by Mika » 27 Feb 2024, 09:15 When you visit a website and if it is taking a long time to loan, would you continue waiting for the page to load or would you exit the page? I guess you know the answer. Internet users have a very short attention span, they will immediately leave the page if it does not open in few sections.
Disadvantages of Slow Website
Slow website speed is a big issue, some of the disadvantages include:
High Bounce Rate: When website loads slow, visitors will leave the website immediately, thus, you will have high bounce rate
Lower Search Engine Ranking: Search engine algorithm does not like websites that are slow, therefore, your website will be pushed down the ranking
Low Earnings: Since visitors do not spend longer time on slow loading website, there will not be ad impressions and ad engagements, therefore, your earnings will be low.
What is a Good Website Speed
To check your website speed, just search "Check Website Speed" on Google and click on the top results. Enter your website's address into the speed tool's search bar, and you'll see various metrics, including website speed. I recommend pagespeed.web.dev.
The average speed for a website is about 2.5 seconds on a computer and 8.6 seconds on a handheld device. Google loads in 0.5 seconds. If your site takes longer to loan on the browser, it's too slow. A slow website hurts your SEO score, increases your bounce rate, and lowers your traffic and conversions. For the best conversion, your website should loan in less than 4 seconds.
What Are The Reasons for Slow Website Speed
Hosting is one of the reasons why your website loads slow, but it is not the only reason. Some of the common reason are:
Big Web Pages: The average size of a webpage on a computer is 2.2 mb and 2 mb on mobile device. If your webpage size is more than 3 mb, it will cause your website to load slow. When you are using large images, too many graphics, or lots of embedded content, your web pages will be big. Consider removing or optimizing these large elements.
Website Templates: Sometimes your website's template or theme can also affect speed. If you are using a big theme, try switching to a light weight theme.
Add-ons and Plugins: Too many add-ons or plugins can also make your site slow. Limit plugin usage and remove any add-ons that are causing issues.
How to Improve Website Speed
Apart from the ones mentioned above, consider using CDN (Content Delivery Network) and AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) for improved website speed.
