How To Improve Speed And Performance

[LashJubilation]

Hello,

I looked up my speed and performance on pagespeed.web.dev and my scores are very low. How do I improve my scores? How do I get rid of unused JavaScript, compress my photos, and improve the overall speed? I've tried looking on youtube and googling how and couldn't find a definite answer.

Here's my store link if you wanted to look: lashjubilation.com 

[Moeed]

Hey @LashJubilation 

Improving your scores on pagespeed.web.dev and optimizing the speed and performance of your website is essential for a better user experience. Here are some general steps you can take to address the issues you mentioned:

1. Eliminate unused Javascript: Identify any JavaScript files that are not being utilized on your website. You can use a code analysis tool or browser developer tools to determine which scripts are not necessary. Remove or disable them to reduce the page load time.

2. Compress your photos: Large image files can significantly slow down your website. Use an image compression tool to reduce their file size without compromising quality. There are online services and plugins available that can automatically optimize your images during the upload process.

3. Enable caching: Implement browser caching to store static resources on a user's device, such as images, CSS, and JavaScript files. This allows subsequent visits to your website to load faster as the browser can retrieve these resources from the cache instead of downloading them again.

4. Minify CSS and Javascript: Minification involves removing unnecessary characters (whitespace, comments, etc.) from your CSS and JavaScript files. This reduces file sizes and improves load times. You can use online minification tools or plugins to automate this process.

5. Optimize server response time: Evaluate your hosting environment and server settings to ensure they are properly configured. If your website is experiencing slow server response times, consider upgrading your hosting plan or consulting with your hosting provider to improve performance.

6. Utilize content delivery networks (CDNs): CDNs store copies of your website's static files on servers distributed across various locations. When a user requests your website, the files are delivered from the nearest server, reducing latency and improving load times.

7. Use lazy loading: Implement lazy loading for images and videos, which means they only load when they become visible in the user's viewport. This technique helps prioritize content above the fold, improving initial page load times.

8. Reduce HTTP requests: Minimize the number of requests made to your server by combining and minifying CSS and JavaScript files. Additionally, consider using CSS sprites for small images or icon sets to reduce individual image requests.

These are just a few suggestions to get started with improving your website's speed and performance. Remember to monitor your site's performance regularly and conduct tests using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify further optimization opportunities.

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Best Regards,
Moeed

[Josh_Uebergang]

There's a plain ChatGPT answer if I've ever seen one.

To compress your photos, you can manually do it, but that's likely time-consuming depending on the number you have to do. A quick solution is to use an app like https://apps.shopify.com/smart-image-optimizer

It's unlikely your store would have unused JavaScript, but it's possible depending how it was made. You're best to work with a developer who can identify JavaScript that could be removed. There is a Google Chrome feature to help you identify unused Javascript: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/coverage/

[flareAI]

Hello @LashJubilation,

Greetings from the flareAI app helping Shopify merchants get $6Million+ in sales from Google Search, on autopilot! I am Gina, and I am here to help.

Improving the speed and performance of your Shopify website is vital for delivering a seamless user experience and boosting conversion rates. Below are the steps to improve the speed and performance of your Shopify site.

-> Enhance and Minimize JavaScript

Remove any unnecessary or unused JavaScript code from your website. Shopify themes often include various scripts and plugins that may not be essential for your specific requirements. Also, minimize JavaScript file size by eliminating whitespace and comments.

-> Optimize and compress images

Optimize and compress images on your website to reduce file sizes. Large images can significantly slow down page load times. Prior to uploading images to your Shopify store, resize them to the appropriate dimensions. Can use online tools to compress images without significant loss in quality.

-> Leverage Caching

Enable browser caching to store static resources (CSS, JavaScript, images) on visitors' devices. This allows faster subsequent visits as the browser doesn't need to re-download those files.

-> Minimize the number of HTTP requests

Each HTTP request adds to page load time. Minimize requests by combining CSS and JavaScript files into a single file, known as bundling or concatenation.

-> Enhance the performance of your Shopify theme

Select a lightweight and optimized theme from the Shopify theme store. Avoid themes with excessive animations, effects, or poorly coded elements that may negatively impact performance.

-> Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN caches your website's content on servers located worldwide, enabling faster content delivery. This reduces the physical distance between visitors and your website's server, improving load times. Shopify includes a built-in CDN, ensuring that your static content is already served from multiple locations. Make sure the CDN is enabled in your Shopify settings.

You can refer to this guide to improve your online store speed.

I hope this information proves useful.

Gina