In today's fast-paced digital world, your website’s page load speed is more important than ever. We all know the feeling of clicking on a link and waiting...and waiting...for the page to load. Most of us don't have the patience to stick around, nor do our potential customers. That’s why page load speed matters - a lot. If your site loads slowly, you’re losing out on conversions, frustrating your visitors, and risking a drop in search engine rankings. Let's dive into why page load speed is critical and how it affects every aspect of your online presence. 

First impressions matter 

Your website is often the first point of contact between you and your audience. When someone lands on your site their first impression forms within seconds. In fact, it takes about 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) for users to form an opinion about your website. A fast-loading page instantly signals professionalism and trust. On the other hand, a sluggish page can lead to frustration before your content even has a chance to shine. 

 

A huge 53% of mobile users will leave a page that takes longer than three seconds to load. That's more than half of your potential audience gone in just a few seconds. You could have the most beautifully designed website, but, if it’s slow, the design doesn’t matter - people won’t stick around to appreciate it. 

Mobile users are particularly impatient 

With over half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, optimising for mobile performance is no longer optional. Mobile users are typically on the go, and they expect sites to load quickly, wherever they are, whether it’s on a bus, in a cafe, or standing in line. However, mobile networks aren’t always as fast as desktop internet connections, so if your site isn’t optimised for mobile loading times can skyrocket. 

 

Here’s a quick comparison of the average mobile performance scores across some popular website platforms*: 

 

it'seeze: 92% 

Wix: 29% 

WordPress: 26% 

Squarespace: 19% 

*Based on Median Lighthouse Performance score - Web Almanac 2022: CMS (mobile) data. 

It's clear not all platforms are created equal when it comes to mobile performance. Choosing a platform like it'seeze that prioritises mobile optimisation can make a huge difference in how users experience your site on their phones. 

How page load speed affects SEO 

Page load speed doesn’t just affect user experience - it’s also a key factor in how search engines rank your site. Google has made it clear that page speed is a ranking factor, especially with mobile searches. So, if your site is slow, not only will users bounce, but Google might push your website down in search results. 

 

This can be a double whammy for your business. You lose out on organic traffic because your site isn't ranking well, and the visitors who do find you leave because of slow load times. 

Google’s Core Web Vitals - a set of metrics focused on user experience - are particularly important for measuring page speed and overall website performance. These metrics include: 

 

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures how long it takes the largest element (like an image or headline) to load. 

First Input Delay (FID): How long it takes for your site to become interactive. 

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): How much your page elements move around during loading. 

 

A slow page can negatively affect all these metrics, leading to a poor user experience and lower search rankings. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to evaluate your website’s speed and identify areas for improvement. You’ll get scores for both mobile and desktop performance, along with specific recommendations to speed things up. 

The link between page speed and conversion rates 

Conversion rate is the percentage of visitors to your website who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. If your page load speed is slow, your conversion rate will likely suffer. 

 

Research has shown that a three-second delay in page load time can result in a 50% decrease in conversions. That’s massive! If you're running an online store a slow page load could be the difference between a sale and an abandoned cart. 

User experience is everything 

User experience (UX) is a term that’s thrown around a lot, but it’s not just a buzzword; it’s at the heart of why page load speed matters. Visitors expect a seamless experience when they come to your site, and if they don’t get it, they’ll leave. A slow-loading site is one of the quickest ways to create a negative user experience. 

What causes slow page load speeds? 

Several factors can contribute to slow page load speeds. Understanding these can help you troubleshoot and improve your website’s performance. 

 

1. Large images: High-resolution images take longer to load, especially on mobile devices. Compressing images or using next-gen formats like WebP can drastically improve load times. 

 

2. Too many plugins or scripts: If you use a platform like WordPress, every plugin you add can slow down your site. Similarly, external scripts (like third-party ad trackers or analytics) can delay your page from fully loading. 

 

3. Unoptimised code: CSS and JavaScript that aren’t optimised can also cause your website to load slower than necessary. Minifying your code and using lazy loading can help. 

 

4. Poor hosting: The server where your website is hosted plays a big role in load speed. Cheap, shared hosting might save you money but at the cost of slower performance. Consider upgrading to a more reliable hosting solution and using a content delivery network (CDN) service if speed is a concern. 

 

All it'seeze websites are hosted at our data centre based in York, which offers our clients unparalleled reliability and exceptional performance. Additionally, all it'seeze clients benefit from Cloudflare's CDN, which offers advanced security and protection 

Speed matters 

In an age where users expect everything in the blink of an eye, your website’s page load speed can’t be an afterthought. It directly impacts your user experience, SEO, and conversion rates. Whether running an online business, blog, or portfolio, a fast site can make the difference between success and irrelevance. At it'seeze, we offer affordable SEO packages that can help you boost traffic and enquiries to your it'seeze website. 

 

Remember, platforms like it'seeze, with an average mobile performance score of 92%, clearly outperform website builders like Wix, WordPress, and Squarespace for mobile optimisation. Investing in your website’s speed isn’t just about ticking a technical box - it’s about ensuring your visitors have a smooth, enjoyable experience that keeps them coming back. 

Ready to speed up your site? 

The importance of page speed cannot be overstated in the digital landscape. Enhancing page speed is a continual process that yields significant benefits such as heightened user satisfaction, improved search engine rankings, and enhanced conversion rates. A slow to load website can hinder your online presence, but by proactively addressing speed issues, you can witness a remarkable boost in your website's performance. Take the it'seeze steps today to optimize your site's speed and witness the positive impact on your business