Why is My Website Loading Slow? Website Troubleshooting Steps

Your website’s loading speed can either be a catalyst for success or a stumbling block to growth. A slow loading website frustrates visitors and can have tangible repercussions for your business. For example, a high search engine page rank is imperative, but when Google takes the speed of your website’s content rendering on the screen into account, websites loading slow are pushed down in rank.

In this article, we have assembled guidance from the seasoned web hosting professionals at Liquid Web as we review some of those factors that can be controlled and improved upon to fix a slow loading website. Let’s walk you through the key troubleshooting steps involved. While doing so, we hope to shed light on why it matters so much — and how it directly impacts the performance of your website from a great many perspectives.

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Key points

These are the key informational areas covered in this blog post:

Better understanding of why website loading speed matters
Considerations and next steps for when a website loading slow
More about the corresponding content and browser performance metrics
Steps for troubleshooting a slow loading website
Top 10 tips to stop a website from loading slow
Frequently asked questions regarding website performance
Bringing back vitality to your online presence

Why website loading speed matters

Imagine a potential future customer visiting your site with excitement for exploring your product offerings. However, as seconds tick by and the site crawls along, that excitement turns into frustration. In today’s world when customers expect swift responses, a slow loading website can drive them away, potentially into the arms of your competitors.

Search engines, including Google, prioritize the user experience. So, if your website is slow to load, they might penalize it by pushing it down in search rankings. This can lead to decreased visibility and, ultimately, fewer visitors discovering your content. Your online business essentially becomes invisible when this happens.

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Considerations and next steps for a website loading slow

When troubleshooting a slow loading website, the first thing we should do is run a baseline so we have a future reference to which we can refer. We do this to see how much of a difference our changes have made. This measurement allows us to compare and contrast increases or decreases in load time. To accomplish this, we can use several online tools that provide an excellent method for obtaining that data. Here are three sites that provide superior feedback on a website’s performance in terms of the speed it loads at:

As a side note, it should be mentioned that distance, network speed, routing issues, computer speed, and multiple other factors can come into play here as well. This is why selecting a standard metric and matching budget we want to aim for is so important. Eliminating as many variables as possible in our testing framework will increase accuracy when testing.

About the corresponding website performance metrics

Metrics are the measurements we employ to determine the optimal page loading times and overall content performance of a website that can be impacted by such things as the database queries used to fetch content and other factors. The type of metrics will vary with the tools used, but most of the primary measurements used are based can be grouped into two categories:

Content performance metrics
Browser performance metrics

Typically, website performance scores are weighted as some factors are more critical to usability than others.

Reviewing the various types of content performance metrics

Each of these metrics is weighted at anywhere from 5% to 25%:

First Contentful Paint — FCP determines how long it takes a browser to render the first piece of DOM content that loads after a client hits your page. The lower the FCP score, the better the results.
Speed Index — The speed Index determines how quickly visual content is displayed when a page loads.
Largest Contentful Paint — LCP measures the time it takes for the largest image or text block to load.
Time to Interactive — The TTI measurement notes how long it takes a webpage to become completely interactive.
Total Blocking Time — The TBT measurement is defined as the entire time a page blocks user input. This includes mouse clicks, screen taps, keyboard presses, or other input methods.
Cumulative Layout Shift — CLS measures the totals of every single layout shift score for any unexpected shift in a website’s layout, which happens during the full life of the webpage.

We can see these results in several online tests which provide the results of our scans. Additionally, some online calculators provide a more in-depth means to identify how each score affects our website. They also allow us to choose either the mobile or desktop version of a website. From experience, your mobile site is more important to site rankings for Google.

Reviewing the various types of browser performance metrics

These metrics are used to gauge a website’s overall usability, speed, and performance related to browser timings:

Redirect Duration — the total time used redirecting URLs before the full page loads.
Connection Duration — the time spent connecting to the server.
Backend Duration — the time it takes to generate a server response.
Time to First Byte (TTFB) — the total time consumed receiving the first byte.
First Paint — the point at which the browser begins page rendering.
DOM (Document Object Model) Interactive Time — this measures the time it takes for the browser to finish loading and parsing the HTML code.
DOM Content Loaded Time — the point at which the DOM tree is loaded.
Onload Time — this measurement indicates when the page has finished downloading.
Fully Loaded Time — the point when the following conditions have occurred:
- First Contentful Paint has happened.
- Onload has happened.
- The network and CPU are idle.

These metrics are used to gauge a website’s overall usability, speed, and performance.

Steps for troubleshooting a slow loading website

Step #1. Identifying the problem

Troubleshooting a slow loading website starts with pinpointing the root cause of the issue. Begin by examining the different aspects that could contribute to sluggish performance. Check the Time to First Byte (TTFB), which measures the time it takes for the server to send the initial byte of data to the user’s browser. A high TTFB can indicate server-related problems.

Additionally, assess the overall page load time, as this encompasses the duration it takes for the entire webpage, including images and scripts, to fully load. If the website’s visuals are slow to appear, consider looking into the rendering time, which measures how quickly the browser displays the content. Unoptimized scripts, outdated code, or unnecessary elements can impede performance. Keep an eye on the size of your media files, ensuring images and videos are compressed without sacrificing quality. The complexity of your website’s design and the usage of plugins may also impact loading speed. Delve into the number of HTTP requests the webpage is making, as an excess of these can bog down performance.

1.1. High-level categories of focus for your website improvement efforts

At a high level, the following categories of issue are typically identified, assessed, and prioritized to ensure a website is optimized fully. These areas include:

Poorly designed website code
Content Management System (CMS)-related optimizations
Inefficient website structure and implementation
Operation system and server problems
Hosting issues

Although will a take a deeper dive in the various areas of concern related to a slow loading website with more detail, any particular issue discussed here will to fall into one of the high-level categories shown above. This may help your team organize your website improvement project.

Step #2. Analyze your website

When faced with the frustration of a website loading slow, the first step involves a thorough analysis using both troubleshooting tools and browser developer console. Employing user-friendly online tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix provides a comprehensive overview of a website, helping you identify and prioritize areas for improvement in slow website troubleshooting.

Start by measuring the Speed Index, aiming for a snappy experience under 1700 ms. This metric encapsulates the total time it takes for your webpage to fully load. With regards to speed data points, here are some important considerations:

Time to First Byte (TTFB) — measures the duration it takes the server to send the initial byte of data to a user’s browser. A lower TTFB means a more responsive server. When measuring TTFB, consider utilizing a static file like readme.html in WordPress. This approach provides a clearer assessment of the server’s initial response time.
Browser Developer Tools — switching gears to browser developer tools, accessible by right-clicking on your webpage and selecting “Inspect” or using keyboard shortcuts, provides an on-the-spot, granular examination of your site’s performance.
Network Tab — navigate to the “Network” tab within developer tools to unveil real-time insights into each element’s loading time. The waterfall chart, a visual representation of these loading times, is particularly helpful. Identifying and addressing these culprits can significantly enhance your website’s speed.
Console for Error Messages — examining the browser developer console can help in slow website troubleshooting. Addressing these errors can lead to smoother loading times and a more seamless user experience.

Step #3. Optimize your website’s performance

Once armed with insights from your website analysis, enhancing its performance is the next crucial step toward eliminating the issue of the website’s slow loading:

Use Data Compression and Optimization — compress and resize image files to strike a balance between quality and load time. Choose the right file format, where JPEG is the best image format for photographs and the PNG is the best image format for graphics. Taking this step, ensures efficient loading without sacrificing visual appeal. Gzip is a compression format for files that greatly reduces the size of your website’s assets, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. or videos on your website, you can use a video compressor to reduce the size of video files while maintaining quality, ensuring faster page loading and smoother playback on mobile devices. The reduction in file sizes translates to quicker loading times, benefiting both your users and your website’s search engine performance.
Minimize HTTP Requests — reduce the volume of elements on your webpage and combine CSS and JavaScript files. This minimizes HTTP requests, streamlining the loading process. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can offer specific recommendations for optimizing requests.
Implement Browser Caching — leverage browser caching to store static resources on users’ devices. This way, returning visitors don’t need to re-download the same files, significantly speeding up subsequent visits.
Utilize a Content Delivery Network (CDN) — consider employing a CDN to distribute your website’s content across servers globally. This reduces latency by serving content from servers closer to the user’s location.
Clean Up Your Code — optimize your website’s code by removing unnecessary spaces, comments, and line breaks. Ensure your JavaScript and CSS files are minified to reduce their size. Review and deactivate unnecessary third-party scripts and plugins. These can make a website loading slow. Prioritize essential scripts and choose lightweight alternatives when possible.
Regular CMS and Plugin Updates — keep your CMS and plugins current. Developers often release updates that include performance enhancements, improving the overall speed of your website.
Implement Asynchronous Loading — one of the key strategies to enhance your website’s loading speed is to implement asynchronous loading for non-essential scripts. This allows your webpage to continue loading while scripts are fetched, preventing them from blocking the rendering process.
Optimize Server Response Time — work on reducing server response time by optimizing database queries, leveraging caching mechanisms, and ensuring your server hardware is up to the task.

Step #4. Review your server configuration

Often a review of your server configuration can yield opportunities to optimize your website for performance:

Hosting Plan Evaluation — begin by evaluating your hosting plan. Shared hosting can be cost-effective, but if your website experiences high traffic, consider upgrading to managed VPS hosting or a dedicated server. These options offer dedicated resources, minimizing the risk of slowdowns during peak times. Choosing the right hosting provider with robust infrastructure and optimized servers is crucial. A reputable host can significantly enhance website speed by ensuring stable and efficient hosting environments.
Data Compression — this compression is typically enabled through server configurations. If you’re using Apache Virtual Hosts, you can configure settings globally. You can include data compression settings in the Apache Virtual Host configuration file. Alternatively, you can configure data compression settings on a per-domain or per-directory basis using the .htaccess file. For NGINX, adjustments are made in the server block configurations. Dive deeper into optimizing your server’s performance by exploring our comprehensive guide on configuring NGINX.
Caching Mechanisms — implementing effective caching mechanisms can significantly improve loading times. Full page caching involves storing complete HTML pages generated by your website’s CMS in a static form. Explore options like opcode caching for PHP, browser caching, and object caching. Properly implemented caching diminishes the need for the server to generate content on every request, delivering pre-generated content to users swiftly.
Content Delivery Network (CDN) Integration — leverage the power of a Content Delivery Network (CDN). A CDN distributes your website’s static assets (images, scripts, stylesheets) across multiple servers worldwide. This ensures that users receive content from a server geographically closer to them, reducing latency and accelerating loading times.
Database Optimization — a poorly optimized database can make your website loading slow. Regularly optimize your database by removing unnecessary data, indexing tables, and optimizing queries. This streamlines data retrieval and contributes to faster loading times.
Software Updates — ensure that your server software is up to date. Regularly update your operating system, web server software (like Apache or NGINX), and any other server-side applications. Updates of this type often include bug fixes and performance improvements.

By systematically reviewing and optimizing your server configuration, you pave the way for a faster, more reliable website. These tweaks, tailored to your server environment, can enhance the general performance of your online presence.

Step #5. Test your website and monitor improvements

It is wise to test your website for performance and tracking the results

Start with PageSpeed Insights — Google’s PageSpeed Insights is an excellent starting point. Simply enter your website’s URL, which provides a detailed analysis of your site’s performance on both mobile and desktop devices. It offers suggestions for improvement, highlighting areas where you can enhance speed. After implementing optimizations, regularly retest your website using PageSpeed Insights. Track changes in the overall score and specific recommendations. Aim for consistent improvements and address new issues as they arise.
Use Chrome DevTools for Browser-Level Insights — Chrome DevTools, accessible by right-clicking on your webpage and selecting “Inspect” or using keyboard shortcuts, which provide browser-level insights. Use the “Network” tab to see the loading times of individual elements.
Review Google Analytics Site Speed Reports — if you have Google Analytics set up for your website, explore the Site Speed reports. These reports offer valuable metrics such as page load times, server response times, and page-specific performance data. Analyze trends over time to identify improvements or potential issues.
Automated Monitoring with Uptime Tools — use uptime monitoring tools to receive alerts if your website experiences downtime or slow response times. Services like Pingdom or UptimeRobot can notify you of any performance issues, allowing quick intervention.
Analyze Server-Side Metrics — dive into server-side metrics using server logs. Monitor server response times, error rates, and resource usage. This information can help you identify any server-related issues impacting performance.

Top 10 tips to stop a website from loading slow

Let’s summarize the best practices for troubleshooting and preventing website loading slow issues, ensuring a seamless and efficient user experience:

Leverage compression — Resize and compress images to balance visual quality and loading speed. Use modern image formats like WebP for improved compression.
Consolidate HTTP requests — consolidate JavaScript and CSS asset files to minimize HTTP requests. Minification is the process of removing unnecessary characters, spaces, and comments from CSS and JavaScript files without altering their functionality. This results in smaller file sizes, facilitating quicker downloads and rendering by browsers.
Use minification — Cloudflare provides several auto minify tools that streamline the process (automatically minifying CSS, JavaScript and HTML files on the fly, requiring no manual intervention).
Use expiry dates appropriately — set appropriate expiration dates for static resources, enabling efficient browser caching and reducing the need for repeated downloads.
Distribute content wisely — distribute content across global servers using CDNs to minimize latency and deliver content swiftly to users worldwide.
Assess server response times often — evaluate and optimize server response time, focusing on Time to First Byte (TTFB) to expedite the initial data delivery to user browsers.
Review and optimize all website elements — conduct a review of third-party scripts and plugins. Prioritize essential scripts, optimize, or remove non-essential ones.
Employ asynchronous loading — enhance script loading efficiency through asynchronous loading, allowing the browser to fetch scripts in the background without hindering the rendering process.
Keep the CMS updated — regularly update the CMS and plugins to leverage performance enhancements. Enable CMS-specific optimizations (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and WooCommerce) Optimize and review plugins to minimize their impact on loading times.
Audit your website routinely and analyze server logs — schedule routine website audits using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix. These audits offer detailed insights and actionable recommendations for optimizing performance. Then, review server logs for errors and ensure hardware aligns with website traffic demands to optimize server-side resources.

Frequently asked questions

Multiple factors can contribute to a website loading slow, including large image files, excessive HTTP requests, server-related issues, or unoptimized code. Each HTML element on a page, such as images, scripts, and stylesheets, is an HTTP request. Excessive requests can overwhelm the server, leading to slower loading times.

Utilize tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix for in-depth analysis. Browser developer tools like Chrome DevTools also offer insights into loading times and resource utilization. Review your website’s media files, particularly images. Remember that large images can greatly slow down the webpage loading times as those large files take longer to download.

Implementing various techniques can significantly improve loading speed. Focus on optimizing images, reducing HTTP requests, leveraging browser caching, and employing CDNs. Minimizing these requests by combining files and optimizing resources can expedite loading times. Browser caching stores static resources locally on website visitor’s device, reducing the need for reoccurring downloads. Optimize server configurations and address server-related issues to minimize TTFB. Implement asynchronous loading for scripts. Regularly review and optimize code, including JavaScript, CSS, and server-side scripts.

Multiple online tools have an established reputation for providing reliable information when reviewing all these aspects. Some of these tools include:

Users can employ these tools in tandem to provide a complete image of the troubleshooting steps that can be taken to speed up a slow loading website.

Attract audiences with improved speed

Website speed is crucial because it enhances search engine rankings. Using the above information can speed up your website increase customer retention. Additionally, fast sites typically receive more traffic and have better conversion rates. It is well worth your time to investigate these issues and correct or eliminate any problems that slow down the speed of your website.

By integrating the listed steps into your website management strategy, you address existing performance issues and pave the way for a consistently swift, responsive, and user-friendly online experience.

Prioritizing swift website loading is not just a preference but a necessity. Choose a quality web hosting provider, QA your website using online tools to uncover performance bottlenecks, conduct regular audits to assess the website’s overall health, review and optimize website code and plugins, and use CDNs to distribute content globally.

In need of high-performance hosting? Check out Liquid Web’s plans to get started today.

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