Shopify speed optimization services - Why You Should Invest
In today’s highly dynamic and competitive online space, getting your business recognized is vital if you want to enjoy more sales and higher profits. One of the ways to do so is to make sure your site is ranking higher in search engines like Google. Rankings are also vital for Shopify merchants with online stores. But how can you enjoy higher rankings, more visitors, and more visibility?
Among other important factors is page speed. In this article, we’ll explore what page speed is, observe why it’s important, and see what you can do for Shopify speed optimization.
What is “page speed”?
For starters, let’s dive straight into a basic definition of page speed that will help you get the bigger picture. You’ve probably already heard that it’s a ranking factor that can define your site’s SERP position but what does it really measure?
Page speed, in short, shows how much time is necessary for a page to load all of its content or the amount of time a browser needs to get a web server’s first byte. In other words, it’s a measurement of the time necessary for a browser to get the initial batch of data from the server. Page speed is influenced by a range of factors, including HTML code, CSS, JavaScript files, images, videos, fonts, multimedia, and more. There are a myriad of elements that affect side speed and if you’re unaware of them, you could dramatically damage the performance of your page.
It’s important to note that page speed and site speed are two separate things. Page speed shows the amount of time a user will have to wait in order to start using an individual page. On the other hand, site speed is the average of several sample pages on a site.
Considering all that we’ve mentioned about page speed so far, let’s conclude by noting that Google PageSpeed Insights is a tool Google uses to measure and boost a site’s performance across devices. PageSpeed Insights will give you a general overview of the page’s performance score, which is calculated by Lighthouse - a Google open-source tool that determines performance.
So why do we need to know all of this and how is page speed important?
Why page speed is important
Page speed matters on several levels. First, it’s key for user experience. What do we mean?
Imagine landing on an online store that takes 5 seconds to load. This may not sound like a lot, but considering that most people are used to browsing on sites that load for around a second, 5 is a lot. In fact, research shows that a one-second delay leads to a 7% drop in conversions. So if you don’t want to take the risk of losing a significant number of sales due to poor user experience, it’s worth taking measures towards Shopify website speed optimization.
Next, page speed is vital for SEO or search engine optimization. Google places a lot of importance on page speed and announced the metric as a ranking factor in 2010. In 2017 it became even more important when mobile site speed was incorporated. On top of that, page speed contributes towards one of Google’s ranking signals - Page Experience.
So considering these factors, it’s safe to say that page speed can make or break your performance online. It can help you rank higher in the search results, but it could also lower your chance of being noticed among users if your rank is low and your page speed is poor. Page speed can ultimately generate more traffic to your website or online store and lead to more conversions and more profits.
By now you’re probably wondering how to improve Shopify store speed. Let’s find out
How to speed up a Shopify website
When it comes to Shopify site speed optimization, the first thing that we should mention is that it requires consistency, dedication, and know-how. There are numerous factors that can harm your page speed and make your store less visible and not very user friendly. This is why most people prefer to rely on the help of experienced professionals for Shopify optimization. After all, it will be a lot more expensive to lose out on the potential sales for your store than to invest in a service provided by specialists.
Some of the measures that need to be taken for optimizing your Shopify website include making sure your images are in the right format and right size. It’s also vital to make sure you’re using a fast and responsive theme that won’t slow your store down as well as it is updated with the latest vital updates (such as Online Store 2.0). You should also consider mobile usability and integrate AMP pages for your website if suitable. These are fast-loading pages specifically designed for mobile devices. You can also check your integrations and apps and remove any that are not being used or you find useful. Your Shopify website’s speed can also be harmed by broken links so these should be fixed (don’t forget that both redirects and broken links matter here).
These are just a few examples, there’s more to it.
The bottom line is that improving page speed is certainly a challenge for beginners or even for experienced people who have other priorities. The process of page speed optimization depends on the website code, developer skills, takes a lot of time and effort, and is not an easy task. You can focus on what matters most (like the products you’ll be selling) and leave the rest to professionals who can dramatically improve your page speed.
Shopify speed optimization services
One of the best roads to take when it comes to Shopify optimizations is to rely on a professional service that can guarantee results. By working with a professional, you’ll receive a full evaluation of everything on your Shopify website and gain access to experience, knowledge, and expert advice. The specialists will make the necessary adjustments to improve your website’s speed and performance, taking into account all of the current best practices and trends. As a result, your Shopify website will be faster, but will also abide by Core Web Vitals rules, improving your user experience (UX), SEO, lowering your bounce rate, and improving your conversion rate.
Get in touch with us today and lower your expenses while enjoying better performance and improved results.