How To Speed Up A WordPress Website
While it sounds complex and technical, speeding up a WordPress website can be done with several simple tactics. At Digital Next, our speed optimisation services can support you in speeding up your WordPress website.
With the following methods, we can ensure your site and its pages load within at least 3 seconds, meeting the expectations of the modern internet user. And don’t worry, this will be across both mobile and desktop devices.
- Speed and performance testing of your WordPress website
Firstly, our team of technical experts will undergo some site speed and performance testing of your WordPress site. Enabling us to delve deeper into the problems and challenges you are facing with site speed and provide a diagnosis. From here, our teams can make recommendations and carry out the work needed to remediate such issues and concerns. This initial testing period is incredibly valuable to our team and your business and is one reason you should consider seeking the support of experts when trying to speed up your WordPress website.
- Update features of your website
An important step in ensuring your WordPress website loads at optimum speed is to update any of the features of the site. We often encounter businesses with a site speed issue who simply haven’t taken the time to update their website and its many plugins. By doing this we can ensure that necessary updates are made and the website benefits from the latest features.
- Remove plugins you no longer need or use
Another issue we have encountered with WordPress websites is outdated plugins. While they can be useful for many things, if you no longer use or need a plugin, we will remove them for you.
Keeping your WordPress site up to date is crucial for not only security reasons but also for improving speed and performance. By regularly updating your plugins, themes, and core files, you can ensure that your site is running on the latest version with all bug fixes and performance enhancements. Our team can assist in keeping your WordPress site updated to maximise its speed and efficiency.
- Optimise and compress images
Images are often a primary culprit for slowing down websites. Through the use of image optimisation techniques, we can reduce the file size of images without compromising on quality. This means your site will load faster while still maintaining a visually appealing design. Our team will also ensure that images are compressed and formatted correctly for optimal performance on both desktop and mobile devices
- Choose a theme that doesn’t cause slow loading pages
Third-party themes have been shown to cause significant speed delays for WordPress sites. And while they can be great for your website’s look and design, their additional features can slow down your site’s loading performance. If we find that your theme is hindering your site speed, we may suggest changing your theme and utilising a WordPress theme that is easier to run and will improve your site’s speed.
Ready to Boost Your Website Speed?
Don't let a slow website hold your business back. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how our website speed optimisation services can transform your online presence.
Issues With WordPress Websites That Cause Slow Loading Pages
While these issues aren’t necessarily exclusive to the WordPress platform, it is a common problem that we hear from many clients in regard to their WordPress sites. There are several reasons why a WordPress site may be loading slower than it should be, however, as we mentioned before, these issues can be easy to solve and overcome.
Some common issues include:
- Too many plugins: While plugins can add functionality to your site, having too many can cause conflicts and slow down your site's performance. It's important to regularly review and remove any unnecessary or outdated plugins.
- Unoptimised images: As mentioned earlier, large image files can significantly slow down a website. Make sure to optimise and compress images before uploading them to your site.
- Outdated software and themes: Regularly updating your WordPress software, themes, and plugins is essential for optimal performance. Outdated versions can contain bugs and security vulnerabilities that can slow down your site or even cause it to crash.
- Poor hosting services: Choosing a reliable and efficient hosting service is crucial for a fast-loading WordPress site. If your hosting service is slow or constantly experiencing downtime, it will directly impact the speed of your website.
- Lack of caching: As mentioned before, caching can greatly improve a site's loading speed. Without proper caching techniques in place, a site may be making too many requests to the server, resulting in slower performance.
The Importance Of Website Maintenance For Site Speed
It’s important to note that maintaining a fast-loading WordPress site is an ongoing process. As technology and internet speeds continue to advance, it’s crucial to regularly review and optimise your site for speed. Neglecting website maintenance can lead to slow loading times and ultimately impact user experience and conversion rates.
In addition, regular maintenance helps to prevent potential issues from arising in the future. By keeping all software and plugins up to date, you can prevent any security vulnerabilities or performance issues.
Our team at Digital Next understands the importance of website maintenance for site speed and offers ongoing support services and maintenance packages to ensure your WordPress site stays fast and efficient. Don’t let slow loading pages hinder your online success, partner with the team at Digital Next to generate the online growth your business needs to succeed.
Improve Your Conversion Rates With Superfast Web Pages
47% of consumers expect a web page to load in two seconds or less
If your site is slow you could be missing out on valuable business opportunities. Site speed is a well-known factor that impacts conversion rates. Sites that load quickly provide a better user experience, which in turn can lead to higher conversion rates. By improving the speed of your WordPress website, you are not only enhancing user experience but also increasing the likelihood of conversions and ultimately benefiting your business.
WordPress Speed Optimisation FAQs
What is the recommended page load time for a WordPress website?
For most types of desktop website, It is recommended to have a page load time of 2 seconds or less. However, this will differ slightly depending on the business type and website size. What is important to note is that anything longer than 5 seconds will massively hinder site performance.
Why does my website load slowly on mobile devices?
Slow loading on mobile devices can be caused by a variety of factors such as large image files, unoptimised code, and lack of caching. It’s important to ensure that your website is properly optimised for mobile devices to improve loading speed. Additionally, using responsive design and minimising the use of heavy media files can also help improve mobile loading times. Regularly reviewing and optimising your site for mobile devices can greatly enhance its performance.
Are there any tools or plugins that can help with WordPress speed optimisation?
There are several tools and plugins available to help with WordPress speed optimisation. By working with Digital Next we can advise the best practices for optimising your WordPress website and make recommendations for specific site plugins.
What should I do if my WordPress site is still slow after implementing these tips?
If you have implemented these tips and are still experiencing slow loading times, it may be beneficial to seek professional assistance from a web developer or maintenance service. At Digital Next we can help diagnose a problem that may be lying deeper than the surface of your website and support you in remediating this in order to improve site speed. It may be the case that you require further site development, in which case our web development team can step in and take on the task of improving and optimising your WordPress website.
Partner With Digital Next To Improve Your WordPress Site’s Speed
Putting your WordPress site in the safe hands of an experienced marketing team means we can carry out the necessary work to improve your website’s speed in no time. Making sure that this process is done efficiently and with your business needs in mind. Our team of experts will work with you throughout the process to not only ensure you understand our recommendations but the implementations and developments we make to your website. Plus, with ongoing support from our technical team, we are only ever a call away if you need our help in a hurry.
What are you waiting for? Enjoy the benefits of fast loading times for your WordPress website today with WordPress speed optimisation services from the team at Digital Next.
Ready to Boost Your Website Speed?
Don't let a slow website hold your business back. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how our website speed optimisation services can transform your online presence.