Sign inTry Now

What does 'Good Page Size' mean in Site Audit?

Good Page Size

Description

Your page size is less than 1MB, which is good for performance.

How to Fix

No action needed. Your page size is good.

Detailed Analysis

Certainly! Let's delve into the SEO issue related to page size, focusing on why having a good page size (less than 1MB) is beneficial for performance and SEO.

1. What Causes This Issue

This isn't an issue per se, but rather a positive aspect of web performance. A page size refers to the total size of all the files that need to be loaded for a webpage to be displayed completely. These files typically include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, fonts, and other multimedia content.

Factors that contribute to a large page size include:

  • High-Resolution Images: Using large images without optimization increases the page size significantly.
  • Unoptimized Code: Excessive or poorly written HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can bloat the page size.
  • Heavy Multimedia Content: Videos and animations that are not optimized can add considerable weight to the page.
  • Numerous Third-Party Scripts: Analytics, ads, and widgets can increase the size and loading time.
  • Font Files: Custom web fonts can also contribute to larger page sizes if not properly managed.

2. Why It's Important

Performance and User Experience

  • Faster Loading Times: Smaller pages load faster, which enhances the user experience. Users are more likely to stay on a site that loads quickly.
  • Reduced Bounce Rates: Slow-loading pages can lead to higher bounce rates, where users leave the site without interacting further.
  • Mobile Friendliness: Smaller page sizes are particularly important for mobile users, who may be on slower networks or have limited data plans.

SEO Implications

  • Better Search Rankings: Page speed is a known ranking factor in search engine algorithms. Faster sites are often rewarded with better rankings.
  • Crawl Efficiency: Search engine bots can crawl smaller pages more efficiently, ensuring that more pages of your site are indexed.
  • Improved Core Web Vitals: Core Web Vitals, which are part of Google's ranking criteria, are directly impacted by page performance metrics.

3. Best Practices to Prevent Large Page Sizes

  • Image Optimization: Use modern image formats like WebP, compress images, and employ responsive images.
  • Minify and Compress Code: Minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, and use GZIP or Brotli compression to reduce file sizes.
  • Lazy Loading: Implement lazy loading for images and videos to load them only when needed.
  • Optimize Fonts: Use system fonts when possible, limit the number of web fonts, and use font-display: swap; to improve loading.
  • Reduce Third-Party Scripts: Limit the use of third-party scripts and asynchronously load the necessary ones.
  • Content Delivery Network (CDN): Use a CDN to deliver content faster to users by serving files from a location closer to them.
  • Efficient CSS and JavaScript: Use only the necessary CSS and JavaScript libraries and ensure they're optimized.

4. Examples of Good and Bad Cases

Good Case

  • Example: A blog site with optimized images, minified CSS/JS, and a total page size of 800KB.
    • Performance: Loads in under 2 seconds on a 3G connection.
    • User Experience: Users can quickly access content, leading to lower bounce rates and higher engagement.

Bad Case

  • Example: An e-commerce site with high-resolution product images, multiple third-party widgets, and a total page size of 3MB.
    • Performance: Takes over 5 seconds to load on a 3G connection.
    • User Experience: High bounce rates due to slow loading, potential loss of sales, and poor SEO performance.

By keeping page sizes below 1MB, you ensure a faster, more efficient user experience, which is crucial for retaining users and achieving high search engine rankings.