Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
5 Tips for Improving the Speed and Performance of Your WordPress Website
Tip 1: Choose a Faster Server
what a server is and how it affects WordPress speed and performance
Choosing a suitable server for your WordPress website is a factor to consider for faster website speed and performance. The server is the computer where your website is stored and that delivers your website's content to your visitors' web browsers. There are several types of servers, shared hosting, virtual private server (VPS) hosting, dedicated hosting, and managed hosting. Each type of hosting has advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on your website's needs and budget.
Shared hosting is the cheapest option, but it means sharing server resources with other websites, which can slow down your website's speed and performance. VPS hosting gives you more control and resources, but it can be more expensive than shared hosting. Dedicated hosting, meanwhile, gives you complete control over the server and its resources.
Managed WordPress hosting is a type of hosting that is optimised for WordPress websites. It includes features like caching, security, backups, and performance optimisation right out of the box. Managed hosting can be more expensive than other types of hosting, but it can significantly improve website speed and performance without requiring much technical knowledge.
When choosing a server for your WordPress website, consider factors like server speed, uptime, security, and support. You can also use tools like Google's PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to test your website's speed and performance and identify technical issues.
Tip 2: Leverage a caching plugin
Caching is the process of storing frequently accessed data in a temporary location for quick retrieval when it is needed. Caching reduces the server's load and speeds up website performance. WordPress has various caching plugins with unique features and options, including WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache, and Comet Cache. When selecting a caching plugin, consider these essential features:
Page caching: Saves a static version of the website pages to serve them quickly instead of generating them dynamically.
Browser caching: Instructs the browser to store specific files like images and CSS files locally to avoid downloading them every time a user visits the site.
Object caching: Stores commonly used database queries and objects temporarily to quickly retrieve them when required.
Minification: Reduces the size of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files by removing unnecessary code and white space.
Lazy loading: Delays the loading of specific content until the user scrolls down to it. While configuring the caching plugin, balance speed and functionality. Some caching plugins offer advanced features, but they may be complex to set up and maintain. Begin with a basic caching configuration and add more features gradually as needed. Leveraging a caching plugin is an effective way to enhance WordPress website speed and performance. It reduces the server's load and serves static content to the users for a faster, more responsive website experience.
Tip 3: Minify HTML, CSS, and Javascript
Minification is a simple but powerful technique to boost your website's speed and performance. Minification involves removing any characters from your code that are not essential for its functionality, such as comments, whitespace, and line breaks.
By doing this, you can reduce the size of your HTML, CSS, and Javascript files and make them load faster on your visitors’ browsers. WordPress offers many minification tools that can help you optimize your website speed with ease.
Some of the popular ones are Autoptimize, Fast Velocity Minify, and Hummingbird. These tools use different methods to minify your code and improve its efficiency. For example, they can combine multiple CSS and JS files into one file to reduce the number of HTTP requests that your website makes.
They can also remove white spaces and comments from your code to make it more compact. And they can defer the loading of non-critical scripts until after the page has loaded completely. This way, they can improve the initial page load time and enhance the user experience.
However, not all minification tools are created equal. Some may have features that others don’t or may work better with certain plugins or themes than others. That’s why it’s important to choose a tool that suits your website’s needs and goals.
Before you install a minification tool on your WordPress site, make sure you check its features and compatibility with your website’s elements. And always test your website thoroughly after applying a minification tool to ensure that everything works as expected.
Minification is one of the best ways to improve your website performance and reduce page load times. By choosing a suitable minification tool for WordPress, you can enjoy faster loading times and happier visitors.
TIP 4: Remove Render-Blocking Javascript and CSS
Render blocking occurs when JavaScript and CSS resources block web page display until loading and execution. This can affect page load time and user experience, as users may delay viewing content until these resources load. In some cases, users may even leave a page before loading completes.
To eliminate the render-blocking of JavaScript and CSS, WordPress website owners can use various methods. One method is to add “async” or “defer” attributes to script tags in the HTML document. These attributes instruct the browser to load the script asynchronously or postpone its execution until page loading is complete. However, this method may not work for all scripts and can cause issues if done incorrectly.
Inlining critical CSS into the HTML document can remove external CSS file dependencies and reduce page load time. Non-critical scripts can be relocated to the footer to prioritize content loading. However, this method may require manual work and could inflate the HTML document size.
To enhance WordPress website performance, a tool or plugin that can automatically eliminate render-blocking JavaScript and CSS files is recommended. WP Rocket is one such plugin with an “Optimise CSS Delivery” feature that can delay CSS loading until after page rendering. Async JavaScript and WP Deferred JavaScript are other plugins that can delay JavaScript loading.
In summary, removing render-blocking Javascript and CSS is an important step in optimising website performance and improving the user experience. There are various methods available for WordPress website owners to achieve this, including using the "async" or "defer" attributes, inline critical CSS, moving non-critical scripts to the footer, or using a plugin to automate the process.
Tip 5: Choose a lightweight and fast theme
Choosing the right theme for your website is crucial, as it can significantly impact its performance.
5 reasons you should choose lightweight and fast themes:
Page speed: A lightweight theme loads faster than a heavier one, which is crucial for a good user experience. Faster page speeds are also important for SEO, as they can improve your website's visibility in search results.
User experience: A fast website is key to providing a good user experience. If your site takes too long to load, users are more likely to leave and look for a faster alternative. By choosing a lightweight and fast theme, you can ensure that your users have a smooth and enjoyable experience on your site.
Mobile responsiveness: Mobile devices now account for a significant portion of web traffic. A lightweight theme's mobile responsiveness allows it to adapt better to different screen sizes, making your website more accessible on mobile devices.
Security: A lightweight theme is usually more secure than a heavier one, as it has fewer lines of code, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers.
Flexibility: A lightweight theme is often more flexible and customizable, making it easier to make changes and updates to your website.
When choosing a theme, remember that its appearance is just one factor to consider. The theme's performance and speed are equally important, and selecting a lightweight and fast theme can significantly improve your website's overall performance and user experience.
🔍Thanks for reading! 👏 👨 💻 If you found this post helpful, please like and share it with your network to help the search engine algorithm. 💻📱💬 Please leave comments, and ask questions. I'd love to hear from you in the comments and help in any way I can. 💡🤝 Happy optimising! 🚀