One of the main factors affecting user experience and conversion rates on your Shopify website is speed. Therefore, it is essential to identify which metrics to track to improve site performance. In this blog post, we will explore the critical metrics for Shopify speed optimization. Additionally, we will explain what the metrics mean and provide recommendations for improving them.
What Are the Key Metrics for Shopify Speed Optimization?
Different metrics measure how fast a website loads, such as:
- First-contentful-paint (FCP): the time it takes for the first content to appear on the user’s screen.
- Time-to-interaction (TTI): the time between when the user clicks on a link and when they can interact with the page.
- DOM-content-loaded (DCL): the time it takes for the DOM to load, which indicates if the webpage structure is ready.
It is vital to understand how these metrics relate to user experience and SEO rankings. For example, research shows that 53% of mobile users abandon a website if it takes more than three seconds to load. Additionally, Google considers site speed performance as one of the most critical factors in their rankings.
Which Metrics Are Most Critical for Shopify Speed Optimization?
Prioritizing metrics is crucial for speed optimization. Metrics whose improvements have a significant impact on user experience and conversion rates are the most critical. The most critical metrics for Shopify are FCP, TTI, and DCL, and here is why:
- FCP: Since this is the time it takes for the user to see content, the longer the FCP, the higher the chance that the user will abandon the website. Therefore, focusing on FCP is essential to decrease bounce rates and improve user experience.
- TTI: As the time the user has to wait before they can interact with the website, it’s essential to optimize page speed for a better user experience. If TTI is long, this could result in a frustrated user and potential loss of business.
- DCL: This metric concerns the speed with which the webpage’s structure is ready for display. It is an essential metric to optimize, as a slow loading DCL can result in job overload for the server, leading to slow loading times.
Tips for Improving the Key Metrics
Now that we have identified the three most important metrics to track, let’s explore some optimization tips to improve these metrics:
- Image optimization: When it comes to improving FCP and DCL, compressed and appropriately sized images are essential. You can achieve this using a variety of image optimization tools available that compress images without compromising on quality.
- Minimize HTTP requests: The more HTTP requests required to load a website, the longer it will take to load. Therefore, it’s best to minimize HTTP requests to speed up page load time. This can be achieved by reducing the number of scripts included in HTML, linking to resources that are cached, etc.
- Remove non-essential page elements: Non-essential elements like third-party scripts, fonts, and CSS can cause unnecessary delays in TTI. Removing or minimizing the use of such elements, especially those that are not crucial to the website’s functionality, can significantly improve page load time.
- Effective Caching: Effective caching strategies can improve loading times by storing commonly used data closer to the user on the web server. It ensures that users spend less time waiting for data to load.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by identifying and prioritizing the critical metrics when optimizing Shopify site speed, you can create a faster and more responsive website, leading to better user experiences and increased revenue. The metrics we identified include FCP, TTI, and DCL, and the optimization tips can improve the site speed of your Shopify website. By implementing these optimization tips, you can optimize your website for speed and, in turn, lead to increased traffic, conversions, and customer retention. Remember, regularly monitoring your website’s speed and tracking the critical speed metrics are an ongoing process, so it is essential to continue to check and optimize your site regularly.
