Website Performance
Published On: January 10, 2023 Revised On: December 12, 2023

Techniques to Boost Website Performance in Singapore

There are billions of websites, and everyone competes to be ranked the highest for Google search query results. According to research, 47% of web users prefer websites to load in 2 seconds or less. 60% of these surveyed users said they would leave a website due to loading speed. Most users will likely exit the site and start looking for alternatives if the loading time is over three seconds.

Many websites today load in under a second; therefore, a website’s data loading is crucial because it affects the user experience significantly. Avoid having a website that causes the entire site to load slowly because of a few images. Let us share more in this article on how to boost web performance in Singapore.

Minimise HTTP requests

To optimise web page loading speed, minimise the number of HTTP requests sent to the server. Each element on a page, such as images, JavaScript files, stylesheets, and fonts, generates a separate request.

Web browsers have a limit on concurrent network requests, leading to the potential blocking of some requests if they exceed this limit. Thus, the first step is to eliminate non-essential requests. Strategies include removing superfluous images, JavaScript files, stylesheets, and fonts.

This also means pruning unnecessary plugins for WordPress sites, which often contribute additional files to each page load. Developers can also streamline assets by bundling CSS and JavaScript files, reducing HTTP requests.

Another technique involves using CSS sprites, which combine multiple small images into a single larger image. The desired image section is then displayed by adjusting the CSS ‘background-position’ attribute. This approach is effective as web browsers rely on these requests to assemble various page components from the server.

Load JavaScript and CSS asynchronously.

The loading of scripts, including JavaScript and CSS, on a website can be optimised by choosing between synchronous and asynchronous methods. Additionally, consolidating and minifying these files can further enhance site performance.

Synchronous loading processes scripts sequentially, following the order in which they appear on the page. This method can lead to delays, as each script must fully load before the next begins. In contrast, asynchronous loading allows multiple scripts to load concurrently, potentially speeding up page load times.

A browser typically loads a page from top to bottom, and asynchronous loading enables simultaneous processing of multiple elements. A key point to note is that when a browser encounters a non-asynchronous (synchronous) CSS or JavaScript file, it will pause the rest of the page until that particular file is fully loaded.

If the same file were loaded asynchronously, the browser could continue processing other page parts in parallel, reducing wait times and improving user experience. Adopting asynchronous loading where appropriate can significantly boost the efficiency of a website’s loading process.

Optimise and reduce Image Sizes

Optimising graphic designs can help improve website performance, as unoptimised or high-resolution images can significantly slow down a site. Implementing responsive image solutions allows the browser to select the most appropriate image size based on the screen resolution, ensuring the website loads efficiently across various devices.

The optimal moment to adjust image sizes is during website development to ensure that images are displayed at the best resolution for each device type. One effective method to enhance image performance is to compress them before uploading them to the website.

Tools like TinyPNG and Compressor.io or image editing software such as Photoshop can reduce image file sizes. Numerous online tools available for free can help reduce resolution, compress files, and reduce the overall size of images. These tools ensure that images contribute positively to the user experience and site performance.

Enable memory caching

Caching is a powerful technique for accelerating data access, utilised in two primary forms: browser caching, which stores data locally on a user’s device, and key-value store caching, which preserves data keys and values in a super-fast storage system.

When a user visits a web page, elements of that page are temporarily stored in the browser’s cache on the hard drive. This storage means that on subsequent visits to the same page, the browser can quickly load it without sending another HTTP request to the server for those cached elements.

During a user’s first visit to a website, various components such as HTML files, stylesheets, JavaScript files, and images must be downloaded. This process can involve downloading up to 30 components and might take around 2.4 seconds. However, once these elements are cached after the initial visit, only new or updated parts must be downloaded on future visits.

This significantly reduces load times as the browser can retrieve most of the data from its cache. Steve Souders, a prominent figure in web performance, notes that 40–60% of daily website visits are from users with an empty cache. Therefore, optimising the initial load time for new visitors is critical.

At the same time, enabling caching can dramatically decrease loading times for returning visitors, enhancing their overall experience. By implementing effective caching strategies, websites can ensure quick and efficient access for first-time and recurring users, providing a better user experience and potentially improving site engagement.

Lazy-loading Technique

Lazy loading defers the loading of images until they are needed, prioritising the visible content first. This approach ensures that users can access and read the primary content of a webpage quickly without having to wait for all images to load initially.

With lazy loading, images outside the current browser view only load once the user scrolls. This method significantly speeds up the initial page load time, as the browser can concentrate on rendering the immediately visible content.  As a result, users are not forced to wait for the entire page to load before interacting with the content, enhancing the overall user experience and potentially improving conversion rates.

For WordPress sites, implementing lazy loading is made more accessible through various plugins. These plugins automate the process, ensuring images are loaded efficiently as the user scrolls through the page. By integrating lazy loading, WordPress websites can offer a more responsive and user-friendly experience, especially for pages with a large number of images or heavy content.

Reduce Redirecting Links

When a link transfers users from one web page to another, redirects can slightly increase a website’s load time by several milliseconds to a few seconds. In optimising a website for performance, even these small increments are significant.

While redirects are sometimes necessary, their use should be judicious and purposeful. Minimising redirects is a recommended best practice for site speed optimisation. Google advises website owners to reduce redirects as much as possible to enhance site performance.

Excessive or unnecessary redirects can lead to longer load times, negatively impacting user experience and potentially search engine rankings. Site owners should regularly audit their websites for redirect chains, where one redirect leads to another, and for redirects that may no longer be relevant.

Each redirect should be evaluated to determine its necessity and usefulness to the user experience. By eliminating unnecessary redirects and simplifying the redirect structure, the number of additional HTTP requests can be reduced, leading to faster page load times and a smoother user experience. This practice is essential for maintaining an efficient, user-friendly website.

Conclusion

The competition for top Google search rankings in a world of billions of websites underscores the importance of website speed. Performance optimisation is essential, with user expectations leaning heavily towards rapid loading times and a high propensity to abandon slow-loading sites.

Techniques such as minimising HTTP requests, asynchronous loading of scripts, image optimisation, enabling caching, using lazy-loading, and reducing redirects are more than just tweaks; they are strategies to improve site speed and user satisfaction. At ARCC, we specialise in SEO services in Singapore. If you’re looking to enhance your online presence, don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.