Website Speed
What is Website Speed?
Website speed refers to how quickly your web pages load. Most business owners assume that if their homepage loads fast, the rest of the website loads fast, but that isn’t always the case. Each web page may require a different set of optimisation to ensure it loads as fast the homepage. This service is incredibly important, which is why it’s included in our SEO Packages for Small Business.
Why is Website Speed Important?
A website is often the first touch point potential customers have with your business. If it’s fast, they assume your business is safe, trusted and professional, and this is the first impression you should be striving to achieve.
Your potential customers expect your website to be fast, so if it doesn’t load within a second, you’ve probably lost them to a competitor. Nonetheless, some potential customers will be more patient and wait up to 3 seconds, but it’s just a few.
Google knows that its searchers want fast website experiences, and it is why they give more search visibility to businesses who’ve taken the time to optimise their website correctly. As a result, you’ll see an increase in traffic and enquiries.
Core Web Vitals
These are metrics Google uses to determine where to position your website in the search results, including First Contentful Paint, Total Blocking Time, and Cumulative Shift Layout.
First & Largest Contentful Paint
First Contentful Paint (FCP) answers the question, “Is this page loading yet?” whereas Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) answers the question, “Has this page finished loading?”.
This refers to the logo loading first and the rest of the content above the fold. In other words, the content your potential customers can see before they need to scroll down the page.
Total Blocking Time
Total Blocking Time (TBT) refers to the time difference between the FCP and Time to Interactive (TI), where user input such as clicks and mouse movements take effect. The lower the TBT, the faster users can click on a link or move on the web page.
Cumulative Shift Layout
Cumulative Shift Layout (CSL) indicates how much the page layout changes as it loads. Low CSL scores lead to positive experiences as users don’t accidentally click on the wrong thing.
Contact Us for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation
If you’re interested in gaining more leads from your website, get in touch by calling 01227 678056 or emailing [email protected] for a free consultation. We’ll answer all of your questions and advise on the best plan of action. If you decide to go ahead with us, we’ll offer you a preferential rate. Alternatively, you can contact Nick via LinkedIn.