A slow loading website not only makes it difficult to keep visitors on your site, it can reduce your search engine ranking. It’s widely known that site speed is a factor in determining how your site ranks with major search engines, but what’s not as well known, is how much of an impact site speed has on your rank. Back when the internet was new, websites were novel ways to find information, and customers would wait 30 seconds to one minute for a site to load. Now, you’re lucky if you can keep a visitor after five seconds.
How Long is Too Long?
According to Google, it’s less time than you imagine. In fact, by the time you blink your eye, you can lose customers. A 400 millisecond delay can cause you to lose customers, and almost half will leave your website after three seconds. Check your site often to be sure the loading time isn’t hanging up on small issues and driving away your audience.
Don’t Use A Site Builder
Automatic website building scripts are generally outdated and don’t use the latest technology, so your website is bound to load slowly. Instead, build your website with the help of professional staff to ensure the fastest website possible.
Tune Up Your Site
IT services in Ottawa can check the mechanics of your server and make sure there are no scripts that are causing endless loops on your website, or generally slowing it down. There are also some steps you can take, such as reducing graphics size, removing white space in code, and turn off auto-loading for videos. You can also reduce the number of extensions you have running on your website, or set up less important elements to load a few seconds later. With third party help, like managed services in Ottawa, you can improve site loading and people will remain on your website long enough to become interested in what you have to offer.
Get A Better Host
In some cases, there is nothing you can do to speed up your website. Your host may simply have slow servers. Some hosts are willing to move your website to another server to keep your business. However, if your site doesn’t have any issues with extensions, large graphics or poor code, an IT specialist can examine the issue to see if it’s your hosting company.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get your website running quickly. Often, you can solve your website woes by making a few changes to the size and efficiency of your site.
