Before we talk about website speed, here is an interesting study conducted by Google itself. As you know, Google search results pages show 10 organic results. Recently, Google asked to check whether it is possible to expand the number of organic results on a page, from 10 to 30.
The experiment was conducted among a research group and the data were amazing. Although study group participants indicated that they preferred results pages with 30 different sites, due to differences in loading time, the attempt to expand Google's results platform was shelved. What was the difference in load time between the 10 result pages and the 30 result pages, you ask? Well, only half a second.
When we talk about the elements that make up a winning website, we usually throw up the same tired familiar phrases – User interface design, quality content, drive to action, potential target audience, keyword research and other vegetables. However, in most cases, we ignore one of the most important parameters – Site loading speed. Namely, the site's loading speed and its significance in terms of network traffic, entry of potential surfers, traffic, and as a result of all these – Quality conversions.
Radware explains how important the loading speed of your website really is.
6.8% annual loss?
More than once, among the various data that we use to analyze the activity of websites (abandonment percentages, search ratings, views, data on staying on pages, etc.), dealing with the speed parameter is left a bit behind. This, and as will be noted below, despite its great importance for the success of the virtual activity. Today, more and more construction and web promotion companies, including companies dealing in various types of internet marketing, emphasize the issue of speed. Well, here are some interesting facts you should know about website speed (according to a survey conducted by Gomez.com and Akami.com):
- 73% of mobile surfers (phones, tablets, etc.) reported that they immediately abandon websites that load slowly.
- 51% of surfers leave without delay sites that "get stuck" or "freezers".
- Surfers expect websites to load within 2 seconds at most (and preferably less).
- 40% of surfers who "had to" to wait a "long" of more than 3 seconds to load a site, abandon it.
- In virtual stores, loading slower than one minute causes an annual loss of 6.8% of all profits from online sales.
is also important for website promotion
The Google search engine examines the various websites according to a sophisticated algorithm consisting of over 200 different parameters. Among other things, the loading speed enters the equation. Building a website that loads quickly is a very effective course of action even when you are considering organic promotion. As with many issues that require "fixing" (and not only on the Internet), the first step is "acknowledging the problem". There are several platforms through which you can test the speed of your website. For example - http://tools.pingdom.com/fpt/ . If the results are not welcoming, here are some ways to improve the site speed easily and effectively:
1. Pay attention to each of the buttons on the site in terms of speed - for example, sometimes even simple buttons such as sharing on social networks (a Facebook Like button with an original icon) may slow down the activity of the site significantly.
2. Too much advertising – Website owners, and especially those that benefit from browsing trafficNice, tempted to flood the content pages with various advertisements. These advertisements, reflected in videos and images, can take up valuable loading time. It is recommended to moderate the appearance of advertisements and keep only the effectiveness at the forefront.
3. Big pictures – Large images are an integral part of web design. More than once, websites boast impressive, colorful and high-resolution images. The more complex the images, the longer their loading time. You should check carefully what the file type of the image is and whether it is possible to reduce its size by playing different games in the settings.
4. Different types of browsers – Surfers reach websites using different browsers (Google Chrome, Safari, Linux, Explorer, etc.). The loading times between these browsers can have significant differences. In order to maximize the site's loading speed, you need to know what the loading speed is in each of the relevant browsers. If there is a specific problem with a particular browser, it must be found in time and an efficient and quick response provided.
5. Complex and sophisticated design – Website design is undoubtedly an art. Since many websites seek to find uniqueness that will differentiate them from their competitors, the investment in design can be extremely complex. It is important to remember that it has a price. A branched and sophisticated design, with many features, videos and images, may delay the loading time.
6. Analysis of the code – More than once, the code behind the website slows down the overall activity. Many times, a professional who examines the code on the site will be able to significantly speed up its loading.
In conclusion,
A website is measured not only by the parameters we are familiar with such as abandonment rates, conversions and ranking in search results. Site loading time is an element that should not be underestimated. As you can see from the data presented above, the loading time has a critical effect on the success of the website with its customers. If you believe that your website is not up to date, it is recommended that you contact us as soon as possible for advice on the matter. Also, when you set up a website, don't be shy to demand from the setting up company also data about loading times. This is to ensure that your website operates quickly and without unnecessary delays.