Speed Up Your Magento Site? It’s Actually Pretty Easy

If you’ve been running a Magento site for some time and have decided a speed boost is badly needed, it won’t surprise you to hear that many of the techniques for making this happen are very, VERY complicated. However, what might surprise you is the fact the vast majority of the performance tweaks can be made with a little DIY and for no cash outlay at all.So before calling in the pros and paying for a performance poke, try the following Magento site speed tips:Limit External Media SourcesIf you’re in the habit of using different sources for the content of your pages, you might want to think about cutting back a little. The reason being that when you link to say a social media feed, an image, a video or really anything else, your page doesn’t fully load until it has contacted another site and taken a copy of the media or content you’re looking to display on your own site.             Clean it UpNo matter how big or small your server or hosting package, clutter will always slow it down. The differences may be negligible in most instances, but could add up to a serious performance detriment sooner or later. If there are files you are not using and have no intention of using anytime soon, get rid of them.Minimise JavaThe more Javascript you use, the more time it will take for all elements of your pages to load correctly. There’s much to be said for savvy use of Javascript here and there, but don’t go overboard with it.Ensure Images Are CompressedDon’t fall into the habit of using images with file sizes way bigger than they need to be – there are always compression options available. And at the same time, think carefully about picture size and quantity to keep your site smooth, simple and speedy.Simple ThemesAlso on the subject of simplicity, it’s important to acknowledge that the faster and flashier your theme is, the more demanding it will be in terms of page load times. If speed is of the utmost importance to you and you can get away without too many bells and whistles, consider stepping down to a simpler theme.Limit Items Per PageIt’s also worth remembering that the more content any given page has, the longer it will take to load fully. As such, it’s a good idea in some cases to limit the number of products you have sharing the space on a single page as to separate them out onto additional pages could speed up individual page loading times no end.Upgrade Your HostingLast but not least…and admittedly not free of charge either…the easiest way to instantly make the biggest difference of all to your Magento site’s loading speeds is to upgrade your hosting package to a slightly more capable deal. Chances are upgrading just a step or two won’t cost you a fortune, yet the difference could be exceptional.