Website speed matters, even in the age of mobile apps and social media. Website speed affects your rankings in Google search results, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and can affect how users perceive your brand. Website speed may seem like a topic you don’t have time to learn about, but luckily measuring website speed is easy.
Step 1: Choose a Website Speed Test Tool
There are several free and paid tools available for website speed tests. We’ll use the tool by Spark Factory since they provide an advanced report that allows for deeper optimization than most other tools on the market. The Spark Factory website to get started with setting up your site test. The default settings will be fine – if you wish you can change these later once you have the hang of it.
Step 2: Website Speed Test Settings
The next screen offers a few options for Website Speed test settings – Website URL, Test Duration (in seconds), and Connection Type. Website URL is what you visit when you go to your website. To determine this, either ask someone who works at your company or use the direct link to the page that you are optimizing for speed by typing in the URL directly into an internet browser window and then choosing ‘Open’ (do not copy and paste into another windows browser). The Website Speed Test setting will automatically default to 10 seconds, which may be too short depending on how quickly pages load on average.
Another important tool is Google’s Lighthouse tool. This tool checks the speed of your website using different criteria. Website Speed Test can also be a useful tool to get an estimate of how quickly your website loads compared to other websites. Website Speed Tools is another useful website for checking how quickly your website loads on browser types, connection speeds, and device types
“For this step, you need the following information: Website URL (website address), Number of Requests (optional) and Browser Type (optional)”
In order to use Website Grader, Website Optimization Quotes and GTMetrix optimization quotes all require that you enter in Website URL when requested. Lighthouse requires a Website URL as well but it does not specify which website root directory or folder you are optimizing for speed. You can also run a Lighthouse report from the inspect settings, however, you should always run these tests from an incognito tab to avoid your cache skewing the data. Website Grader also requires your Website URL. Website Speed Test does not require a Website URL, but it only tests pages 1 of index.html and is intended for use on small sites where Website Grader would have to test every page (the point of Website Speed Test is to speed up the in-depth analysis).
These are very different types of tools at different points in the development cycle: Website Grader is an assessment tool that measures site optimization level and suggests areas to improve Website Optimization Quotes can be used when optimizing as an end-to-end website speed solution and its quotes can be accessed via GTMetrix The Website Performance Metrics described above can be compared specifically against other websites, individual components.
Aside from general speed, there are many more speed factors that contribute to a site’s overall ranking.
Website Grader and Website Optimization Quotes go above and beyond current website speed factors, providing additional insights on many other aspects of a website’s performance that affect the user experience. Website Grader also offers valuable suggestions for improving site speed, Website Grader is a great tool to start with (see Website Speed Test Tools ). Website Speed Test & Website Speed Tools
Web Server Location: Does your web server reside in New York or London? If so you will likely see slower load times as data has to travel greater distances. Your Web Host – Many hosts are located in remote data centers where there can be significant latency to access the servers. Data Center Latency – Can vary depending on how far away from the actual server you are testing from.
Does your site load quickly on mobile? Website Speed Test Tools Website Grader : Website Grader analyzes your website and offers suggestions for making it faster. Pingdom Website Speed Test: Website speed is an important part of the user experience (UX). In fact, a slow website can affect conversion rates. Therefore, it’s vital that you make sure your site loads quickly.
