Poor loading ruins a visitor’s website experience.

And visitors on a website with a 7 second load time are 113% more likely to bounce.

Page speed is:

Plus competitors with a faster page speed can outrank your website in the SERPs.

Find out your website’s loading time scores out of 100 on Google’s free PageSpeeds Insights tool.

But for the less tech-savvy people, this article will help you get a 100% speed score for your website.

In this article we will learn:

  • Why page speed is important
  • How to improve page speed
  • If you need a tech expert

So keep reading to learn to boost your website’s loading time which will also give your visitors a better user experience.

How to achieve 100% Google Page speed

  • Find if and where your website or page is slow
  • Compress images
  • Minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code
  • Take out render-blocking elements
  • Boost mobile speed
  • Minimise page redirects
  • Improve server response times
  • Use a content delivery network

Find if and where your website or page is slow

CMSs have built-in tools or plugins that find why your website is slow.

So, before fixing your website’s load time, use tools to understand the steps for improving speed.

Use free tools like:

  • Google’s PageSpeed Insights
  • Website Grader
  • GTMetrix
  • KeyCDN Website Speed Test
  • Pingdom

Google’s PageSpeed Insights should be your first stop for a high Google page speed score.

Other tools give you details related to your site speed.

For example, KeyCDN shows how quickly your page loads in different countries.

So, use different tools and compare the results.

Compress images

Large images cause slow page speeds.

The different optimal file size opinions include:

Shrink images without compromising the quality by compressing files with free online tools like:

Before uploading an image, use editing tools to crop or size the resolution for appearance on your website.

Remember, display size and file size are not the same.

Display size is the image size that shows on your website.

File size is the image size you uploaded.

A large file with a small display size has the same load time as a giant display size.

But, a small file with a small display size loads quickly.

So, a good rule to follow would be:

  • Crop the image to the display size to show on your page
  • Then compress to take up less storage space

For example, if your CMS automatically crops or resizes an image to 500px by 300px, crop it to the same size before uploading.

Note: if an image isn’t big on the page, it could be a large image file you uploaded and the reason for a slowdown.

Minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code

CSS, HTML, and JavaScript have code that’s:

  • Extra
  • Redundant
  • Useless

Like images, this data slows your page.

So, minify your code as Google developers suggest.

Shrinking your code removes:

  • Language
  • Notes
  • Spaces

Because it will not be needed when a page is created or updated.

Take out render-blocking elements

A page can be coded to load a sidebar or banner before the main content.

So prioritise your code so your main content loads above the fold.

When you find these elements, take them out.

Boost mobile speed

For mobile websites that load faster, Google:

  • Gives a higher page speed score
  • Gives a higher ranking

PageSpeed Insights show your mobile website’s score.

Start by:

  • Searching your URL
  • Then see the report
  • After this, toggle between Desktop and Mobile and see the scores for each

If your not happy with your score:

  • Streamline what visitors view on your mobile website
  • Hide or minimise desktop website elements, like photos or extra text boxes

Because these elements can be clunky or unnecessary on the small screen.

Note: AMP, also known as Accelerated Mobile Pages create web pages that load quickly and adjust to fit different browser sizes or devices.

Minimise page redirects

A redirect can take time away from your page speed, only use them when necessary.

For example, during a company or website rebrand.

Mentioned in our post about 301 redirects that are SEO friendly.

Improve server response times

A server’s response time should be less than 200 milliseconds, as suggested by Google.

One reason for a slow server can be your website host.

Fixing a slow server is technical.

The post about 502 Gateway errors addresses finding and fixing server-related issues.

But if your website uses servers from a host company, contact them to solve the problem.

Use a content delivery network

A content delivery network (CDN):

  • Globally servers holding a browser’s cache of your website
  • Loading it quickly for visitors around the world

When someone far visits your website:

  • Pages load from nearby CDN servers close to the visitor
  • Instead of your own server

Because visitors far away from your server will have long page load times.

For example, For servers based in the Netherlands, American visitors would have slower website speeds compared to visitors in Germany.

The global locations of CDN servers boost website speed for international visitors.

Examples for content management software that offer CDN services include:

WordPress users can use free plugins, like CDN Enabler.

If you don’t have a CDN, CDN providers include:

Conclusion

So, take a look at your Google PageSpeed Insights report.

And, use the above steps if your website speed is lagging.

Now it’s over to you.

Tell me how these tips helped you quickly minimise and streamline your pages.

Or if you have other tips for a perfect 100% page speed score.

Let me know in the comment section below.

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