For Websites AND Markets, Galileo Tech Media builds fast!
In our last blog, on why marketers should care about site speed, we promised site speed tips on how to unleash your site’s inner Usain Bolt. Before you head to the starting blocks, you have to execute a site speed audit and then fix the problems. First you need to check your speedometer. Multiple tools will allow you to check your site’s load time. Pingdom.com has a free tool that gives a breakdown on how long each asset on your site takes to load. It also identifies trouble spots. Here’s how we fared:
Google’s PageSpeed Insights, accessible via Google Labs, analyzes a website’s performance for desktop and mobile. It also gives suggestions on how to make your page faster. Think of it as your own personal coach.
WebPageTest.org tests from multiple locations around the globe using Firefox, Safari, and Chrome at “real consumer connection speeds.” Advanced testing includes multi-step transactions, video capture, content blocking, and more. Like Google’s tool, it offers suggestions for improvement.
5 Site Speed Tips
Now that you know your site speed rating, you have to execute the actions for improvement. Here are 5 tips to help you out:
- Optimize Images
Make sure images aren’t any larger than they need to be. Save graphics as PNGs and photos as JPGs. Reduce larger web images to 80 to 100Kb; most smaller images will look fine at 20 to 30Kb.
- Minimize CSS, JavaScript, and HTML
Optimizing your code to remove extraneous spaces, commas, and other unnecessary characters can dramatically increase page speed. Also remove code comments, formatting, and unused code. The YUI Compressor’s JavaScript compressor claims a 20 percent savings. It also compresses CSS files.
- Don’t forget browser cache
Browsers cache (store) a ton of information so that the browser doesn’t have to reload an entire page you revisit a site. In an article for Web Marketing Today, Daniel Kedinger provides JavaScript code to edit your site’s .htaccess file to cache files at the server level. He says it’s not as complicated as it seems.
- Use Real User Monitoring services
Real User Monitoring Services (RUM) offer site speed measurements based on actual visitors and page load times. Google Analytics is the most popular RUM service, yet Moz reports a few flaws. Other recommended services that are paid, but more accurate, include Torbit Insight, New Relic, and Log Normal. With a premium account, Torbit provides conversion rate, user engagement, and bounce rate analysis—important data for marketers.
- Try a content delivery network
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a paid service that hosts files on servers worldwide. When a user visits your site, the server closest to that person’s location delivers, giving faster load times and crash resistance. KeyCDN, CloudFlare, MaxCDN, and Amazon CloudFront are four options.
Faster pages lead to improved SEO, increased traffic, more time spent on page, and more conversions. Site speed may not be the first priority for a marketing manager, but a little bit of “speed work” can do wonders for your company’s online presence and revenue.
How does your website rate? Talk to us for customized suggestions on improving your site speed, or even a newly designed website.
Ready, sprint!