Top 10 Tips To Speed Up WordPress Site
Tags: wordpress, php, webdev, blog
Published: 2023-12-03 16:17:24

I've been learning WordPress for quite a while and during this process I've manage to find out secrets of keeping my WordPress blog [**Psychic Sheela**](https://psychicsheela.com/) load faster.

Here I'm sharing my top 10 tips to make your WordPress site load faster.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9dve0sf4ifkna4aadvby.png)

Improving the loading speed of a self-hosted WordPress website is crucial for user experience, search engine rankings, and overall site performance. With a multitude of themes, plugins, and content, WordPress websites can sometimes become sluggish. However, optimizing your site for speed doesn’t have to be overly complex. Here is a detailed guide on how to make your self-hosted WordPress site load faster:

## Choose a Good Hosting Provider
Opt for a reliable hosting provider that offers good performance and uptime. Shared hosting might be cost-effective but can affect site speed due to shared resources. Consider managed WordPress hosting or VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting for better performance.

## Use WordPress Default or Light Theme
Choose a well-coded, lightweight theme optimized for speed. Themes with excessive animations, complex layouts, and numerous built-in features can slow down your site. Popular lightweight themes include Astra, GeneratePress, and OceanWP.

## Optimize Images
Large image files can significantly slow down your site. Use tools like Photoshop or online services like TinyPNG or Compressor.io to compress images without compromising quality. Additionally, use lazy loading plugins to load images only as they come into view.

## Implement Caching
WordPress caching plugins create static HTML versions of your pages, reducing server load and speeding up load times for returning visitors. I'm not a great fan of caching because my WordPress blog is blazing fast without using caching. If your WordPress blog is slow then you can try any of the freely available caching plugins.

## Minify CSS and JavaScript
Minification reduces file sizes by removing unnecessary spaces, comments, and formatting from CSS and JavaScript files. Again I've never used minify and yet my WordPress blog remains faster. If you find that your WordPress site is loading slow then you may use any of the freely available minify plugins.

## Optimize Database
Regularly clean up your WordPress database by removing spam comments, post revisions, trashed items, and unused data. This is one of the most annoying tasks you would do on regular basis. Moderating comments are a real pain.

## Enable GZIP Compression
GZIP compression reduces the size of your website files that are transferred between the server and the browser. Many hosting providers offer GZIP compression by default. If you wish you can also install plugin.

## Utilize Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)
CDNs store cached versions of your site on multiple servers worldwide, delivering content to users from the nearest server. This reduces latency and improves loading times. Unless your website has huge traffic you wouldn't be bothered about this.

## Regularly Update WordPress, Themes, and Plugins
Always keep your WordPress core, themes, and plugins up to date. Developers often release updates to improve performance, security, and fix bugs, ensuring optimal site speed.

## Reduce External Scripts and HTTP Requests
Limit the number of external scripts and HTTP requests on your site. Each additional script or request adds to the loading time. Use only essential scripts and consider combining multiple scripts into one where possible.