Suggestions on how to optimize web page?

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1

Hey guys,

The home page of my startup was recently finished and has some cool effects. However, an abnormally long load time came along with the redesign (especially the web background image).

I was just curious if you guys have any suggestions on how I can cut down on the load time, while maintaining most of the design. I don’t mind making some changes on how it looks.

http://rayku.com/start

Thanks!
Donny

2

The w3c validator is throwing up 48 errors for that url. Perhaps fix those first.

Then have a look at the number and size of images you are loading. Images should be optimised for web publication so that they are 100kB absolute max. in size.

Also make sure you are loading only the javascript files you need for the page.

3

Thanks max, will take a look into those first. Problem with the background is that it spreads cross the entire width of the screen, and there really is no pattern so I can’t repeat it horizontally. It is DEFINITELY way over 100kB.

Thanks!
Donny

4

I downloaded your bg image and it weighed in at 650kB.

Attached (hopefully if it still isn’t too big) is a 77kB (on my pc) version while maintaining the original 1897px x 1833px dimensions. With my ageing eyes, I can’t see any significant degradation in image quality. This “optimised” image can only speed up the page loading time but there are probably other issues with your site as well that others might be able to help you with.

When it is approved by the mods, perhaps see if this attached image makes any significant difference in the page loading time.

Edit:

for some reason, probably different OS, it comes as 117.2kb when I upload it here.

Off Topic:

ahhh :slight_smile: …just noticed that if you click the attached image’s link (while it is waiting to be approved), it still opens up in a new browser window from which you can download the image to your pc. Not sure if that is supposed to happen, otherwise why do the images have to be approved? :wink:

5

For that you should minify your JS and CSS files and enable gzip compression. You could then further optimize your site, for example by combining CSS and JS files and by optimizing the order they are loaded.

6

You should minify your JS and CSS files and enable gzip compression. You could then further optimize your site, for example by combining CSS and JS files and by optimizing the order they are loaded.

7

Test your site with <snippled by Spike>
All the answers are there.

8

Gzip compression is one of the best optimization method for speeding up a site. but not all web host, especially shared hosting allows gzip compression. are there any feasible and convenient alternative of gzip compression?

9

Hey kinkarso,
First of all, congrats on a really cool design. It’s fun, clean and very unique!

Personally, my work has led me to be more involved in the coding and optimization portions of the sites my company develops, but one tool i’ve used to help with page load times is a firefox (and now Chrome) add-on called Page Speed. if you’re interested you can check it out here.

That add-on has helped with a couple of projects, but with your layout which seems to rely on large background images, it may not be the “key” to solving the load problem. Other ideas (including the ones given by the people who’ve already replied) would be to remove the styles and javascript and put them on an external document. you can also play with the background images’ file type. Sometimes changing an image from a jpg to a gif, or (if using photoshop) changing the quality (on the save for web window) can reduce the image size substantially.

hope this helps

10

Since the OP hasn’t returned to this thread in three months, I’m going to assume he’s solved his problem or found his answer elsewhere…no need to respond to it now.