How to Speed up WordPress Blog Loading Time

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How to Speed up WordPress Blog Loading Time

Your blog loads faster than 97% of most websites tested by Pingdom’s Website Speed Test that you can see in the survey. It wasn’t naturally this fast, the idea took some effort. To save you time and allow you to speed-up your WordPress blog, I’ve outlined some specific techniques to do this on any WordPress driven internet site. Some of these items will never be options if your hosting company doesn’t accommodate them, but many of them will be relevant no matter what your web host.

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BEST PRACTICES FOR LOAD TIME OPTIMIZATION

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1) Remove Unused Scripts & Stylesheets 

If you are not using some scripts and stylesheets then its better to remove it.

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2) Remove Unused Images Referenced via Stylesheets

Simple is that, Do not refer what you don’t use.

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3) Disable Unused Plugins 

Make sure you are live with only those plugins which are activated and actually being used, elsewise they’ll clog-up your blog for no good reason.

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4) Ensure Elements Load Only When In Use

For example, If some function is to be called on just one page then don’t  load a script in your header file throughout your blog

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5) Use JPG’s Instead of PNG’s when Appropriate

JPG’s have smaller size as compared to other formats, If transparent image is not needed then you don’t need it to be a PNG.

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6) Don’t Rely on Slow Third Parties

Twitter is notorious for slow connections and load time, cache their data, So don’t rely on it being live all the time elsewise it will destroy your website load-time.

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7) Localize External Files Whenever Possible

Try not to make external requests when not required. The more it is, the more servers you have to trust and results in slowing your website.

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8) Load All Stylesheets in the Head Before scripts where possible

JavaScript normally takes longer to load as compared to stylesheets, One never wants to increase loading time on website for styles by using JavaScript.

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WORDPRESS PLUGINS FOR LOAD TIME OPTIMIZATION

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a) Use WP Super Cache (Click here)

While this might be less favored than W3 Total Cache, But I have found that it reduces load time more decently. You just have to handle with a less user friendly interface to reap the benefits of it.

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b) Use WP Smush.it (Click here) 

Ideally you’ll have the capacity to just bulk “smush” your complete images by Yahoo’s Smush. It’s service is usually a bit unreliable however. If it’s not working right at that moment, you can always operate a GTmetrix report in your site and manually get the compressed version from the images it reports because not being optimized.

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c) Use Better WP Minify (Click here)

Sometimes it’s advisable not to lessen your files, so test the load time with Pingdom’s Internet site speed test before and also after enabling it, to determine if it makes sense on your site. This is particularly true when you have a lot of CSS documents being loaded, as one big folder, they can take a lot longer to load than they’d separately.

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THIRD-PARTY SERVICES FOR LOAD TIME OPTIMIZATION

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1) Use a Content Delivery Network (I recommend MaxCDN)

If you don’t know about a CDN, read this.

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2) Use CSS Sprites (create them with SpriteMe)

This makes it easy to create CSS and  implement to your blog.

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Why Fast Load Times so Effective ?

Simply because nobody wants a gradual loading website. With today’s high pace connections and uber short attention spans you’ve about 9 Seconds to seize someone’s attention before they surf to the next website. Thats the same timeframe as my son’s Goldfish “Fish Stick” (long story). So if the website takes about of which long to load? Potential clients/visitors/subscribers have likely already moved onto other websites to not ever return to yours.

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SEO Benefits?

Nicely, Google states: It takes load times under consideration. There are (theoretically) over 300 different factors which come into play inside insanity that is SEO and looking for Google’s attention this remains to be an important one. Fast load times tend to be more for your visitors and clients. Plus – who doesn’t like things to go faster with regards to the internet? NOBODY. Nicely, except your competition.

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Conclusion: 

I know this was many information to process and have through. So just to conclude everything again to keep it all straight:

• Assessment Your WordPress Theme
• Assessment Your Plugins (Reduce, Minify CSS, JavaScript, as well as HTML) 
• Use Browser Caching
• Minimize HTTP Requests (by performing the above)
• Optimize Ones Images!
• Move JavaScript from the Footer
• Get a CDN (if justified)
• Move to a different Host (again if justified).

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SHARE YOUR RESULTS

Test out your load time before next guide. Once you have fully implemented these methods, please share your brings about the comments! Also, in case you have any further recommendations I’d adore to hear those too!

How to Speed up WordPress Blog Loading Time How to Speed up WordPress Blog Loading Time How to Speed up WordPress Blog Loading Time

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