{"id":16856,"date":"2018-10-26T13:14:02","date_gmt":"2018-10-26T18:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dotcom-tools.com\/blog\/?p=16856"},"modified":"2021-11-17T01:51:42","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T07:51:42","slug":"effective-ways-to-reduce-page-load-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dotcom-tools.com\/web-performance\/effective-ways-to-reduce-page-load-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Effective Ways to Reduce Page Load Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"EffectiveIf there\u2019s one thing that both Google and Internet users agree on it\u2019s page load time.<\/p>\n

Even if your website is filled with unique, valuable and insightful products and content, a slow page load time is the absolute fastest way to experience the cold shoulder from both Almighty Google and audiences.<\/p>\n

As we move deeper into the 21st Century, the rapid development of dynamic network configurations and futuristic devices only adds fuel to the speed fire.<\/p>\n

Not only must your desktop site deliver optimum page load times, but as Google implements its mobile-first algorithm update in 2018, your mobile site must meet the lightening fast page load time<\/a> requirements of less than 2.11 seconds.<\/p>\n

Regardless of whether your website is powered by a CMS, such as WordPress, or is built upon a traditional platform, the need to hack page load time has never been greater.<\/p>\n

While achieving optimum webpage load time may seem complex, some of the most effective ways to reduce page load times are well-within the realm of novice website owners.<\/p>\n

Are you ready to kick your website into high gear? Let\u2019s stop wasting time and get down to the speedy business of reducing page load time!<\/p>\n

#1 – Be Selective with Plugins and Add-on Elements<\/h2>\n

While this tip is primarily geared toward those with WordPress websites, it\u2019s not exclusive.<\/p>\n

Even the most well-designed plugins and on-page add-ons can severely slowdown your website if too many are used. However, even one incorrectly coded plugin can prove detrimental to your webpage load times.<\/p>\n

As a general rule, only use plugins that are absolutely necessary for that specific page. If the add-on is cute, but adds little value to the overall engagement and functionality of your site, get rid of it.<\/p>\n

#2 – Optimize Every Image for Maximum Performance<\/h2>\n

The easiest way to significantly destroy website speed is with unoptimized images. All it takes is a few large image files to add seconds to total page load time.<\/p>\n

Therefore, it\u2019s beyond important to focus your sights on optimizing and compressing existing images and adhering to these principles going forward.<\/p>\n

While there are many ways to accomplish this task, the following is a brief breakdown of image optimization best practices:<\/p>\n

File Formats –<\/strong> Only use JPEG, PNG or WebP file formats<\/a>. Here\u2019s a tip, WebP offers the best compression without reducing quality, but it\u2019s only natively supported in Chrome and Opera. JPEG files should be used for most images and PNG is best for small images, like thumbnails or icons.<\/p>\n

Resize Before Uploading –<\/strong> Always resize your images BEFORE uploading them to your web server.<\/p>\n

Compress Images –<\/strong> After resizing, but before uploading to your site, run the images through a compression tool to remove unnecessary bulk from hidden data.<\/p>\n

#3 – Reduce HTTP Requests for Each Page<\/h2>\n

Every file your website requires to render is sent from the web server to end-user browser via HTTP requests<\/a>. The browser communicates with your server and the server transmits each packet based upon each request.<\/p>\n

The most effective way to accomplish this task is by refining your webpage. The following are quick and easy ways to reduce HTTP Requests:<\/p>\n