- Web Design
Tips for a Speedier Website
If you've got an an older website, speed may be an issue.
Here are a few things you can do on the front-end to speed up your website.
There’s more you can do besides adding CDN and WordPress speed plugins. Remember, when it comes to speeding up your website, less is more.
Measure and size your images
Size your images by measuring the pixel space. To do this, simply download a page ruler extension on your browser of choice. When sizing your image, be sure to add a few more pixels, give or take, for those who have a larger 30″ computer screen. You’ll need a photo editor, such as Adobe Photoshop to size your images.
Compress your images
There are so many free resources for developers on the internet. One of the best tools is TinyPNG, where you can compress and download your images for free. Best of all, the panda mascot cheers you on each time you compress an image. What a way to make your day!
Remove extra plugins
Another alternative to installing a WordPress speed plugin, which will affect your CSS and JS, is try removing unnecessary plugins instead. If you’re using a front-end website builder, many of the design tools available on the builder will eliminate the need for additional plugins. We recommend Elementor as our website builder of choice.
If you’re using a specific plugin for one function, try redesigning the content using the website builder tool instead. You can also replace certain functions with great graphics. For example, if you need a chart, let’s say a pricing chart, you can replace the plugin with an effective graphic instead of adding additional coding. Be sure to compress all of your photos and graphics too.
Be careful with JavaScript plugins
When it comes to debugging a website, we usually find the culprit to be JS based plugins. Put simply, if your plugin performs a function, which most do, it’s Java based. Unless your website is a functional website, be careful when you consider installing plugins that slow down your website. Instead, stick to the options available from your website builder.
Keep the header area as clean as possible
You can bloat your header with a bad WordPress theme, Google header tags, and a translation plugin. Basically, any extra coding that goes above or inside your header can cause an internet browser to render your page slower. Try to keep your website menu as simple as possible. For example, use less or no images and icons at all.
From experience, we’ve noticed that translation plugins cause major issues on websites. We highly recommend using a subdomain for each language needed over using a language plugin to keep your code hygiene clean and bug free.
