How to enhance your page performance
The internet revolution is the basis of rapid information transfer systems being developed. But, even in regions offering the best broadband access, the loading time for many web pages seem to be dismal. The reason being the development of complex and highly featured tools, which make pages heavy and fail to synchronise well with the search engines. Optimum page performance can be maintained without sacrificing the page quality, by adhering to some simple rules.
Carry out an independent review of all the contents, images, graphics and animations presented on the page, and evaluate the necessity to keep all of those. Remove elements that would not affect adversely the layout by their absence. Do not have multiple images that load on their own and hence take up valuable time. Reduce the number of HTTP requests the page depends upon. Avoid interconnected tables, which prevent display of the page even by parts. Use CSS sprites wherein, multiple images are connected and are loaded through a single HTTP request. Minimize the use of frames, which also reduces the load time. Optimise images before uploading on to the site. Using tools like Photoshop resize and crop JPEG images or use a JPEG compression tools to create appropriate images.
If there are a number of advertisements you host on the web page, the complete loading will be possible if all images and banners are displayed fast enough. If the contributing servers on which the ads are located are slow, your page may be displayed in parts or not at all. Persuade those who own the ads to increase server speed, or display such ads using your own server, so that time taken is reduced. While designing the page, set out with a self imposed restriction on maximum page size between 25 to 30 Kb. Within each page do not allocate more than 15 to 20 Kb to images. Alternatively, go for image interlacing, wherein the page is loaded displaying a smaller or slightly unclear image. Then as the viewer is going through the layout further information is downloaded and the images appear bigger or clearer.
Remove all plug-ins that are obsolete. Also for those currently in use, always look up for improved versions that may take lesser time to load.
The web world is notorious for the difficulty in placating the problem. Avoid errors in the supporting codes and also in the layout. Be on the lookout for pages or content that has been deleted. Do not let users see a bland page saying page not found or Error number. Users may blame the slow connection pr their own computer for the fault and keep on trying. The better way is to add a sentence “This page or data no longer exist” or “has been deleted.”
Avid music files to run alongside the content This will appear haphazard due to differences in running of any video and audio clips. Rather keep it as an option at the corner of the page. This will allow the page to load faster, while the user has an option to view the clip or decline.