How to Speed Up Your Web Pages – ASP Knowledge Base

Introduction

The way a webpage is built and the content it contains can have a major impact on its speed. A slow website can frustrate visitors, lower engagement, and even hurt search rankings.

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to improve loading times and provide a smoother experience for your users.

Summary – Steps to Improve Website Speed

✅ Check your site using Browseo.net to identify slow-loading elements.
✅ Optimise images before uploading (compress and resize where possible).
✅ Compress or reconsider videos—they can significantly slow down pages.
✅ Use the YouTube-nocookie.com embed code to reduce third-party tracking requests.
✅ Limit tracking scripts (e.g., Google Analytics, HotJar) to only what is necessary.
✅ Remove draft sections to prevent unnecessary background loading.
✅ Use fewer widgets and carousels—limit entries and avoid excessive animations.

Understanding Website Speed

To help understand why some websites are slow, consider these analogies:

Website vs. Computer: Even a high-performance computer can slow down if it has too many programs running in the background. Similarly, a website may be sluggish if it’s overloaded with images, videos, scripts, and widgets.
Website vs. Car: A fast car will struggle if it's carrying too much weight—imagine having a sofa strapped to the roof! Websites can also be weighed down by unnecessary elements that slow them down.

Steps to Improve Website Speed

1. Check Your Page in Browseo.net

Before making changes, get a clear view of potential speed issues by running your webpage through Browseo.net. This tool helps you identify:

Whether images are too large.
If there are too many elements in widgets and carousels.

2. Optimise Your Images

Large images are one of the most common causes of slow websites.
Always compress images before uploading them. Use formats like JPEG for better compression.
Ensure images are no larger than needed for their display size.
For detailed guidance, check: Optimising Images for Your Website.

3. Compress and Minimise Videos

Videos require a lot of resources to load.
Before uploading, compress videos to reduce file size.
Ask yourself: Is this video necessary? If not, consider replacing it with an image or animation.
If embedding YouTube videos, use youtube-nocookie.com to minimise resource usage.
For detailed guidance, check: Adding YouTube Videos Without Slowing Down Your Website.

4. Reduce the Impact of Third-Party Scripts

Tags such as Google Analytics, HotJar, and tracking pixels can slow down your site.
Only keep essential tracking codes active.
Avoid duplicate Google Analytics tags (some sites mistakenly install multiple tags, significantly impacting speed).
Use Google Tag Assistant to check your installed tracking tags.

5. Remove Unpublished Draft Sections

Even if sections of a page are unpublished, they may still load in the background.
Instead of keeping unused sections live, move them to a separate draft page.

6. Optimise Widgets and Carousels

Widgets and carousels can improve page functionality but can also slow down performance. Here’s how to manage them effectively:

Limit the number of items in carousels.
Use fewer widgets on critical pages like the homepage.
Avoid widgets that make external API calls (e.g., Instagram Feed, Twitter Official).
See Appendix: ShowOff Widget Page Speed Impact Ranked (High to Low) with Recommendations

Conclusion

The good news is that website speed is largely within your control. By following these steps, you can significantly reduce loading times and create a smoother user experience.

By implementing these simple steps, you can create a faster, more user-friendly website that keeps visitors engaged and improves search rankings.

Appendix: ShowOff Widget Page Speed Impact Ranked (High to Low) with Recommendations

High Impact (Use Sparingly, Avoid on Key Pages)

📌 I Catcher Carousel – Multiple images and animations slow pages.
💡 Use fewer images, avoid placing on key pages.

📌 I Catcher Slider – Many slides and transitions impact speed.
💡 Limit slides, avoid on critical pages like the homepage.

📌 Exhibitors – High impact, especially with many images.
💡 Limit the number of exhibitors shown, avoid on key pages.

📌 Gallery List – Slows pages with excessive images.
💡 Reduce image count, avoid using on key pages.

📌 Speakers – Loading many profiles and images affects speed.
💡 Showcase only featured speakers, limit usage on key pages.

📌 Instagram Feed – External API calls increase load time.
💡 Use sparingly, limit the number of displayed photos.

📌 Video – Autoplay or high-resolution videos are resource-heavy.
💡 Avoid autoplay, limit video usage on key pages.

📌 Library List – Too many entries impact performance.
💡 Avoid on key pages, use concise lists.

📌 Seminar List – Large content and schedules slow load time.
💡 Limit usage on key pages, show featured seminars only.

📌 Twitter Official – API requests and external content increase load time.
💡 Use sparingly, avoid on key pages.

📌 Third-Party Code – Heavy or numerous external scripts slow the site.
💡 Use only if essential, avoid unnecessary code.

Moderate Impact (Manage Carefully, Keep Minimal)

📌 Form Builder – Complex forms increase load time.
💡 Keep forms simple, avoid extra fields.

📌 Testimonials – Rotating quotes can affect speed.
💡 Use selectively, keep entries minimal.

📌 Share Buttons – Increases with multiple third-party services.
💡 Use only on relevant content pages.

📌 Facebook Like – External API calls slow down pages.
💡 Use selectively, avoid on non-essential pages.

📌 Wishlist – Many saved items can impact speed.
💡 Restrict usage, avoid on key landing pages.

📌 Ticker – Complex animations slow pages.
💡 Keep text updates simple.

Low Impact (Minimal Effect, Use Freely if Needed)

📌 Social Icons – Minor impact unless excessive.
💡 Limit to key social networks, avoid clutter.

📌 Countdown Timer – Can be slightly slow if animations are complex.
💡 Use only for time-sensitive pages.

📌 Sitemap – Only a concern if very large.
💡 Keep lightweight, avoid on main landing pages.

📌 RSS Feeds – Low to moderate impact depending on size.
💡 Use only when necessary.

📌 VCalendar – Minimal impact, simple file download.
💡 No specific action needed.

📌 Zone Login Form – Only a concern if authentication is complex.
💡 Keep forms simple, avoid additional fields.

Final Notes

This guide provides clear, actionable steps to improve website speed without compromising on quality. Regularly reviewing your site’s images, widgets, and scripts will keep performance high and visitors engaged. 🚀