Things have improved since broadband, but the general rule still applies.Īfter you ping the server, it will start carrying each bit of the website to your browser screen. Extra large images (and complex file format)ĭo you remember the old days of dial-up internet? A large image could take up to a minute to load, one small bit at a time! It was agonizing! Your server will try to manage all the extra traffic, but it will slow down somewhere.Ĥ. But now the backend stuff is slowing down too. They have to call extra staff from the back to help serve everyone. Not only that, but the shop then needs to drag additional resources in to help. The more people come into the shop, the slower they get served. If you’re experiencing a lot of traffic, it will eventually cause your website to slow down.Īt its current level, your web server can only serve a certain number of people at once. Then, it has to travel all the way back across the ocean to load it on their screen. When a Japanese visitor clicks on your website, the information has to travel all the way across the Pacific ocean. Let’s say your server is based in America. When you click on a website, you send a message to the server. The data goes through cables, and it’s transmitted over satellites.Ī similar thing happens when you click on a website. That’s because the information has to physically travel to get there. If you’ve ever made a long-distance call, you know that it takes longer to make the connection. If your site is slow, it’s because you’re in a queue with lots of other sites! A cheap web host will usually give you a shared server, which means you’re sharing space and resources with countless other websites. Poor server performance is almost always down to your web host. No matter how quick everything else is, a slow server will always give you a slow start.
If your server’s performance is poor, it will take longer to respond. It’s asking for all the information and data, so it can load up your website. The very first thing that happens is this: Your browser (Firefox, Safari, etc) sends a ping to your server. Your visitor is asking your engine to start up. When someone clicks on your site, it’s like turning the key in the engine of a car. Slow site kill sales! Supercharge your WordPress speed with these 8 hacks. Ways to secure yourself and your business online.