How To Boost Your Google Page Speed Score
A perfect web page is not only SEO optimized and offers a commendable user experience but loads fast too. Undoubtedly, people will quickly bounce back if the page takes too long to load and write for us on digital marketing forums. On the other hand, Google’s ranking will also have a huge impact. Sites that load fast get a high rank compared with the slow ones.
So, increasing the site’s loading time is a critical question. Factors like poorly optimized images, redirects, large elements, and many others are responsible for it.
Fortunately, Google provides us with a tool called Google Page Speed Insight (PSI) to check your site’s speed score.
With the help of this score, you can determine if your page speed is at an optimal level. Experts recommend achieving an 85+ score for ideal results. The tool also highlights errors, making it easier to fix the issues.
In this guide, let us see how we can increase our speed score. Learning these tips will help in boosting conversions, creating a distinctive online identity, and generating more revenue. So, let’s get started!
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Always Optimize Images
Big images take a lot of space and decrease the site’s loading speed. But, avoiding images is impossible as they play a significant role in engagement.
So, what’s the solution? Optimization!
Yes, image optimization is an essential SEO tactic that experts use to deliver images in optimal size and resolution for a better user experience. The process is possible whether you use real photos or pick some best shots from stock photo sites.
Here is how you can do it:
Consider Compression
If the pictures you are using are heavy, you can use compression tools to decrease their size. But, make sure that images don’t lose quality. Blurry pictures may load quickly but portray a negative impact on visitors. To ensure compression occurs seamlessly, you can use tools like JPEG.io, Compressor.io, and Ezgif. Some of them automatically suggest a suitable file size without deteriorating quality.
Use the Right File Format
The file format also plays a key role in speed and quality. If you are using animations, go for GIFs. JPEGs are fast to load but low in quality, whereas PNGs are great but not as quick as JPEGs.
Use an Image CDN Network
CDN refers to a Content Delivery Network that uses global servers to store website content. Image CDNs intend to do the same job for images. They optimize photos in a universal server and load them instantly no matter where the users are.
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Never Use Landing Page Redirects
Redirection occurs when the users want to go on a specific web page, but they are taken to a web page with a different URL. It increases the loading time, making the users frustrated.
People are using multiple devices these days. From iPads and Blackberry to iPhones and Kindle, the list is vast. Thus, website owners need a different design for each device. But should we keep on designing a different layout for every invention?
We can eradicate this need by using a responsive design. It is a design that automatically adjusts as per the user’s screen resolution. Consequently, there will be no need to redirect, and users will get a great experience.
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Improve the Server Response Time
‘Server Response Time’ is the time taken by the server to respond once the user makes a request. For many web developers, free web hosting may appear tempting. But they come with a hefty cost of time fluctuation. Therefore, opt for a reliable web hosting service.
Similar to the images, integrate a CDN system for your pages too. If the distance between the hosting server and the target audience is more, the speed will be slower. That is why decide your target audience before picking the hosting server.
Furthermore, pick a lightweight template. You must be using plugins if you have a website on WordPress. But refrain from using too many of them. They can make the site heavy, thus increasing the loading time.
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Compress Codes
Code compression, also known as minification, is a process of making the code compact. It eliminates the unnecessary characteristics in the code. These include whitespaces, comments, line breaks, etc. Removing such elements makes them faster to read. Thus, the overall website loading time increases.
The technique is specifically helpful in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript files. If code minification sounds technical, try using plugins designed for this purpose. Autoptimize, W3 Cache, Fast Velocity Minify, and WP Fastest Cache are a few good names.
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Enable Browser Caching
It will save time and enable the site to load quickly. If you are using a reliable hosting company, ask them for this favor. Professionals can do this for you within a few minutes.
Another way is to edit the .htaaccess file. But it comes with considerable risk. Even a minute error with this specific code can make your site go down. Therefore, it is best to ask an expert to do the job.
Another way is to edit the .htaaccess file. But it comes with a huge risk. Even a minute error with this specific code can make your site go down. Therefore, it is best to ask an expert to do the job.
Using the Google Page Speed Insight Tool
Understanding the PSI report is essential to reap maximum benefit. Thankfully, it provides color-coding, which is easier to comprehend.
Green: Good to go
Red: Poor
Yellow: Needs improvement
Opportunities and Diagnostics are an essential section of the report. It shows what changes you can bring and how much time you can save. Along with each opportunity, you will see an arrow. Click on it to get a detailed overview of the implementation.
Likewise, in the diagnostic list, you will see the errors found in each area. Click on the arrow to see which specific data is responsible for the issue.
Wrapping It Up
All in all, increasing the page speed score looks mandatory in this immensely competitive landscape. Minify the code, optimize your images, and do browser caching for getting a reasonable speed. Besides this, avoid redirects and try to improve the server response time.
Check your score on the speed insight tool once you are done with the above tips. Study the opportunities and go through the diagnostics to see where your site stands. Lastly, implement the recommended changes and observe an excellent site speed in no time.
Author Bio:
Anam Thompson is a digital marketing expert works for Techy Flavors & Techy Dictator as well. You can taste the flavor of technology with techy dictator and digital marketing write for us on various topics related to technology, seo, gaming, web design, web development etc.