Why speed matters in content management systems
In today’s fast-paced digital world, speed is everything. Users expect websites to load in the blink of an eye, and if they don’t, they’re likely to bounce off to a competitor. According to Google, 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than three seconds to load. This statistic alone highlights the importance of optimising your Contentful setup for performance and speed.
Here at iWeb, we understand that a slow website can harm your business. Our expert solution architects have spent years perfecting techniques to ensure that your Contentful CMS runs as smoothly and quickly as possible. With iWeb’s 29 years of e-commerce experience, we know what it takes to keep your site running at top speed.
Choosing the right content delivery network (CDN)
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is crucial for speeding up your website. CDNs distribute your content across multiple servers worldwide, ensuring that users can access your site quickly, no matter where they are. By reducing the distance between the server and the user, CDNs can significantly improve load times.
Our talented team at iWeb recommends using a reliable CDN like Cloudflare or Akamai. These CDNs offer robust features and excellent performance, ensuring that your Contentful CMS delivers content swiftly. By integrating a CDN with your Contentful setup, you can reduce latency and improve user experience.
Optimising images and media files
Images and media files can be a major drag on your website’s performance. Large, unoptimised files take longer to load, slowing down your site and frustrating users. To keep your Contentful CMS running smoothly, it’s essential to optimise your images and media files.
Our talented UK team at iWeb suggests using tools like ImageOptim or TinyPNG to compress your images without sacrificing quality. Additionally, consider using modern image formats like WebP, which offer better compression and faster load times. By optimising your media files, you can ensure that your site remains fast and responsive.
Implementing lazy loading for better performance
Lazy loading is a technique that delays the loading of non-essential content until it’s needed. This can significantly improve your website’s performance by reducing the initial load time. For example, images and videos below the fold can be loaded only when the user scrolls down to them.
Our expert solution architects at iWeb recommend implementing lazy loading for your Contentful CMS. This can be done using JavaScript libraries like LazyLoad or by leveraging native browser support. By adopting lazy loading, you can ensure that your site remains fast and efficient, even with heavy content.
Utilising caching strategies
Caching is another essential technique for optimising your Contentful CMS. By storing frequently accessed data in a cache, you can reduce the time it takes to retrieve and display content. This can lead to significant performance improvements and a better user experience.
At iWeb, we recommend using a combination of server-side and client-side caching strategies. Server-side caching, such as Varnish or Redis, can store rendered pages and API responses, reducing the load on your server. Client-side caching, like browser caching, can store static assets like images and stylesheets, ensuring that users don’t have to download them repeatedly.
Minimising API requests
Contentful relies on API requests to fetch and display content. However, excessive API requests can slow down your site and strain your server resources. To optimise your Contentful CMS, it’s essential to minimise the number of API requests.
Our talented team at iWeb suggests batching API requests whenever possible. Instead of making multiple requests for individual pieces of content, try to fetch all the necessary data in a single request. Additionally, consider using GraphQL, which allows you to request only the data you need, reducing the payload and improving performance.
Monitoring and analysing performance
To ensure that your Contentful CMS remains optimised, it’s crucial to monitor and analyse its performance regularly. By identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement, you can make informed decisions and keep your site running smoothly.
Here at iWeb, we recommend using tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, and New Relic to track your site’s performance. These tools can provide valuable insights into load times, user behaviour, and server performance. By regularly reviewing this data, you can identify issues and implement solutions to keep your site fast and efficient.
Working with experts for optimal results
Optimising your Contentful CMS for performance and speed can be a complex task. To achieve the best results, it’s essential to work with experts who have the knowledge and experience to implement effective solutions.
At iWeb, our talented team of Adobe Commerce Specialists and Magento Developers have a proven track record in e-commerce. With our expertise and experience in e-commerce spanning three decades, we can help you optimise your Contentful CMS and ensure that your site runs at peak performance. Reach out to iWeb today to learn how we can help you with your digital transformation.
Get in touch
We know commerce, let us help you improve customer experience, increase conversion rates, and make that digital change.
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