How to Optimize WordPress Websites
Optimize WordPress websites with some of these tips and ideas from this Bluehost guide for optimizing WordPress and reducing the CPU consumption of this PHP script to help speed up the website.
WordPress is currently one of the most popular tools for blogging and websites, and it integrates with other tools or CMS applications. When your website and images are optimized, your visitors will have a better experience with a speedy website.
- WordPress Cache and CPU
- Spambots — Non-human Visitors
- WordPress Image Compression Plugins
- Optimize WordPress Website for SEO
- Optimize WordPress Website for Conversion
- Summary
Before you start — do you have a current backup of your website? Make a backup of your account first before making any changes to your website so you have current data to use should you need to restore your website. It's recommended that you upgrade to the latest version of WordPress. The latest versions have optimized code that could reduce your site's CPU consumption.
For permalink structure, do not start with the category, tag, author, or post name fields. Instead try /%year%/%postname%/ or /%post_id%/%postname%/. Also, don't worry about 301 redirects, as WordPress will automatically handle that after the permalink change.For more help, view our blog: How to Change Permalink in WordPress
WordPress Cache and CPU
This guide, as well as other links below, will show you how to manage WordPress caching.
- Install WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache, which can be done from your WordPress Dashboard under Plugins. Follow the links below for information on how to set up these plugins.
- WP Super Cache (recommended)
- W3 Total Cache
- Check your themes because there are a lot of themes are more CPU intensive.
- Make sure your page loads are generating no errors in your Error Log (in cPanel under Logs)
- Also, if you're using dynamic image resizing, you may want to disable this if possible.
- If all else fails, contact the theme provider for assistance or change to a different theme.
- Check out our great guide: CPU Performance Issues
- Disable CPU-intensive plugins or plugins that you no longer need. Check out our article on how to disable or delete themes and plugins in WordPress.
- All related post plugins (WordPress Related Posts, YARPP) can cause a significantly high load in most cases.
- WPRobot3 and other auto-posters can also cause high load issues and be disabled if they are causing issues.
- StatPress and other WordPress statistics software should also be disabled, as these, too, can consume too much CPU in some cases. Use Google Analytics instead for statistics.
- Any other plugins that are not vital to your WordPress should be disabled.
Spambots — Non-human Visitors
- Manage Spambots. Non-human visitors/posters (aside from web spiders) should be blocked. Use a captcha such as SI CAPTCHA to prevent spam comments.
- Lower the rate at web spiders crawl your WordPress blogs if you have many blogs hosted under your account. High crawl rates can drive up the load on the server, as many bots try to index your sites. To learn more, please see this article: Directory Index.
WordPress Image Compression Plugins
The ideal way to optimize images for your WordPress site is to do so before uploading them. Size pertains to pixels/inches and the file size. The larger the file size, (KB, GB, etc.) the longer it takes an image to load. WordPress image compression plugins are a great, automated solution to optimize images on your website. Some of the best image compression WordPress plugins include:
Always ensure the plugin you choose is updated to work with the latest version of WordPress.
Note: These changes are not guaranteed fixes but do provide a starting ground for correcting high-load issues on WordPress sites. If there are any questions about this, don't hesitate to contact support.
Optimize WordPress Website for SEO
Optimizing your WordPress website for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is crucial for improving visibility, attracting more traffic, and enhancing user experience. Here are key strategies to optimize your WordPress site effectively:
- Use SEO plugins. Install an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO. These plugins will guide you in optimizing your content, generating sitemaps, and improving on-page SEO factors.
- Optimize for mobile. Make sure your site is responsive and mobile-friendly. With Google's mobile-first indexing, a mobile-optimized site is essential for SEO rankings.
- Improve site speed. Speed is a critical SEO factor. Use caching plugins, optimize image sizes, and minimize plugin use to improve loading times.
- High-guality content and keywords. Regularly publish high-quality content that incorporates researched keywords naturally. Use headings to provide structure to your articles for better readability and SEO.
- SEO-friendly URLs. Enable SEO-friendly permalink settings in WordPress to use descriptive slugs that include your target keywords for posts and pages.
- Secure your site with HTTPS. Convert your site to HTTPS by installing an SSL certificate. Security can positively affect your ranking and is important for visitor trust.
- Monitor SEO performance. Use Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your website's performance, understand how visitors find and interact with your site, and identify areas for improvement.
Optimize WordPress Website for Conversion
Optimizing your WordPress website for conversion involves making strategic adjustments to encourage visitors to take specific actions, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a contact form. Take a look at these key strategies to help increase your website's conversion rate:
- Clear and compelling CTAs. Ensure that your call-to-action buttons are visible and state what you want the visitor to do clearly, such as "Sign Up" or "Buy Now."
- Streamline navigation. Simplify your site's navigation to help visitors find what they're looking for quickly and easily. This can reduce bounce rates and guide them towards conversion points.
- Speed optimization. A fast-loading website keeps visitors engaged. Use caching plugins, optimize images, and reduce plugin use to enhance your site's loading speed.
- Mobile responsiveness. Ensure your site is responsive and offers a seamless experience on all screens. The majority of internet access nowadays comes from mobile devices.
- High-quality visual content. Use compelling images and videos relevant to your products or services to capture your visitors' attention and encourage conversions.
- Social proof. Display customer testimonials and reviews prominently. Social proof builds trust and can influence decision-making significantly.
- A/B testing. Conduct A/B tests regularly on different elements like headlines, CTAs, and page layouts to find what maximizes conversions on your site.
Focusing on these key areas can improve your website's ability to convert visitors into customers or leads significantly. This makes your online presence more effective and profitable.
Summary
To speed up your WordPress website, it's recommended that you perform WordPress updates and plugin updates. Optimize WordPress websites by implementing these WordPress website tips to help ensure your website runs smoothly. This process involves various tips to help your website speed, cache, spambots, and other best practices.
We have additional blogs that can help you as well. Visit the following resources to learn more.
- Everything you Need to Know About WordPress SEO: Optimization Tips + Best Practices + Plugins
- Top 10 WordPress Accessibility Plugins in 2024
- 3 Most Common WordPress Issues and Their Solutions
If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us via Chat or Phone:
- Chat Support - While on our website, you should see a CHAT bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Click anywhere on the bubble to begin a chat session.
- Phone Support -
- US: 888-401-4678
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You may also refer to our Knowledge Base articles to help answer common questions and guide you through various setup, configuration, and troubleshooting steps.