How to Increase my Shopify page speed?

IN THIS BLOGPOST:

by
Ivan Kadic
January 16, 2023
Clock
5 min read
How to increase my shopify page speed

Page speed is one of those things that's easy to overlook. But the truth is, it's critically important—especially if you're running an online store. 

In fact, a study found that a 1-second delay in page load time can lead to a 7% loss in conversions. And when you consider that the average order value for ecommerce is about $106, that 1-second delay could cost you thousands of dollars in lost revenue. 

Fortunately, there are a few simple ways you can improve your page speed. In this blog post, we'll show you how to optimize your Shopify images, use a content delivery network (CDN), choose a theme that won’t slow down your page, and take advantage of browser caching to help speed up your store.

How to Optimize Your Shopify Images?

One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your page load time is by optimizing your images. The goal is to find the perfect balance between image quality and file size. The smaller the file size, the faster your page will load. But if you reduce the file size too much, your images will become pixelated and lose their quality. 

Fortunately, there are a number of tools that can help you optimize your images with ease. For example, you could try TinyPNG or ImageOptim. Just drag and drop your images into either tool, and they'll be automatically compressed without losing any quality. 

You can also use Shopify's built-in image resizer to optimize your images for specific product pages or collections. To do this, simply go to "Settings" > "Files" > "Image Resizing." Then enter the width and height you want your image to be displayed on each page type. Keep in mind that Shopify scales images proportionally, so you only need to specify one dimension (either width or height). Once you've entered the desired dimensions, click "Save." 

Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) 

A CDN is a global network of servers that delivers content based on the geographic location of the user. This is a great way to increase your Shopify page speed.

So, if someone in Australia is trying to access your store, they'll be able to load content from a server closer to them rather than loading everything from a single central location. This reduces latency and dramatically improves page speed—especially for users who are located far away from your server's primary location. 

Use Browser Caching 

When someone visits your store, their browser downloads all of the files necessary to display your pages—including HTML files, CSS files, images, and JavaScript code. This can add up quickly, especially if someone is visiting multiple pages on your site. Fortunately, there's a way to reduce the amount of data that needs to be downloaded with each new page visit: browser caching. 

When you enable browser caching, certain parts of your pages are saved in the visitor's browser, so they don't have to be downloaded again each time they visit a new page on your site. This speeds up page load times and makes for a better user experience overall. 

Fortunately, enabling browser caching on Shopify is super easy—simply go to "Online Store" > "Themes" > "Customize Theme" > "Advanced" > "+ Add Asset," then select "Enable Cache-Control Header." Once you've done this for all of the necessary files on your site, click "Save." 

Integrate AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) 

Google developed Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) in order to accelerate the mobile web. This tool transforms portions of a Shopify store to AMP and adds these pages to the Google index so that they may load practically instantly, load more quickly on mobile devices, and appear higher in mobile search results.

AMP pages are distinct from regular mobile pages. In search results, they are stored and preloaded, making the load time look quick. Additionally, they have severe rules on code, file sizes, and third-party plugins.

Shopify doesn't natively support AMP. You must utilize a mobile application like Shop Sheriff or AmpifyMe. AMP implementation does involve some effort, but the payoff is quick page loads on mobile devices.

Choose a Shopify Theme That Won’t Slow Down Your Site

Customers will be more likely to explore your items for longer on your website if your Shopify theme is bug-free and operates smoothly. If users are pleased with their experience, this can result in additional purchases in the future.

When choosing a theme for your Shopify store, you should make sure it loads quickly and adheres to your branad identity. Therefore, you should pick a theme that is updated, adaptable and modern.

Recommended Reading

When (And How) Should I Update My Shopify Theme?

HeyCarson can help you choose the right theme for your brand. Our theme directory has over 130 Shopify themes with reviews from store owners who have already used them. Each review contains ease of use, support and documentation, and design and functionality reviews.

Depending on how much each user has rated these points, you can find out whether this theme will affect your site speed or not. You can also check the experience description to help you decide if this theme is the right for your business.

Wrapping up

There are many factors that contribute to page speed—including image size, server response time, and third-party apps—but by following the tips above, you can make some quick improvements that will have a big impact on how fast your pages load. And when it comes to conversion rate optimization (CRO), every little bit counts.

Shopify Page Speed FAQs

How do I increase my Shopify page speed?

Here are some ways to increase your Shopify page speed: 

  1. Optimize your Shopify images
  2. Use a Content Delivery Network
  3. Use browser caching
  4. Integrate AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)
  5. Choose a Shopify theme that won’t slow down your page

What are some common causes of slow Shopify pages?

Here are some potential problems that might be causing your slow Shopify pages:

  • A problem with your hosting provider
  • Unexpected increase in traffic
  • Too many plugins installed 
  • A poorly coded theme
  • You’re using large images

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