WordPress Website Speed Hacks to Boost Performance
Even though WordPress is (atestack ofperformance-boosting tools andtricks), there are some clear cutgraphicshacks that make a huge difference, both in the way your visitors experience your site and howlong it takes for your pages to load. If you’re running afresh WordPress installation, this guide will help you get the most from your web space.
Gzip Compression
One of the simplest yetmost effective ways of improving the performanceof your WordPress site is to enable thegzipcompression engine. A WordPress plugin such asWPEvolution can automatically detect the servershortcuts available on your web server andenable gzip compression for all relevant image, video, and JS/CSS files. This means that your visitors willall start experiencing faster page loads and moreresponsive behavior from your website. It also has the addedbonus of reducing your server’s footprint (due to less file sizes) whichcan greatly increase your web space’s efficiency.
Minify Your CSS and JS
Another great way to enhance your site’s performance isto minify your CSS and JS files. Minifying your CSS and JS can helpoptimize the way your pages load by removing any unnecessary styles andscript that wasn’t required for the page to function. The result is oftentimes a significant reduction in the file size which makes your site moreaccessible to your audience (and boosts your page speed).
You can use a WordPress plugin such asWPEvolution to automatically minify your CSS andJS as you upload them to your server. Doing this manually is a tedious taskthat can easily be overlooked if not done periodically.
Use CDNs For jQuery, CSS, And Fonts
Another important factor that can affect your site’sperformance is the usage ofcontent delivery networks (CDNs) for jQuery, CSS, andfonts. A CDN is a service that delivers content (e.g., jQuery, CSS, andfonts) to users more efficiently, allowing you to put the focus back onyour content and less on the mechanics of delivering it.
When using a CDN, your website’s performancecan vary based on the type of service you choose. Some CDNs aremore effective than others at getting content to your audience quicklyand efficiently, so you should consider what you’re looking for when choosingwhich CDN to use. For jQuery, CSS, and fonts, the bestCDNs can easily be found and integrated into your site within 30seconds to a few minutes.
Reduce The Number Of HTTP Requests
One major factor that slows down your site’s performance istoo many HTTP requests. During peak hours, your site mightbe overloaded with too many HTTP requests which causes significantdelays in the page load time. To fix this, you need to either scale backyour HTTP requests or switch to a different web hosting provider. The latter ofwhich is usually the best option as it gives you the ability tochoose what is and isn’t available on your server.
If you’re getting overloaded with too manyHTTP requests, then it might be a good idea to exploreoptions such as moving to a different web host or looking atoptimizing your site’s architecture (relying less on javascript forinteractions and more on the content itself).
Use A Content Delivery Network For The Admin Panel
One of the biggest bottlenecks to your site’sperformance isthe load time for the admin panel (typically the dashboard). If you’re notusing a CDN for your admin panel, then each time a visitor goes to the dashboard itwill have to undergo a series of requests to pull in the information. ACDN for the admin panel makes the dashboard load significantly faster becauseall the requests are consolidated into a batch and served from one point. If you’re interested in giving your admin panel a boost, then you should look into using a CDN.
Reduce The Number Of Requests For Static Files
Another major factor that slows down your site’s performance (besides theload time for the admin panel) is the number of requestsfor static files. If you have a lot of static files (e.g., images, icons, andfonts) on your website that don’t change very often, then the server willhave to go out to the static file server every time your page needs to load one ofthese files. By contrast, if you use CDNs for these static files, then they will be servedfrom one location which reduces the number of requests and boosts your site’sperformance.
Use A Content Delivery Network For Media
Last but not least, we have media which can significantly affect your site’s performance. Whetheryou’re using video, GIFs, or just about any type of image, using a CDN can help improveyour site’s performance because all the media will be delivered morequickly to your audience. If you’re not using a CDN for media, then eachindividual request will have to be fulfilled, resulting in additionaloverhead and slower load times.
To get the most from your web space, you need to follow these simple yeteffective tips. Implementing these tips will help improve the speed anduser experience of your WordPress site. This, in turn, will help you gain moretrust and engagement with your audience, leading to increased conversionsand sales.