With faster Internet access, the download speed of E-commerce Websites has gotten faster over time. However, many stores are still having trouble getting their websites to load quickly. While retailers can create an appealing website, customers may not shop there if it takes too long to load. Reports claim that even a one-second delay can significantly affect online retailers’ earnings. That’s where an E-commerce SEO agency comes in handy.
They can provide you with guidance on maintaining a fast e-commerce site. Hence, this article will focus on maintaining a fast E-commerce website.
Reduce the Size of the Page
Kilobytes represent the size of a webpage. Including pictures, JavaScript, and CSS, it includes everything on a page. Pages should be as compact as possible. Consider loading times when designing your pages; do not use large graphics or items on them. You can quickly determine the size of a web page by saving it as a web archive folder on your PC. After that, determine how big the folder is.
Ensure your eCommerce site loads within 3 seconds unless you need richer visuals. Maintain the right balance between losing customers due to slow loading times and gaining customers with better graphics.
Make Use of Dedicated Hosting
Hosting can significantly impact the speed at which your website loads. The total load on the server may make your website run faster or slower if you share server space. Besides being slower, your website will also perform inconsistently, putting your eCommerce operation at risk.
Dedicated hosting is your best option to avoid this problem. This will grant you access to the server’s resources exclusively. A good reputation is also important when selecting a hosting company.
Optimize your Media Files
ECommerce websites use images, videos, and other media to promote their products. As you add more goods, the total size of these resources will increase. A high-definition media library, such as 4k images and videos, will also strain your website’s server due to its large size, slowing down the load time.
Media compression is the best solution for this problem. Using a compression tool like Gzip will help you minimize the size of your photos before uploading them to your content management system of choice. You can do the same with videos. Try to minify your website’s code if you want to take it a step further.
Implement a Content Delivery Network
You want your website to function well for users worldwide if you’re selling global products. If not, you will provide a varied experience to customers depending on their location.
Give customers an equal experience, regardless of their location, by using a content delivery network. By distributing your website across multiple global servers, you can provide data to customers from the nearest server. Every eCommerce site serving a global audience needs a CDN.
Optimize the Platform Configuration
Find configurations to optimize load times using a hosted or licensed eCommerce platform. Most platforms allow for modest changes that result in substantial improvements. Magento, for example, includes file compression, content delivery networks, and other performance benefits by default. The Magento administrator of a retailer can perform these platform optimizations.
Using Fewer Extensions
There are many plugins, applications, and themes that eCommerce websites use to implement the functionality they need. A lot of these extensions may slow down your website, however.
Utilizing fewer plugins seems like the right choice, but it’s not always possible. A better solution is to install extensions that combine functionality from multiple plugins.
Read More: How Responsive Web Design Benefits SEO
Make Sure your Code is Clean
The code that makes up a website makes it a computer program. Depending on how well the software is coded, it may run more quickly or slowly. So-called spaghetti code is usually verbose, redundant, and poorly optimized, contributing to some programs’ slowness. With clean code, a program runs faster and consumes fewer resources.
Focus on Functionality when Designing
Achieving speed doesn’t simply require the proper hardware. Your website’s design and structure also play a crucial role in its success. Convenient navigation and understanding of eCommerce websites are essential for user satisfaction. So, build your website with functionality in mind to make it easier to navigate.
Beware of Redirects
When using redirects, keep them to a minimum. Every redirect generates a new request to the server, increasing load times. Many retailers keep redirecting their old links to new ones. Since most customers use the new URLs directly, you should remove the redirects.
Final Thought
Businesses seeking to gain a foothold in eCommerce must pursue every advantage to stay competitive.
Fast web pages are one such advantage and one that is very important. Providing a streamlined buying experience allows quick websites to turn visitors into customers faster. Utilize the above methods to optimize your eCommerce website for maximum results.
