Website Page Speed Optimisation Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Average Costs Associated With Web Site Optimization Services?

You’re asking about the average costs, right?

They can vary greatly, typically from £300 to £1500, but all these depend on the project size, expected results and the platform you are using.

It’s dependent on the service’s complexity and the professional’s expertise.

Always remember, you get what you pay for.

What are Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals are a set of specific factors identified by Google as crucial to a webpage’s overall user experience. These metrics focus on three main areas: loading performance (Largest Contentful Paint, LCP), interactivity (First Input Delay, FID), and visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift, CLS). They aim to quantify a user’s experience in a meaningful way, influencing how websites are ranked in search results based on their performance in these areas.

What is PageSpeed Insights?

PageSpeed Insights is a tool developed by Google that analyzes the content of a web page and then generates suggestions to make that page faster. It provides lab and field data about a page, offering a comprehensive view of its performance under different conditions. The tool evaluates the page’s adherence to best practices for speed optimisation and suggests actionable improvements.

Why are Core Web Vitals important for SEO?

Core Web Vitals are important for SEO because they directly impact a website’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). Google has incorporated these metrics into its ranking algorithm, prioritising sites that offer a better user experience. Websites with good scores on Core Web Vitals are likely to rank higher as speed and user experience become increasingly critical factors in SEO strategies.

How can I check my website’s Core Web Vitals score?

You can check your website’s Core Web Vitals score using several tools provided by Google, including PageSpeed Insights, Chrome DevTools, and the Web Vitals Chrome extension. These tools offer insights into how your website performs on LCP, FID, and CLS metrics, providing both real-world (field data) and lab data to help you understand and improve your site’s user experience.

What does a ‘Poor’ Core Web Vital score mean, and how can I improve it?

A ‘Poor’ Core Web Vital score indicates that your website does not meet the recommended thresholds for one or more of the Core Web Vital metrics, potentially leading to a negative user experience. Improving a poor score involves optimising your website’s loading times, interactivity, and visual stability. This can include strategies such as image optimisation, reducing JavaScript execution time, and ensuring content stability during page load.

Why is my PageSpeed Insights score different for mobile and desktop?

Your PageSpeed Insights score might differ for mobile and desktop due to these platforms’ different challenges and performance characteristics. Mobile devices often have less processing power and slower network connections than desktops, impacting loading times and interactivity. Google’s mobile-first indexing also prioritises mobile performance, making it crucial to optimise for mobile to improve overall SEO.

How do I reduce server response times (TTFB)?

To reduce server response times, also known as Time to First Byte (TTFB), you can implement server-side optimisations such as using a faster web server, optimising your server’s software stack, and implementing caching mechanisms. Additionally, choosing a hosting provider with data centers close to your user base can significantly decrease TTFB.

What common issues affect the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), and how can I address them?

Common issues affecting Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) include slow server response times, render-blocking JavaScript and CSS, resource load times, and client-side rendering. Addressing these issues involves optimising your server and critical path resources and ensuring that large page elements are loaded efficiently.

How can I improve my First Input Delay (FID)?

Improving your First Input Delay (FID) involves minimising or deferring JavaScript execution until needed, breaking up long tasks into smaller, asynchronous tasks, and using a web worker for complex calculations. These strategies help keep the main thread free, reducing the time between a user’s interaction with your page and the response to that interaction.

What strategies can help improve Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)?

To improve Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), ensure all images, embeds, and iframes have dimensions specified. Avoid inserting new content above existing content unless responding to a user action. This helps prevent unexpected layout shifts during page load, improving visual stability and user experience.

How often should I check my Core Web Vitals and PageSpeed Insights scores?

Regularly monitoring your Core Web Vitals and PageSpeed Insights scores is crucial for maintaining a high-performing website. It’s recommended to check these metrics at least monthly or after making significant changes to your site. This consistent evaluation helps promptly identify and address performance issues, ensuring an optimal user experience.