In today’s digital world, website speed is crucial. A slow-loading site not only frustrates users but also impacts SEO rankings, conversion rates, and overall user experience. Google’s Page Speed Score is an essential metric that evaluates how efficiently your website loads and performs. If your website scores low, it’s time to optimise. Here’s how:
1. Optimise Image Sizes
Large image files are one of the biggest culprits of slow page speeds. To improve load times:
- Use formats like WebP or JPEG 2000 instead of PNGs.
- Compress images using tools like TinyPNG, ImageOptim, or Squoosh.
- Implement lazy loading so images load only when needed.
2. Minimise HTTP Requests
Each element on your website—images, scripts, CSS files—creates an HTTP request. The more requests, the slower the page. Reduce them by:
- Combining multiple CSS and JavaScript files into one.
- Removing unnecessary plugins and external scripts.
- Using CSS sprites for frequently used images.
3. Enable Browser Caching
When a user visits your site, their browser stores certain files to avoid reloading everything each time they return. Setting long expiration dates for static resources like images, JavaScript, and CSS files can significantly improve repeat visit speeds.
4. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A CDN distributes your website’s content across multiple global servers, ensuring users load data from the nearest location. This reduces latency and improves page speed, especially for international visitors.
5. Minify and Compress Code
Messy, bloated code slows down loading times. Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML using tools like UglifyJS, CSSNano, or HTMLMinifier. Also, enable Gzip or Brotli compression to reduce file sizes.
6. Optimise Web Hosting & Server Response Time
If your hosting service is slow, your site will be too. Consider:
- Upgrading to a dedicated or cloud-based hosting plan.
- Using server-side caching to store frequently accessed data.
- Enabling HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 for faster data transfer.
Each redirect (301, 302) adds extra loading time. Audit your site and:
- Remove unnecessary redirects.
- Fix broken links.
- Use direct URLs instead of chained redirects.
Loading all elements at once can slow your site. Instead, prioritise above-the-fold content so users see the most important parts first. Implement critical CSS and use asynchronous JavaScript loading.
9. Implement AMP for Mobile Users
Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) strip down unnecessary elements, making pages load almost instantly on mobile devices. If your audience relies on mobile browsing, AMP can be a game-changer.
10. Regularly Monitor and Optimise
Page speed optimisation is an ongoing process. Use tools like:
- Google PageSpeed Insights for performance analysis.
- GTmetrix for detailed reports.
- Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools) for in-depth site auditing.
Conclusion
Improving your website’s Page Speed Score not only enhances user experience but also boosts SEO and conversion rates. By optimising images, reducing HTTP requests, leveraging caching, and using a CDN, you can significantly improve load times and keep visitors engaged.
Want to optimise your website’s performance? NexGen can help! Contact us to enhance your site’s speed and deliver a seamless digital experience.
