Exploring the Impact of Website Speed on Business Success

For some reason, I’m not fond of web pages that take too long to load. Can you relate? If yes, we’re part of the 40% of users who will leave if the page takes three seconds to load. Actually, Kissmetric states that nearly half of all customers (47%) want sites to load in two seconds or less.  I agree. Aside from the overall design and content, loading speed should be prioritized. Here’s an overview of how website speed impacts user experience and business metrics.

Why Speed Matters

Trust me, a person will likely abandon your website if it doesn’t load well. It’s common sense. Load time is essential, especially in the e-commerce field, because visitors are eager to shop, giving you sales (conversion rates) and traffic in return. If you’re not concerned about it, your customers will likely purchase from your competitors.  Say it with me: faster sites encourage visitors to explore and interact more. 

How Slow Websites Hurt Your Business

Slow load times can mess with how well everything runs. If your visitors abandon your page, it can result in higher bounce rates, low SEO rankings, and unmet user satisfaction. Imagine yourself dribbling a ball smoothly, then out of nowhere, it takes a wild turn and heads off in the opposite direction.  That’s a bummer. Same as handling your website. If your customer bounces to your competitors, it’ll only mean one thing: unmet user satisfaction. As a result, your SEO ranking could suffer.

How to Check If Your Website Is Slow 

Suppose you need help monitoring your page speed. In that case, I suggest using tools like Google PageSpeed Insight, TTFB extension, or visiting One.com because they have a statistics tool that you can use effortlessly. Let me explain it to you. 

• Google PageSpeed

Google Page Insight, or PSI, is a free tool that can evaluate a website’s performance (0-100) and offer suggestions to improve it immediately. I suggest using this one as it uses lab (simulated tests) and field data (real-user metrics) to deliver an estimated performance overview. Follow these three steps to get started:  

Step 1: Go to the Google PageSpeed Insights page.

Step 2: Enter the page’s URL you want to analyze.

Step 3: Click Analyze.

If you have no idea, the website’s score should be 90-100. It needs improvement if it’s below 50 (0-49). 

• Visiting One.com 

One.com can also be your best friend when monitoring your page speed. They help you using their statistic tool, which gets data from access logs. That way, all results are accurate and relevant. Their user-friendly web solutions allow you to concentrate on running your business. 

• Download a TTBT Extension 

In addition to using the two options above, download a TTFB extension. For beginners, TTFB (Time to First Byte) is a performance metric that shows how fast a website receives the first byte from a server. Fast TBBT results mean quicker page loads and better user experience. The target TTFB time should be under 200 ms. 

Chrome (TTFB Checker) is an ideal option. The extension has a rating of 4.5 out of 5, which can significantly help you. Try using tools like WebPageTest, GTmetrix, or Pingdom for more suggestions.

Significant Factors Affecting Website Speed

Do not be concerned if your score is struggling when using the tools above. I’ll show you three major factors affecting website speed to know what to prioritize.

Factor #1: Server response times

Server response time refers to the time it takes for a server to respond to a client’s request. If a page takes forever to load, it will affect your traffic. A good response time should only be between 100 and 200 ms. If it’s under 100 ms, then you’re doing good. 

Factor #2: Image sizes

Image sizes affect page speed, especially when handling an e-commerce website. Managing such a platform is challenging, as various images are displayed on the homepage. Nonetheless, there are still manageable ways to increase load times. I suggest doing the following: 

• • • Compress images

You can use software like Adobe Lightroom to compress images without compromising quality:

1. Open your selected image in Lightroom.
2. Go to File > Export and choose JPEG as your file type.
3. Change the dimensions and export the photo. 

• • • Use correct image formats 

Different image file types (PNG, JPEG, and TIF) have their algorithms. If you use the proper image format, your page can load faster. Try using JPEG for relatively small sizes, PNG for larger images like backgrounds, and TIF for something of excellent quality, like printing photos. 

• • • Use Lazy Loading 

Instead of showing all visuals simultaneously, the Lazy Loading technique delays loading a few images until they’re needed. That way, your page processes faster and boosts its performance. A brilliant move. 

Factor #3: Script optimizations

If you use a script to automate any task or transaction, it is best to optimize it here and then. Poorly written texts can result in slowdowns and failures. Check if you have the correct scripting language and use built-in commands instead of external commands. 

Optimizing Images for Faster Load Times

Optimizing images can help your page load faster than before. Check out these easy techniques you can do without spending a dime. 

Best practices for image compression and format choice

Images have different file types—PNG, JPEG, TIF, etc. Make sure to choose an appropriate format whenever you post something. Regarding web design, JPEG is best suited for smaller sizes like logos. For backgrounds, choose PNG, as it’s best used for graphical elements. Then, use TIF for high-quality graphics.

In addition to image compression and appropriate image sizes, try leveraging browser caching, Content Delivery Networks, and regularly monitoring updates. 

Leveraging Browser Caching

Browser caching is helpful because it can store the website’s resources on your device without getting them from the server. These resources include images, HTML, JavaScript files, CSS, and the site’s static content. As a result, the page reduces latency and offers seamless browsing.  

Observe these two situations: 

• Situation 1: The user hasn’t visited the website before 

The browser doesn’t have any files cached > The website will then fetch all data from the server > The page loads. 

• Situation 2: The user has visited the site before

The website will only retrieve HTML access from the server, and the remaining resources will be stored in the cache > The page decreases the initial page load.  

See the difference? To implement browsing caching, you must configure your web server and website to store all relevant resources. Web developers and administrators can also utilize browser caching by using appropriate HTTP headers.

 Using Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

CDN stands for Content Delivery Networks. It aims to increase global accessibility and optimize resource utilization. How does it work? First, the user requests content. Then, the CDN directs the user to the nearest edge server instead of getting all the data from the origin server. As a result, the user experiences faster page loading time. 

A CDN is not a requirement for all websites, but it will help you in various ways. If you’re interested in having one, I suggest getting hosting with one included. One.com offers four hosting plans you can consider, with a performance cache plugin that empowers you to effortlessly manage and clear your CDN’s saved files directly from your WordPress dashboard. 

Here are One.com’s hosting plans, suppose you’re interested.

Regular Monitoring and Updates

You must keep track of trends and updates if you do not want to be the last in line. I suggest updating your site components quickly to keep your business ahead of the competition—research when possible. 

Conclusion

Speed is an essential factor for online business. No one can tell you otherwise. I suggest prioritizing it as much as you give importance to aesthetics. If you do not know where to start, I recommend visiting One.com to get an idea.