Factors You Need To Consider To Optimize eCommerce Website Performance

by Tech Geekk writer

Having an attractive and interactive website is essential to stand out in the crowded web market. Over the past few years, the web has gotten faster with the increased usage of broadband internet connection and customer’s expectations of how a website should perform.

However, there are certain common mistakes developers providing Magento online store development services must avoid in order to build a unique, high-performing eCommerce store. These mistakes can result in slow load page times and an unpleasant user experience. Many developers and enterprises (even large) often fail to address these issues that slow down your eCommerce site. So, let’s get started with some common mistakes that impacts your eCommerce website performance.

JavaScript Issues:

The popularity of JavaScript and jQuery plugins has provided easy access to a wide array of dynamic features for eCommerce websites. Even third-party JavaScript APIs (Application Programming Interface) are commonly used such as social networking buttons or icons and access to Google’s developer APIs like Google Maps. But the improper implementation of these scripts can severely impact your website’s page load time. There are many factors you need to consider including:

Loading multiple versions of jQuery: Content management systems (CMS) often use third-party applications that give you an option to load jQuery. This feature can be problematic if enabled on multiple applications. In addition to that, some developers perform a test upgrade of jQuery which results in breakage of some scripts. And as a workaround, they implement a second or even third version of the website.
Third-party APIs out of control: Many times, developers may have older, unsupported APIs implemented, or APIs that no longer exist. This can often result in waiting for a longer time for a browser to figure out that there is lack of API support. Loading many APIs at once on your website can also cause slower page load time. But keep in mind that these APIs have to wait for requests from third-party services, so you cannot control the response time. Also, poorly written APIs can affect website’s performance. It is advised to use APIs from reputed sources and companies.
Poorly written JavaScript: Using JavaScript inappropriately can cripple your website page load time. Unfortunately, you won’t always be able to view errors on the page. But you can start with checking the browser’s console and then look for error logs.
Not following best practices: It is important to follow JavaScript best practices, even when it doesn’t really affect your page load time. Perhaps the most important ones defer your JavaScript which makes your page load last, combining your JavaScript into a single file and avoiding the inline JavaScript as much as possible.

Image Handling:

You will often notice websites that have all their images saved in .png format, uncompressed images, or large sized images that are scaled down to fit the page. Here’s a quick rundown of how the image format works:

JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg) – This format is mostly used for complex images with a variety of colors. For example, digital photographs or stock images.
PNG (.png) – This format is most used for complex images with many colors and a transparent background.
GIF (.gif) – GIF images are animated images or small sized icons that aren’t complex. These images can also have a transparent background.
SVG (.svg) – This image format is quickly gaining popularity and ideal for scalable vector graphics. SVG images are generally icons that look good at any resolution.

Selecting incorrect image formats or large images unnecessarily can delay page load times to a greater extent.

Conclusion:

Addressing above mentioned common mistakes will not only improve website’s bounce rate but also help with your SEO strategy. The ideal page load time is approximately 2 seconds or less. So, address the underlying issues and deliver a great user experience through a high-performing eCommerce site. Do you have any other tips to optimize the performance of an eCommerce website? Let us know in the comments below.