How to optimize your website's speed?

Why Optimizing your Website Speed is Important

Users don’t really read websites — they scan through until something catches their eyes.

If your website takes too long to load, visitors will simply move on to the next option, increasing your bounce rate and reducing engagement. A slow website doesn’t just frustrate users; it also negatively impacts conversions, especially for e-commerce sites where every second of delay could mean lost sales.

Moreover, Google values fast-loading websites and rewards them with better rankings, making speed optimization a critical factor for SEO success.

A well-optimized website not only provides a better user experience but also improves your site's visibility, keeps visitors engaged longer, and increases the chances of achieving your business goals. Here are some tips on how to improve website speed.

How to Check Your Website's Speed?

Before optimizing your website, it's a good idea to conduct a speed check. You can use tools like:

1. Pagespeed Insights
2. GT Metrix

You might be surprised by the results.

Websites often perform differently on mobile and desktop due to varying network conditions, device capabilities, and screen sizes. Generally, your mobile loading score might be lower than your desktop score, which is completely normal. Mobile optimization presents additional challenges, such as optimizing for slower connections and ensuring responsive elements load efficiently. Instead of being alarmed, use these insights to identify key areas for improvement, such as reducing unnecessary scripts, optimizing images, and enabling mobile caching.

The goal is to create a website that loads quickly across all devices while maintaining a smooth user experience.

Now, let’s dive into how you can optimize your website’s speed.

How to Optimize Your Website Speed

Minify your website's CSS and Javascript codes

Many designers overlook this crucial step. When I first started, I had no idea about this either! But it’s a lesson learned over time.

With Webflow, you can optimize your JavaScript, improving your website’s performance. Minifying JavaScript reduces the file size, allowing for faster load times.

Use Modern Image Formats

Using modern image formats can significantly enhance both performance and loading speed.

Choosing the right format impacts website speed. Here are some common formats every designer should know:

• JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
• PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
• GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
• WebP

Did you know that you can compress the images that you have uploaded to Webflow?

Do take note that if your images are a bit too big to be uploaded into Webflow, you can always go to Tinypng and reduce the file size first.

Avoid Too Many Javascript Animations

We get it — you want to make your website pop! Animations are attractive and easy to implement with Webflow. However, they increase loading times and lower your PageSpeed Score.

The key here is balance. Ask yourself:

• Do you need complex animations?
• Will a static but fast website provide a better experience?

We get it. You want to make your website pop.

If you decide to use animations, ensure unnecessary Javascript code is removed and revisit minifying your Javascript files.

Remove Unused CSS Styles

Unused CCS Styles slow down your website. To optimize, follow these best practices

1. Reuse styles instead of creating new ones for each div, heading, or paragraph.
2. Plan your design systematically and group similar styles together.
3. Set global styles (eg. an H1 style that applies to all H1 Headings).

Avoid Using Background Videos

Background videos can make a website look visually stunning, but they come at a cost — slow loading speeds.

While modern technology allows for high-quality videos with smaller file sizes, use them sparingly. Always weigh the pros and cons before adding background videos to your design.

Conclusion

Optimizing website speed is a crucial task for designers and developers. A fast-loading site enhances user experience, improves SEO rankings, and ensures better engagement.

By applying these techniques, Google will favour your website, and users will enjoy a seamless, high-performing experience. Start optimizing today!