Website performance metrics are key indicators of how well your website is performing. By tracking these metrics, you can identify areas where your website needs improvement and make the necessary changes to improve your website’s performance.
There are a number of website performance metrics that you can track, but some are more important than others. Here are four essential website performance metrics that you should be measuring:
1. Page Load Time
Page load time is the amount of time it takes for a page on your website to load fully. This metric is important because it can significantly impact your website’s user experience. If your pages take too long to load, users will likely become frustrated and may even leave your site before they’ve had a chance to explore it.
A number of factors can affect your page load times, such as the size of your pages, the number of elements on your pages, and the speed of your server. To improve your page load times, you’ll need to identify the factors impacting your performance and make the necessary changes.
2. Time to First Byte
Time to first byte (TTFB) is the amount of time it takes for the first byte of data to be received from your server when a user requests a page on your website. This metric is important because it can give you insight into the speed of your server and your website’s overall responsiveness.
Ideally, you want your TTFB to be as low as possible. If your TTFB is high, it could be an indication that your server is slow or that there are bottlenecks in your network. To improve your TTFB, you’ll need to identify the factors that are impacting your performance and make the necessary changes.
3. Pageviews per Visit
Pageviews per visit is a metric that measures how many pages on your website a user views during a single visit. This metric is important because it can give you insight into how engaging your website is for users.
If users are only viewing a single page on your site, it’s likely that they’re not finding your content engaging and may not stick around for long.
To improve the pageviews per visit, you need to make sure that your content is engaging and relevant to your target audience. If users are coming to your site and only seeing one page, it’s likely that they’re not finding what they’re looking for.
You also need your website to be easy to navigate so that users can easily find the content they’re looking for. Finally, consider using promotional techniques such as calls to action or eye-catching graphics to encourage users to click through to additional pages on your site.
4. First Contentful Paint (FCP)
FCP is the amount of time it takes for the browser to render the first piece of content from the DOM. This metric is important because it represents the time it takes for the browser to start rendering the page.
There are a number of ways to improve FCP, including optimising your HTML and CSS, minimising JavaScript, and using a fast web server.
Conclusion
Website performance metrics can be an invaluable tool to help you understand and improve your website’s performance. As a website owner, it is important to measure and analyse the right metrics to get a better understanding of your website performance.
The four essential website performance metrics you should measure are page load time, time to first byte (TTFB), pageviews per visit, and first contentful paint (FCP).
By measuring these metrics, you can gain valuable insight into your website’s performance and what areas need improvement. With this information, you can make informed decisions about optimising your website for better performance and user experience.
EMBARK is a marketing agency based in Newport & Cardiff that provides detailed website performance measurement services to help businesses understand how their website is performing and how they can improve.
Whether you’re looking to increase website traffic, improve search engine rankings, or simply provide a better user experience, we can help. Contact us today to learn more.
