Improving the speed of a website on shared hosting can be pretty hard since the control is limited, but a couple of ways do exist to better the performance in order to get a faster user experience.
1. Optimize Images
The use of huge image files often slows down any website. These can be compressed to reduce the load time of the site.
Compression: Use TinyPNG, ImageOptim, or ShortPixel for image compression without any loss of quality.
Formats: Consider modern formats like WebP that allow for better compression and faster loading.
Lazy Loading: Lazy load images so they load only when in view.
2. Minimize HTTP Requests
Reducing the number of requests your site makes can do wonders for your speed.
Combine Files: Combine CSS and JavaScript files to reduce the number of requests.
Use Sprites: Combine many images into one sprite sheet to reduce requests.
Load Essential Files First: Load the most critical resources first, and defer less important files.
3. Enable Caching
Caching enables browsers to keep a copy of your site’s static assets for faster load times for returning visitors.
Browser Caching: Expiration headers on static resources tell browsers to cache files for longer.
Page Caching: Employ the use of caching plugins like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache for WordPress to create static versions of your pages.
Object Caching: If supported, enable object caching to accelerate database queries.
4. Leverage a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A CDN distributes your website’s static content across multiple servers worldwide, ensuring faster access for users regardless of their location. Popular CDNs include:
Cloudflare
StackPath
KeyCDN
5. Optimize Your Code
Messy or inflated code may cause a huge dent in your site’s speed. Optimization techniques include:
Minifying CSS, JavaScript, and HTML: Use UglifyJS and CSSNano to remove superfluous whitespace, characters, and comments.
Remove Unused Code: Clean out the useless CSS, JavaScript, or any third-party script.
Cut Down on Requests: Keep down the number of fonts, scripts, and advertisements loading from the outside into your website.
6. Minimise Server Response Time
When your server is slow, that affects your site’s speed too. In order to optimize:
Upgrade Hosting Plan: If possible, migrate to a higher-tier plan offering improved performance.
Optimize Database: Regular clean up and optimization in your database are necessary. For this, use phpMyAdmin or WordPress plugins like WP-Optimize.
Reduce Background Processes: Limit the scheduled tasks running on your website and cron jobs.
7. Use Lightweight Themes
Website themes can be a major cause for performance lag. Choose themes that are:
Optimized for speed
Free of excessive features and animations
Coded efficiently to minimize resource utilization
8. Avoid Too Many Redirects
Too many redirects slow down your website by piling up HTTP requests.
Fix Broken Links: Make sure internal and external links don’t redirect to an unnecessary link.
Use Direct Links: Always use the shortest route to resources without detours.
9. Monitor Performance
Regularly check your website speed and performance with the help of tools such as:
Google PageSpeed Insights
GTmetrix
Pingdom
These tools highlight bottlenecks and give recommendations for improvements.
10. Re-evaluate Your Hosting Provider
If your website still feels slow after optimizations, perhaps it’s time to look for a more reliable hosting provider offering:
Better resource allocation
Faster SSD storage
Optimized server configurations
Conclusion
These in turn will considerably improve the loading of your website in shared hosting. A fast website enhances user experience, boosts search engine rankings, and increases conversion rates. Regular monitoring and maintenance will keep increasing the performance.
