A website that is easy to use and fast loading can be crucial to have an online presence. Website performance optimization should be at the top of your priorities list 92% of search clicks focus on the first page on Google. 67% of all clicks on search engines go to the first five results.
Companies that are focused on optimizing their website's performance have higher chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERP), increasing the number of return visits, decreasing bounce rate, and achieving faster and more conversions.
What Affects Site Speed?
Your site may be slow loading for a variety of reasons. There may be multiple reasons why the loading time of your website is slow. The most common ones are:
- JavaScript and heavy CSS use
- Poor server/hosting plan
- Large image sizes
- Browser cache not used
- Too many plugins and widgets
- Hotlinking images from slow servers and other resources
- Traffic volume
- Older browsers
- Slow network connection (mobile devices)
Various methods can help you in increasing page speed. We will discuss them later. Before troubleshooting your website’s issues, ensure you have tested website pages multiple times.
Learn more about page speed by reading our blog post on the top website performance metrics that can optimize your site and improve user experiences.
Top Strategies for eCommerce Website Optimization
Optimizing your eCommerce development services will increase targeted traffic from interested buyers. Your website must appear high in search results pages (SERP) if you want people to search for your business online. This allows you to maximize leads and sales.
Optimizing your website is more than using the correct keywords in your content. Let's look at some key strategies to optimize your website for the best results.
Mobile-First Approach
Since 2018, Google has been ranking websites using its mobile-first index. Here's how to optimize your website for smaller screens.
- A responsive design allows images and other elements to scale per screen size.
- You can read shorter meta titles on smaller screens if you prefer.
- Avoid long-form content.
- Pop-ups can block visitors from viewing your content.
- Cloaking is not possible with the mobile version. Your customers and search engines should see similar content.
It is essential to ensure that your website is adaptable to all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Optimize Content Marketing
Content marketing is a strategy to increase website traffic. This involves creating, planning, and distributing content to educate visitors about your products and industry.
This strategy improves brand awareness, engagement, and loyalty. Around 60% of marketers believe that content marketing drives higher demand.
Improving Page Speed
People don't want to wait for websites to load. The longer the wait, the more it costs. A site that takes 5 seconds to load will result in a 38% bounce rate. Good user experience starts with a website that loads quickly.
Google also ranks page speed as a ranking factor. This can have a direct impact on your SEO.
Some of the most common issues are related with uncompressed JS, CSS, and HTML. There is no CDN, page caching on CMS-powered sites, and large, unoptimized image files.
Image compression software such as Smush or kraken.io can optimize images. Video compressors such as Clideo and Clipchamp can be used to reduce the file size of videos. You can quickly fix the compression and caching issues and a lack of CDN with plugins and extensions for your CMS.
Core Web Vitals
Google will combine Core Web Vitals and its Page Experience algorithm to rank websites. It will be done in May 2021.
The algorithm will evaluate page content's "loading experience," interactivity, and visual stability. Many tools can help you assess the core web vitals of your website, including PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse.
Schema
Once Schema markup is added to a website, it creates a rich snippet - an enhanced description that appears on search results.
Microdata is supported by all the major search engines, including Yahoo!, Bing and Google.
Schema's real value is its ability to provide context for a webpage and enhance the search experience.
It needs to be made clear that schema additions have any effect on SERPs.
Conduct Keyword Research
Keyword research should be your priority. This is how your audience discovers your page, which is one of the critical factors determining your ranking. Start your keyword research by asking yourself what words to type into Google to find similar websites. To pinpoint keywords, you should also look at industry-specific lists or sources.
Although identifying the right keywords was once accessible, it's much more difficult today. It may not suffice to checklists. Many tools will help you keep up-to-date with keyword trends, such as Ubersuggest, Google Search Console, and Solve. Being current with keyword trends will help to keep your website's traffic from dropping as new content and trends emerge.
Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
A meta description is a description you see in search results under the URL of your website.
Meta descriptions are not SEO-friendly, but they can encourage searchers to click on your site and visit your product pages.
If you have a WordPress site, your meta descriptions should be at most 155-160 characters. You can also create descriptions of product pages from Shopify if your eCommerce store is online.
Meta descriptions and title tags are similar to search engines. They tell search engines about your website. Include keywords in your title tags to give search engines and readers a clear understanding of your offerings.
Shopping Cart Optimization
To optimize your eCommerce website, the shopping cart page is a must. It should be easy for a visitor to place an order when they visit the site. It is essential that visitors only fill out the necessary fields. This will ensure that they spend only a little time or effort.
- Sometimes, first and last names are separated.
- Email is required to register as an automatic user
- Telephone number
- The shipping method for the goods.
- Payment method
- An area for explanations of the order.
Clear and easy-to-understand information about the purchase and delivery will reduce abandoned carts. Pay attention to how the page appears on a mobile phone's screen - this device is more frequent than desktops in many niches.
Customers should be able to see the field in which a promotional code must be entered if they wish to use it, which is often done as a promotion in eCommerce.
Instant Chat Option
Each customer is different. It can be challenging to anticipate and address their needs in product descriptions and FAQ copies. You risk losing customers if your website can't provide this information. There are ways to help your prospects solve the purchasing decision puzzle.
Going with chatbot development services for eCommerce, or integrating instant chat, is the answer. Instant chat uses live chat software. It's easy to set up, customize, and use. It can be placed on any page and accessible to customers who live in different time zones.
Customers are essential when it comes down to making them happy. 73% of customers say excellent customer service values their time. Instant chat is a great way to save time for your customers and yourself.
Simplify The Checkout
Only some people who visit your website and place an order online will complete their transaction. As many as 77% of online retail orders are abandoned before they are completed. This is why? There may be many factors at play, but the most likely explanation is simply that checkout processes are too complex.
Ecommerce is a new way to shop. Users can cancel their order, close their browser, or move their shopping to another site with just a click. You will lose customers if any part of your site needs to be clarified or slowed down.
Simple is the best way to solve this problem. Eliminate all unnecessary hurdles. Only ask for the information that you require. Buyers can make purchases without setting up an account. Multiple payment options are available. Customers can restart the payment or purchase process if they find an error.
The Key Takeaway
Website optimization is a key component that must be considered while hiring eCommerce app development services. It addresses all of the crucial challenges that come with website use. You can improve your shopping experience by ensuring faster loading times, easier navigation, and quick access to customer service. Website optimization costs will vary depending on the scope of your project. Each website is different. After you have set your goals, your website should be assessed to determine what optimizations are needed to achieve them.
Your site will load faster—our proven track record in overcoming obstacles with innovative solutions to deliver superior performance.
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