Top Ways to Improve the Performance of Your WordPress Site
Companies of all types and sizes use WordPress to manage their content. WordPress has become one of the go-to Content Management Systems (CMS) for many reasons including, but not limited to:
- Ease of Set-up and Maintenance.
- No Cost.
- Availability of Extensions and Developers.
Unfortunately, as time goes by all websites can begin to slow down and cause frustrating delays for users visiting the site, as well as for the company managing said site. In the fast-paced world where consumers are demanding faster, better service; a slow website can be a death blow to a business. Not to mention: Google is now prioritizing faster websites with regard to search results. This means that faster sites are found at the top of Google search results, while slower sites are being pushed to the bottom of the list.
If you’re finding that your WordPress site is slowing down and could use a tune-up, consult our tips below to ensure that your website is performing optimally and allowing you to reach your intended audience. Also, consider partnering with Ancell Marketing, a Vancouver WordPress web design company to help you get the most out of your WordPress experience.
Determine Your Baseline Speed
It’s important to have some baseline measurements so that you can later determine whether or not the steps you’ve taken to correct the issue have made a difference. There are a number of services that can measure your site’s speed, but one of the best is Google PageSpeed Insights.
Consider Your WordPress Host
If you’re experiencing slow website speed, odds are it’s due to your host. It’s good practice to utilize a service that specializes in hosting WordPress sites, as these services know the ins and outs of WordPress. If your host isn’t geared toward WordPress, it may be time to look elsewhere for your hosting needs.
Be Concise in Your Messaging
Take a look at your individual web pages and determine how large (in terms of megabytes) these pages are. If you have tons of images, text, and videos, this may be why your site is slowing down. Eliminating or compressing some of these elements goes a long way in reducing the strain on your site.
Frequently Update WordPress
Every couple of months, ensure that you are up-to-date with WordPress’s latest changes. This includes updates to the WordPress programming language: PHP. Operating on an older version of WordPress or with an older version of PHP are surefire ways to slow down your site’s speed.
Utilize Caching
As users navigate your site, “caching” allows files to be locally stored for a short time. Sites that have caching enabled are markedly faster than those that do not.
Monitor Your Plugins and Extensions
You should only maintain plugins that are essential for your site’s performance. Those that are no longer in use are just taking up space and may be responsible for the slow speed your site is experiencing.
Use a CDN
A Content Delivery Network will utilize servers that are closer to your site’s users. This significantly decreases loading times and can often help improve website speed.
Are you in the Vancouver area and looking for help with your WordPress web design? If so, contact the Vancouver WordPress experts today at Ancell Marketing!