck for website speed, especially when dealing with large or complex data sets.

Optimizing your database queries helps reduce query execution time and improves overall performance.

Consider the following:

Index your database:

Ensure that your database tables are properly indexed based on the queries you frequently execute.

Indexing improves query performance by reducing the amount of data that needs to be scanned.

Optimize query structure:

Review your database queries and optimize them for efficiency.

Use techniques like JOINs, subqueries, or stored procedures to minimize the number of queries and optimize their execution.

Implement query caching:

Utilize query caching mechanisms provided by your database system or implement caching on the application level.

This reduces the need to execute the same queries repeatedly.

Example: Suppose you have a website that displays a list of products.

By indexing the appropriate columns in your product database table and optimizing your query to fetch only the necessary data, you can significantly improve the speed at which the product list is retrieved from the database.

4. Implement HTTP/2 for Faster Communication

HTTP/2 is a major revision of the HTTP protocol that offers several performance enhancements over its predecessor, HTTP/1.

Implementing HTTP/2 can result in faster communication between the client and the server.

Here’s how you can utilize HTTP/2:

Enable HTTP/2 support on your web server:

Ensure that your web server is configured to support HTTP/2.

This might require updating server software or enabling specific modules.

Multiplexing and server push:

HTTP/2 allows multiple requests to be sent concurrently over a single connection, reducing latency.

It also introduces server push, where the server proactively sends additional resources to the client before they are requested.

Example: With HTTP/2, multiple resources, such as CSS, JavaScript, and images, can be requested and delivered simultaneously over a single connection.

This reduces the time required for establishing multiple connections and improves overall loading speed.

5. Utilize Browser Resource Hints (Prefetch, Preload)

Browser resource hints, such as prefetch and preload, allow you to proactively inform the browser about resources it should request in advance.

This enables the browser to download and cache those resources, improving subsequent page loads.

Consider the following:

Prefetch critical resources:

Use the prefetch hint to specify resources that are likely to be needed on subsequent pages.

This allows the browser to fetch and cache those resources in advance.

Preload important assets:

Preload hints inform the browser to prioritize downloading and caching specific resources that are critical for the current page.

This ensures that important assets are available quickly when needed.

Example: By utilizing prefetch and preload hints, you can instruct the browser to fetch and cache resources like CSS, JavaScript files, or images that will be needed on subsequent pages.

This reduces the perceived loading time for subsequent navigation.

6. Employ a Reverse Proxy Server for Caching

A reverse proxy server sits between the client and your web server and can cache static content, such as HTML files, images, and CSS files.

By caching content at the edge, closer to the user, you can reduce the load on your web server and improve response times.

Here’s an example:

Set up a reverse proxy server like Nginx or Varnish:

Configure the reverse proxy server to cache static content and handle requests.

When a user requests a page, the reverse proxy server checks if it has a cached copy and serves it directly, eliminating the need to fetch the content from your web server.

Example: Suppose a user requests a webpage that has previously been cached by the reverse proxy server.

Instead of sending the request to the web server, the reverse proxy server retrieves the cached copy and delivers it to the user, resulting in faster response times.

7. Minimize Redirects

Redirects occur when a user’s request is redirected from one URL to another.

Multiple redirects can add unnecessary round trips, increasing the time required to load a page.

Minimizing redirects can help improve website speed. Consider the following:

Review and update your website’s URL structure:

Analyze your website’s URLs and ensure they are optimized for efficiency.

Minimize unnecessary redirects and consolidate similar content under a single URL.

Use direct links whenever possible:

Instead of relying on redirect links, use direct links to resources. Direct links eliminate the need for additional redirect requests.

Example: If your website has a redirect chain where one URL redirects to another, which then redirects to the final URL, you can modify your website’s structure to eliminate the intermediate redirects, reducing the number of round trips and improving speed.

8. Optimize Your Website’s Code Structure

The structure of your website’s code can impact its performance.

Well-organized and optimized code can lead to faster rendering and execution. Consider the following strategies:

Minimize CSS and JavaScript files:

Combine multiple CSS and JavaScript files into a single file each to reduce the number of HTTP requests.

This improves loading times by reducing latency.

Organize code efficiently:

Structure your code in a way that allows for efficient rendering.

Place critical content higher up in the HTML document, enabling it to load and render faster.

Remove unused code and dependencies:

Regularly review and remove any unused code or unnecessary dependencies.

Unused code adds unnecessary overhead and can slow down your website.

Example: By optimizing your code structure, combining CSS and JavaScript files, and removing unused code, you can reduce the overall file size and improve the rendering and execution speed of your website.

9. Utilize a Smart Caching Strategy (Fragment Caching, Object Caching)

Implementing a smart caching strategy can improve website performance by storing frequently accessed content and reducing the need to generate it dynamically.

Consider the following caching techniques:

Fragment caching:

Cache specific sections or fragments of your web pages that are expensive to generate but don’t change frequently.

This allows you to serve pre-rendered fragments instead of generating them on each request.

Object caching:

Cache frequently accessed database queries or expensive operations to reduce the processing time required to generate dynamic content.

Utilize caching libraries or tools specific to your programming language or CMS.

Example: If you have a dynamic webpage where certain sections, like a sidebar or product recommendations, remain the same for multiple users, you can implement fragment caching to store those sections and serve them directly from the cache, reducing processing time.

10. Employ a Content Delivery Network (CDN) with Edge Computing Capabilities

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) helps improve website speed by distributing your content across multiple servers located in different geographic regions.

This reduces the distance between the user and the server, minimizing latency.

Also, CDNs with edge computing capabilities can execute code closer to the user, further improving performance.

Here’s an example:

Choose a CDN with edge computing:

Select a CDN provider that offers edge computing capabilities.

This allows you to run code closer to the user, reducing the time required to process requests and improving response times.

Cache content at edge locations:

Utilize the caching functionality provided by the CDN to cache static content at edge locations.

This ensures that content is delivered quickly from a server closest to the user.

Example: When a user requests a webpage, the CDN retrieves the cached content from the edge location nearest to the user, reducing the distance and improving response times.

With edge computing, any server-side processing can also be executed closer to the user, enhancing performance.

Conclusion

By implementing these 25 strategies to increase website speed, you can significantly enhance your website’s performance, provide a better user experience, and drive higher engagement.

How did I achieve 99+ scores in Gtmetrix, Pagespeed Insights & Pingdom?

I am using a combination of,

1. Cloudways host
2. Themify Ultra theme
3. Wp Optimize plugin
4. Cloudflare CDN

And these are my results.

So, I hope now you understand how to increase your website speed.

A good web hosting provider and a well-coded theme will solve most of the things you need to increase your website speed.

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