How to reduce the loading time of your website?
Tags: webdev, website, speed, image
Published: 2023-07-15 08:18:35

Hi, my name is Laszlo, I run websites and one of my main concerns is website speed optimization.

## What is website speed optimization?
Website speed optimization is the process of improving website performance, speed, and user experience. This involves optimizing web design, content, images, and code to enhance website functionality, visibility, and conversion rates. A properly optimized website also reduces website maintenance costs in the long run.

## Why is it important?
Because it can enhance user experience, raise website traffic, and increase conversion rates, website speed optimization is crucial. Your website's speed can also help you rank better in the search engines.

## How to optimize website's speed?

- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
- Move your website to a better host.
- Optimize the size of images on your website.
- Reduce the number of plugins.
- Minimize the number of JavaScript and CSS files.
- Use website caching.
- Implement Gzip Compression.
- Optimize Database
- Reduce Image Sizes
- Minimize HTTP requests
- Reduce Server Response Time
- Enable Browser Caching
- Minify Resources

## Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Use a content delivery network (CDN) to provide web content to users based on their location. A CDN is a network of servers. This speeds up the loading process of your website. You can use [CloudFlare's CDN](https://www.cloudflare.com/lp/ppc/cdn-x/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=DG_EMEA_EEU_ENG_G_Search_Generic_Applications_CDN).

## Move your website to a better host
A better host can provide faster load times and better performance. I suggest [Namecheap](https://www.namecheap.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwh8mlBhB_EiwAsztdBHNnagbFS5hBYNibm_AfT55_axxrs3nIvo-gwicftrwOTiiVjgEyQBoCZ90QAvD_BwE), [Cloudways ](https://www.cloudways.com/en/) and [Hostinger](https://www.hostinger.com/).

## Optimize the size of images on your website
Compressing images can reduce their size and improve load times. You can use simple [online tools](https://minitoolz.com/tools/online-jpg-compressor/) or WordPress [plugins](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/images/), in that case you have WordPress website.

## Reduce the number of plugins
Your website may get too bloated with plugins. Eliminate any extra plugins.

## Minimize the number of JavaScript and CSS files
Combining JavaScript and CSS files can reduce the number of requests made to the server. You can find WP [plugins](https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/combine+js/) for this too.

## Use website caching: Caching stores frequently accessed data in memory so that it can be retrieved more quickly. Cache plugins [here](https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/cache/), I recommend WP-Optimize, Autoptimize, Hummingbird.

## Implement Gzip Compression 
Before files are transmitted to the browser, gzip compresses them to reduce their size and speed up loading. This is [Gzip](https://minitoolz.com/tools/online-gzip-compressor/), and you can use [plugins](https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/gzip/) to compress files via Gzip.

## Optimize Database
By cutting down on the amount of time it takes to access data, database optimization can enhance website performance. If you have a unique website, it is worth considering the optimal design of the database at the design stage, but it is also worth deleting redundant and unnecessary data after the website is ready.

## Minimize HTTP requests
Your website's load times might be improved by lowering the amount of HTTP requests it makes. You can achieve this by calling less CSS, JS files, external APIs, videos, images.

## Reduce Server Response Time
A faster server response time can improve website performance. This can basically be achieved with a fast hosting provider.

## Enable Browser Caching
Caching stores frequently accessed data in memory so that it can be retrieved more quickly.

## Minify Resources
By removing superfluous characters from code, minifying resources can reduce their size and speed up load times. For this use complex speed optimization plugin, like [Hummingbird](https://wpmudev.com/project/wp-hummingbird/).