If your eCommerce website has been developed using WordPress and you are struggling with the slow loading speed of your website, then this blog post is for you.
Website speed, when it comes to the conversions of a website, is very important. It even becomes critical in the case of eCommerce websites. Why? Simply because the conversion rate of an eCommerce website depends, up to a large extent on its loading speed.
In this blog post, we are going to share 5 hacks through which you will be able to improve the loading speed of your online store. Let’s get started.
#1 Use the WordPress caching plugin
By using a caching plugin like W3 Cache, you will be able to improve the loading speed of your WordPress-based eCommerce website.
How does WordPress caching plugin work?
A cache plugin saves dynamically generated HTML files and serves them from the cache (i.e. reusing previously generated data). So, when any user makes a request, the website would render the pages from cached data rather than loading all of the PHP scripts from WordPress every time. As a result, your site loads far quicker for all its visitors.
#2 Optimize WordPress database
Why database optimization is helpful to speed up a website?
All the information on your WordPress website is stored in a database & whenever a query to delete a product, post, page, or any other data is run, it removes the data. We all know this, right? But do you know when this happens, it leaves empty space in the database tables which takes up a few bytes? Over a period of time, it may result in database oversize, if not optimized.
By database optimization, you reclaim the empty space and it also helps your database size to remain optimized.
You can optimize your database either from PHPMyAdmin (if you know web development) or by using a WordPress plugin (if you don’t possess any web design skills).
A plugin like WP-Optimize can help you to optimize your eCommerce website database regularly and keep it free from unused spaces. You will be able to set your database to get optimized without writing any manual scripts or codes, and that too in just a few clicks.
#3 Update WordPress plugins regularly
Now, this is something that is a no-brainer tip. But surprisingly, many WordPress webmasters don’t care to update the plugins on their websites regularly.
Why you must update your WordPress plugins regularly?
Outdated plugins not only slow down the websites but also invite intruders to enter the website and inject malicious scripts into the files.
If your WordPress eCommerce website is running slow, you must check and make sure that all of the plugins that you have used for your website should be always updated.
Updating WordPress plugins is a click process only. So, even if you don’t possess technical skills, you can also update the plugins yourself. Do make sure to take a database of the whole website first before you update any plugins.
Please note that sometimes, updating a plugin may result in some errors or problems on your website because of the customization that your web developer made while developing your website. If you experience such issues, you can always restore your backup and consult a WordPress developer. You can easily find several best yet affordable WordPress eCommerce developers in India who could help you to resolve the problem.
#4 Use WordPress plugin for image compression
Image Optimizer plugins can also help to increase the loading speed of your eCommerce website by way of image optimization. Increased page speeds can result in better search engine rankings, and will also improve conversion rates (increased sales and signups). It will also save you storage space and bandwidth.
There are many WordPress plugins like EWWW that would automatically optimize new images that you upload, it can also optimize all the images that you have already uploaded, and optionally convert your images to the best file format. You can also choose pixel-perfect compression or high-compression options that are visually lossless.
#5 Choose a reliable web hosting company
Web hosting, up to a large extent, is responsible for the performance of a website. So, if you’ve tried all the methods mentioned above but your eCommerce website loading speed is still slow, then you must consider switching over your web server.
With cutthroat competition, it’s not difficult today to find a reliable web hosting provider at affordable prices. There are several recommended web hosting companies like Hostgator, iPage, and iPower that provide high-performance servers and great support at an unbeatable prices.
