When someone clicks on your website, they expect it to load quickly. If it doesn’t, they’ll probably leave — and they might not come back. Search engines like Google know this, so they tend to reward websites that load fast and give people a smooth experience.
If your site is slow, it not only turns people away but can also hurt your search rankings. That means fewer people find you in the first place.
Here’s why speed matters:
- Faster websites rank better in search results — Google wants to show people websites that are easy to use.
- People stay longer when your site is fast — If your site loads quickly, visitors are more likely to click through and explore.
- Lower bounce rates give you more chances to convert — The longer someone stays on your site, the more likely they are to contact you, buy something, or book a service.
Even a one-second delay in load time can make a big difference.
What you can do right now
You don’t need to be a developer to make a few changes that help speed things up.
- Compress your images — Large images are one of the most common things that slow websites down. Before you upload them, shrink the file size. There are plenty of free tools that can do this for you.
- Use a reliable hosting provider — Cheap hosting might seem fine at first, but it often comes with slow response times and shared servers. A good host makes a big difference.
- Limit the number of heavy plugins and scripts — Some plugins can be useful, but too many can slow your site down. Remove anything you’re not using.
- Turn on browser caching — This allows return visitors to load your site more quickly because parts of it are stored in their browser.
Want to see how your site is doing?
Google has a free tool called PageSpeed Insights. You just pop in your website address, and it will show you how fast your site loads on mobile and desktop. It also gives you suggestions to fix any issues.
A fast site helps everyone
Speed isn’t just about pleasing search engines. It makes your site easier to use. It helps people find what they’re looking for without getting frustrated. It builds trust. And it can lead to better results for your business.
If you’re not sure where to start or want someone to take a look for you, feel free to get in touch. We can help tidy things up and make sure your website is running as it should.
