Does The Speed Of Your Website Matter?

When designing your website you might think the more elements, images, and features the better, but that’s not always the case. The more elements and features you have on your site can greatly affect the speed. So the main question is what matters more: Eye-catching features or faster website speed? Let’s take a look at why the speed of your website matters, and what you can do to improve the speed of your site. 

Why Is Speed Important?

• SEO – The first reason that your website’s speed matters is for SEO reasons. Google looks at a variety of factors when ranking website’s in their search results, and one of those factors is website speed. Your website and all of its page features should be fully loaded in 2 seconds or less or your website could suffer in its ranking. 

• Conversions – A slower site speed can affect your conversion rate. Multiple studies have been conducted to show that the faster the load speed, the higher the conversion rate. Walmart.com found that for every 1 second they increased their website speed, there was a 2% increase in conversions. 

• Sales – If you have an ecommerce website that focuses heavily on sales, then a decrease in conversions also means a decrease in sales and profits. Larger businesses will see much more of a chance than smaller businesses, but in general, if your site speed is too low then you are missing out on potential sales opportunities. 

• User Experience – Providing your visitors with a user friendly experience is top priority when it comes to your design and overall flow of your website. Website speed also goes hand in hand with that. A faster page speed means a better user experience. 

Why Your Website May Be Slow

The number one reason your site speed might be slow is large file sizes and website elements that are affecting your page weight. There are several different applications that you can use to decrease image and file sizes. 

Another few reasons your site might have a slow page speed is network conditions and hosting location. How long it takes to deliver your website’s assets depends on the geography of your servers.

Test Your Site Speed

Google Pagespeed Insights is your go-to resource for testing your website’s speed. It tests live and real-time speeds for desktop and mobile devices. You will also receive more information on what specific elements are slowing your website down and areas you can improve. If large image and file sizes aren’t your main issue, Google Pagespeed Insights will be able to help you determine what the cause is. 

If you’re looking for a website developer in Huntsville or Madison, Alabama, Contact Zellus Marketing today! View more website tips on our Marketing Blog.