Table of Contents
- Why is Your Shopify Store Slow? Factors Affecting Performance
- How to Check Your Shopify Store Performance & Speed?
- Best Ways to Improve Shopify Store Performance & Speed
- Shopify Store Performance Case Study: Speed Optimisation for Australian Clothing Store
- Conclusion
- How WPPRO Helps You Improve Shopify Store Performance & Speed?
Speed is essential for any online business, especially for Shopify stores. Customers expect quick loading times, and if your website takes longer than two seconds to load, you risk losing potential sales. Many users overlook performance while creating visually appealing stores, leading to slow speeds that ultimately harm sales.
As a website developer, I frequently encounter queries about improving Shopify store performance, especially from those using pre-built themes or multiple apps. This article provides a comprehensive checklist of strategies to enhance your Shopify store’s speed.
Why is Your Shopify Store Slow? Factors Affecting Performance
Understanding the reasons behind a slow Shopify store is crucial. Here are some common factors:
1. Unoptimised Images
Large or uncompressed images can significantly slow down your store. Always optimise your images before uploading them.
2. Too Many Heavy Apps
Apps run scripts that can affect performance, even if they are not in use. Regularly audit and remove unnecessary apps to improve speed.
3. Theme and Customisation Issues
Heavy themes or poorly executed customisations can lead to slow load times. Choose lightweight themes and ensure custom code is clean.
4. Outdated or Bad Code Structure
Poorly structured or outdated code can bog down performance. Regularly review and optimise your codebase.
5. Cache Is Not the Issue (Usually)
Shopify uses server-level caching. Unless misconfigured, caching is typically not a concern.
6. Content and Plan Mismatch
If your content load exceeds your Shopify plan’s capabilities, consider upgrading your plan to accommodate higher traffic.
7. Too Many Third-Party Scripts
Excessive scripts from third-party tools can slow down your site. Limit their use and prioritise essential scripts only.
8. Too Many Requests to the Server
Automated processes and external requests can flood the server, leading to sluggish performance.
How to Check Your Shopify Store Performance & Speed?
Measuring your site’s performance is the first step to improvement. Tools like Pingdom and GTMetrix can provide valuable insights. Use the following tools:
Pingdom
Pingdom is a user-friendly tool that evaluates your site’s performance, highlighting areas needing improvement.
GTMetrix
GTMetrix offers a detailed analysis of your website’s speed, including core web vitals, helping you identify and rectify issues.
Best Ways to Improve Shopify Store Performance & Speed
Implement the following strategies to enhance your Shopify store’s speed:
1. Use a Lightweight Theme
Select a lightweight theme that suits your brand and test its performance with your store’s content.
2. Compress and Resize Images
Utilise Shopify’s built-in image resizer or external tools to ensure images are optimised for the web.
3. Minimise Number of Apps
Reduce the number of apps to decrease background scripts and improve loading times.
4. Use Shopify’s Built-In Features First
Leverage features like SEO tools, email marketing, and inventory management without relying on extra apps.
5. Defer Unused JavaScript
Identify and defer non-essential scripts to improve load times.
6. Lazy Load Images and Videos
Implement lazy loading to ensure images and videos load only when they come into the user’s view.
7. Reduce Redirect Chains
Minimise redirect chains to speed up the user’s journey through your site.
8. Use System Fonts or Optimised Web Fonts
Using system fonts can reduce load times and improve user experience.
9. Using a CDN for Speed and Deliverability
Shopify’s default CDN optimises asset delivery globally, enhancing performance.
10. Reduce Third Party Script
Utilise Tag Managers to streamline script management and prevent performance issues.
11. Use Browser Cache to Improve Site Speed
Encourage browsers to store your site’s data to speed up subsequent visits.
12. Minimise or Wrap JavaScript Requests
Aggregating scripts can reduce the number of server requests and improve loading efficiency.
13. Avoid Animated GIFs
Limit animations to enhance site speed. Convert heavy animations to lighter formats.
Shopify Store Performance Case Study: Speed Optimisation for Australian Clothing Store
An eco-friendly clothing store in Australia improved its loading speed by 30% by disabling non-essential scripts and replacing heavy apps. Further optimisations included CSS minification and lazy loading, resulting in halved loading times and increased conversion rates.
Conclusion
Optimising your Shopify store’s speed is vital for user satisfaction and conversion rates. Focus on compressing images, reducing app usage, and leveraging built-in Shopify features to enhance performance. Tools like Pingdom and GTMetrix can help you monitor your site’s speed regularly.
How WPPRO Helps You Improve Shopify Store Performance & Speed?
WPPRO offers expert Shopify development services, focusing on performance optimisation. Whether you require a full audit or ongoing support, our team can help enhance your store’s speed and efficiency.
