Measure and improve your website speed

1. Enter your website URL into a web speed testing tool like Pingdom.

Choose a location from which most of your traffic comes. Go to Audience > Demographics > Location in Google Analytics, to identify the location with most of your traffic. Start the test. Run at least three tests for a more accurate result.

2. Install and activate a caching plugin like W3 Total Cache for a WordPress website, or install one at the hosting level.

3. Reduce existing image file sizes with a plugin like WP Smush.

Scale new images and reduce their file size using Optimizilla before uploading. Alternatively use a service like Sirv.com that optimizes images on the fly.

4. Use network optimization tools to improve latency and decrease RTT (Round Trip Time).

For AWS users, Datapath.io improves latency by 60% on average, thereby decreasing Round Trip Time from 3.7 seconds, to 1.6. For non-AWS users, consider using a CDN network like Cloudflare that will serve your website from various locations around the world, improving local access.

5. Delete plugins you don’t need and those causing problems.

Use Query Monitor or Plugin Performance Profiler to find plugins that are causing problems. If you don’t have access to either tool, run a website speed test with all your plugins activated, note the website speed. Deactivate plugins you suspect of causing problems, large plugins are worth testing, then rerun the speed test. Deactivate each of your plugins in turn and run a speed test between each. Delete those you find responsible for slowing down your website.

6. Consider simplifying your design.

Reduce the number of fonts being used. Reduce the site’s reliance on JavaScript. Make more use of vector imagery such as SVG formats.