Performance tips

Improving page speed on your Shopify store is crucial because a fast-loading site enhances user experience, improves SEO rankings, and reduces bounce rates.

Here's a breakdown of practical steps to optimize your Shopify store's page speed:

1. Optimize Images

Images often take up the most bandwidth, so optimizing them can have a huge impact.

• Compress Images: Use tools like TinyPNG or Shopify apps such as "Image Optimizer" to reduce file size without losing quality.

• Use Correct Image Format:

  • Use JPEG for photos (smaller size) and PNG only for graphics requiring transparency.

  • Consider using WebP, a modern format that offers superior compression.

• Lazy Loading: Enable lazy loading so images load only when users scroll to them.

2. Minimize and Remove Unused Apps

Each app you install may add additional scripts that slow down your site.

• Remove Unused Apps: Go through your app list and uninstall any that aren’t essential.

• Use Lightweight Apps: Some apps offer similar features but with less impact on speed—choose the most efficient ones.

3. Choose a Lightweight Theme (like our theme)

Time is money - every second counts. Novatheme is engineered for speed, providing ultra-fast load times that keep customers engaged and prevent bounce rates. Say goodbye to sluggish pages and hello to a seamless shopping experience.

• 1.2-second load times on average mobile

• 0.5-second load times on average desktop

• Industry-leading page speed scores

4. Minimize JavaScript and CSS Files

• Minify Files: Minify (compress) JavaScript, CSS, and HTML files to remove unnecessary spaces, comments, and characters.

  • Use Shopify apps like PageSpeed Optimizer or manually edit the theme files if you have coding experience.

• Defer Unused JavaScript: This prevents non-critical JavaScript from loading until after the main content is rendered.

5. Reduce Redirects and Fix Broken Links

• Minimize Redirects: Too many redirects can increase load times.

  • Check for unnecessary 301 redirects and fix them.

• Fix Broken Links: Use tools like Google Search Console or Shopify apps to identify and fix 404 errors.

6. Reduce HTTP Requests

Each element on your page (images, scripts, CSS files) requires an HTTP request. Reducing these can speed things up.

• Combine CSS and JavaScript Files: This reduces the number of requests.

• Limit Third-Party Plugins: Only use essential third-party scripts (e.g., live chat, analytics).

7. Optimize Fonts

Custom fonts can increase load times due to additional server requests.

• Use System Fonts: Consider using default system fonts (like Arial, Helvetica, etc.) to avoid additional loading time.

• Reduce Font Weights: Load only the necessary font weights (e.g., 400 and 700).

8. Monitor and Test Your Page Speed

Regularly check your page speed to monitor progress and identify any new issues:

• Tools to Use:

  • Google PageSpeed Insights: Provides mobile and desktop speed scores along with actionable suggestions.

  • GTmetrix: Offers detailed speed breakdowns, including waterfall charts.

  • Lighthouse (via Chrome DevTools): Provides in-depth performance audits.

By implementing these steps, you should see noticeable improvements in your Shopify store's page speed. Contact us if you need an Web Performance expert to help improve your Shopify store.