Keep Request Counts Low and Transfer Sizes Small

We have already mentioned this aspect in other optimization techniques, but it is no surprise that a lot of requests, coupled with large file sizes, will create an unpleasant experience for users. Larger files take longer to download and render. And this is especially true for users on mobile devices, where the network connections are usually not ideal for visitors. Render-blocking resources like JavaScript, CSS, and HTML that block and delay elements from being rendered should be reviewed first. These are the elements that are going to be the expected cause of performance issues.

Removing or reducing the number of files, and their size, will go a long way to improving the user experience. Now, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to this, so these optimizations can take many forms, such as using CSS sprites, reducing page redirects, compressing images, etc. If it has been a while since you reviewed your web page performance, you can run a quick website speed test, from multiple locations, to see how fast your pages load from various locations. You can also review any elements that may be slowing down your pages. Web page performance is a continual process and should be reviewed regularly, especially for pages that are critical to driving revenue growth.