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In the last blog we shared tips on speeding up website and decreasing site loadING speed. After a vehement response from our readers, we received way more fan mails than we normally receive. So, we decided to come back with yet another version of the same article. Only this time we will talk about ways to speed your WordPress site. And here are all the tips that you will ever need. But before that a few questions should you know answers to.
How fast should a WordPress site load?
While 2 seconds is what most people say is the ultimate goal, the truth is more than half the websites do not even come close. So, a short answer to the above question would be “as fast as possible without compromising on quality and user experience”.
Before you start optimizing WordPress, you should know the areas where your website is lagging. In short, you need tools that can analyze your WordPress site and display problems and their potential solutions.
The most we have long relied on is Google PageSpeed Insights. Like we did last time, we are going to use it again, and in the same way. If you have, however, developed revulsion for PageSpeed Insight, we recommend using Pingdom or GTmetrix.
To track your progress accurately, pick one tool and stick to it.
Once you have decided which one of the above three tools you are going to use, fire it up and run a quick analysis of your website. Purchase a premium plan if the tool is paid. While free plans are good too, a paid subscription is better.
Get Async JavaScript
If you too have yearned for control on your WordPress website, you are in for a treat, Async JavaScript lets you do just that. With this free plugin for WordPress, you can check JavaScript that is blocking the website from rendering early, thus delaying the overall site load.
Render-blocking JavaScript prevents the content of your website from rendering till the time the script has loaded, which in turn, affects the site loading speed and thus your SEO rankings. With Async JavaScript you can selectively choose where you need this functionality, thereby speeding up your WordPress.
Enable GZIP
We won’t divulge much details or else it would get too nerdy. But to put forth an easy explanation, GZIP is an algorithm used by developers to compress and decompress files. What’s with the compression that makes it favourite among bloggers and web developers? Compression and decompression allow big files to be shrunk and expanded, thus reducing the amount of disk space they take. The end result is more free space on disk and faster file transfer speed.
To enable GZIP on your WordPress, you will need to tinker a little with .htaccess file. The file is most likely located in the root, so dig deep until you find it.
PHP Fixes
We couldn’t be nerdier. If you are using an old version of PHP, upgrade to at least PHP 7.0. This version of PHP is significantly faster than any of its predecessors, and also a tad bite more secure. The end-advantage of this would be a faster and more secure website.
To check which version of PHP you are in, login to your hosting control panel.
Use faster themes and remove what’s useless
When you first switched to WordPress, I am almost certain you were intrigued by the plethora of themes available. When choosing themes, look for one that not just loads fast but also appeals to its visitors. We are not talking about choosing the most beautiful theme because looks can be deceptive. Aim for the right balance of aesthetics and performance and if ever there is a duel between the two, always choose performance.
A lighter, minimalist theme will benefit you with its super-fast load speed, while the heavier and more beautiful themes from their user experience. Choose wisely!
Upshot
Heard of a host that helps you to speed your WordPress site? Well, now you have. Get a free consultation and site optimization with every WordPress hosting that you buy from Go4hosting. Schedule your call now.
