Answer
Apr 25, 2022 - 09:51 PM
Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the market today. As your website's database grows over time and you keep adding plugins, the page load time will inevitably reduce.
Research has shown that a one second slowdown will lead to approximately 7% loss in conversion.There are a few options available to reverse the slowdown.
1. Use a CDN
Use of a Content Delivery Network involves hosting your website with servers located in different geographical locations. This way, user requests are directed to the nearest server.
2. Optimise size of the images in the website
Images are by nature very large files that will slow down your website. In eCommerce they are also an integral part of your marketing. Various tools are available to deal with this issue without compromising on quality. Use ImageOptim, JPEGmini or Kraken.
3. Minimize the number of Javascript and CSS files.
These files result in a high number of HTTP requests when visitors try to access your files. The tools available to help you solve this problem include WillPeavy, Script Minifier and Grunts.
4. Website Caching
This involves storing the latest version of your website on the host server and presenting it to answer user requests. It avoids having to render the whole website every time a user requests it. Tools available for this include W3 Total Cache and W3 Super Cache.
5. Gzip Compression
This reduces the number of HTTP requests and hence request time. It does this by compressing the files before sending them to the browser. This is achieved by adding a few lines of code onto your website or by using a tool known as gzip.
6. Detecting and Fixing 404 errors.
These errors are returned to mean ‘File not found’. There are error detection tools and plugins available, but to avoid slowing your website further through addition of plugins, use external tools such as Xenu’s, Link Sleuth and Google Webmaster tools.
7. Reduce Redirects
Redirects create additional HTTP requests which affect performance.They are easily identified by running a site scan using the Screaming Frog tool. Once identified, determine if they serve a critical purpose. Always try to keep them at a minimum or eliminate them all together.
8. Switch Website To HTTP/2
The HTTP/2 protocol enables the sending of multiple files over the same connection at the same time.
9. Minimize TTFB
Time To First Byte (TTFB) is the amount of time it takes for the browser to receive the first byte of data from the server. Anything faster than 200 microseconds is considered very good, though anything between 200-500 ms is passable.
Most of these tools and methods are easily done and do not necessarily need an expert to perform. Try those that will work for your website and that you can easily do with minimal costs.
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