We live in an age where technology is constantly evolving, and at times this rate of expansion can be difficult to keep up with, especially if you are an online business owner. The speed of the internet is increasing in correlation with technological improvements, and if you’re a company who is intending too or has already set up a store online, one of the most important considerations is developing a fast response rate which operates swiftly, and is aligned with the proficiency of top websites which are consumed by users on a daily basis.
Though novice developers may assume the speed of eCommerce stores will be automatic, there are various difficulties which can be encountered along the way, so this article has been written to help individuals create and maintain an online store with fast speeds. This is crucial to the success of business since consumers expect fast loading speeds, and will potentially be deterred by anything slower than they’re used too. If your website takes too long to load, even if it’s a second too long, this can impact your company’s bottom line, so by following the advice below on speeding up your eCommerce store, you will position yourself optimally for success and have an opportunity to thrive in a competitive environment.
Using a Content Delivery Network
The server your website operates within is one of the most important factors which determines the loading speed of individual functions in your website’s store. Often stores run off of overloaded servers, which will more than likely correspond to much slower loading times for each page. A great way to combat this is by using a content delivery network, which serves as a dedicated host for your website that churns through information at a faster rate, leading to quicker response times. There are countless servers available at your convenience online, including JavaPipe, and these can be explored at your own leisure to discover an option which is tailored to your individual needs and requirements.
Mobile
With mobile phones at the forefront of modern, portable technology, embodying capabilities beyond measure, new research suggests that mobile internet accounts for roughly 60 percent of the total web market. With this being said, it is essential to ensure that your website is fully compatible with mobile phones, and this will naturally lead to a differentiation of your approach. Mobile phones often run off of independent internet providers, where users don’t rely on broadband connections speeds. This has to be factored into development, especially considering phones have lower processing power than the computers used to develop your eCommerce store. It is therefore important to ensure pages are fully functional on mobile devices before your store goes live, since this way you’ll have peace of mind knowing that consumers can browse your website effectively.
Efficient Coding
By incorporating coding techniques which focus on minimizing the HTTP requests pages make, loading times are known to improve, and this process lies within the coding involved with development. It is also important to make sure files which will be frequently used are stored locally so that elements won’t have to reload every time you reach a new page, and if you work at an advanced level you can configure server-side page caching.
Remove Clutter.
Incorporating multiple features on your website might work in your favour for wow factor and functionality, but understandably these can significantly affect loading times. To alleviate this burden, consider ad retargeting and sponsored posts to build your social media network, as opposed to adding media widgets to your website. Adverts are one of the biggests contributing factors to slow loading times, so avoid using too many at once.
I hope you have found this article informative, and if you’d like to contribute to the conversation be sure to comment below!
