Understanding Website Performance: What Every Site Owner Should Know
In today’s digital landscape, your website’s performance directly impacts your success. Whether you’re managing your own site or working with a web professional, understanding key performance metrics and optimisation strategies is crucial.
Key Points
- Google’s Core Web Vitals affect your search rankings
- Website speed significantly impacts user experience and conversions
- Content delivery networks (CDNs) can dramatically improve global performance
- Image optimisation is essential for fast-loading pages
- Browser caching helps returning visitors load your site faster
What Are Core Web Vitals?
Google uses three main metrics to judge your website’s performance. These are called Core Web Vitals, and they matter for your search rankings.
The first is Largest Contentful Paint (LCP). This measures how quickly your main content loads. Your site should load its main content in under 2.5 seconds for the best performance.
Next is Interaction to Next Paint (INP). This shows how quickly your site responds when users click or tap. Aim for responses under 200 milliseconds.
The third is Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). This measures if things jump around while your page loads. Nobody likes clicking one thing only to have it move at the last second.
Essential Optimisation Strategies
Start with your images. Use modern formats like WebP, which offer better compression than traditional JPEGs or PNGs. Always specify image dimensions to prevent layout shifts.
Consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN). These distribute your content across multiple servers worldwide, making your site faster for users everywhere.
Enable browser caching. This lets returning visitors load your site more quickly by storing some files on their device.
What to Ask Your Web Professional
When working with a developer or agency, ask these specific questions:
- How will you optimise our Core Web Vitals?
- What image optimisation strategies will you implement?
- Will you set up a CDN, and which one do you recommend?
- How will you handle browser caching?
- What tools will you use to monitor performance?
FAQ
Q: How often should I check my website’s performance? A: Monitor your Core Web Vitals at least monthly using Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool.
Q: Do I really need a CDN? A: If you have visitors from different countries or experience high traffic, a CDN is worth the investment.
Q: What’s the easiest performance win? A: Image optimisation often provides the most significant immediate improvements for minimal effort.
Q: How does mobile performance differ? A: Mobile performance is often more challenging due to slower connections. Google primarily looks at mobile performance for rankings.
Useful References
- Google PageSpeed Insights: https://pagespeed.web.dev
- Web.dev Core Web Vitals: https://web.dev/vitals
- Google Search Console: https://search.google.com/search-console
- WebPageTest: https://www.webpagetest.org
Remember, good website performance isn’t a one-time fix. It requires ongoing monitoring and optimisation. Whether you’re handling it yourself or working with professionals, understanding these basics helps ensure your site delivers the best possible experience.
