If your Shopify store is slow, you’re losing more than visitors; you’re losing sales! In the digital age, speed is everything to consumers. Shoppers expect a quick experience, and if they don’t get it, they will leave your store with no hesitation.
However, speed doesn’t only mean making your store faster. Every second counts when a consumer is experiencing something in your store, from the first click to checkout. A fast store increases the customer’s trust, creates an engaging experience to keep their interest, and will ultimately give you more conversions.
In this blog, we are going to show you how little changes can provide a significant impact on the speed of your store, which means boosting your rankings and revenue.
Let’s start with the obvious. Nobody likes to wait. In an age where people can quickly achieve instant gratification, your customers expect your store to load now, not in five seconds. Here is how site speed truly affects your store:
In short, speed is the difference between clicks and conversions. Therefore, within your growth strategy, Shopify speed optimisation needs to be a core focus.
The theme is the foundation of your Shopify store. While some themes look great, they can be bogged down by unnecessary code that slows down your site. Opt for lightweight, performance-focused themes like “Create”, “Toy”, or “Light.” Avoid heavily customised themes unless you have a developer to optimise the code.
Pro Tip: Always preview items for speed, including themes, using speed testing programs like Google PageSpeed Insights before purchase or downloading. This is one of the best first steps to Shopify store speed optimisation.
Images sell, but they can also slow down your store if not optimised. If you don’t set everything up correctly, your high-resolution images can severely increase load times, especially on a mobile network. Here’s how to resolve the issue:
Use an image compressor like TinyPNG or Optimizilla.
Convert images to a Webp file for faster loading online.
Use lazy loading so images only load when they enter the user’s view.
Finding the right balance between quality and speed is an important part of keeping customers visually engaged while not killing your performance.
Shopify apps are great for expanding the functionality of your store, but each app you install adds code and scripts, which will more often than not slow down your site.
You should audit your apps regularly:
Uninstall apps you have not used in 30 days.
If you can replace your apps with one app that does multiple functions, then do so.
Use the built-in functionality from Shopify when available, instead of relying on a 3rd party plugin.
The goal here should be fewer than 20 apps that are actively being used.
Similar to apps, third-party scripts (tracking pixels, chat widgets, ad tags, etc.) can slow your speed. Here are some suggestions:
Minification refers to the process of removing unnecessary characters, such as spaces and comments, from your code while maintaining its functionality. Minifying code reduces file sizes and helps with loading speed.
Use minification tools. A developer can set you up so minification happens automatically with a build tool such as Webpack or Gulp. Shopify themes will come minified to some extent, but be sure to run an audit on your code after you’ve made your customisations.
Shopify’s infrastructure already provides numerous speed advantages, such as:
Fastly CDN: Allows your content to load fast, no matter where your customer is located
Browser Caching: Caches content you’ve already downloaded for repeat visits
Make sure these features are turned on and correctly configured. Many times, you can significantly improve performance just by utilising Shopify’s foundational speed benefits. This is when working with experienced Shopify development services makes all the difference.
Nice fonts are great, but they only add to the page load time for your store. Fonts that are custom require us to make additional HTTP requests (so they will always be slower to load). System fonts load 100% faster. You can still use web-safe fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman to save load time and not sacrifice too much on style.
Just like you maintain your car, you need to regularly check your Shopify store for speed. Using Google’s PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix, Lighthouse (through Chrome DevTools), we can identify bottlenecks and assess improvements over a month. Make it habitual and habitual. These audits also serve a purpose for ongoing Shopify SEO optimisation.
With over 60% of shopping done on mobile, a smooth mobile experience is crucial. Use responsive themes, compress images, and limit popups or heavy scripts for faster performance. Mobile-first is essential, not just a trend.
Also, minimise redirects and fix broken links to avoid slowing down your site and hurting SEO. Regularly test for speed and functionality across devices.
At RepIndia, we understand that optimising your Shopify store for speed is essential for a successful online presence. By focusing on critical areas like image compression, minimising unnecessary apps, and utilising Shopify’s built-in tools, we can help you create a smoother, faster shopping experience that boosts user engagement and conversions.
As a leading Shopify website development company, we work closely with you to enhance your store’s performance, ensuring it stands out in search rankings and drives more sales. With our expertise, you’ll see the difference in both speed and customer satisfaction. Let’s optimise your store for success together.
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