Every second costs you visitors
The data is brutally consistent: as load time climbs, visitors leave. A site that takes five seconds loses a big chunk of people who'd have become enquiries on a fast one. They don't complain or email — they just hit back and try the next result. The loss is real but silent, which is why it goes unfixed for years.
Speed is also a Google ranking factor
Google measures page experience — including speed (Core Web Vitals) — and uses it in rankings. A slow site is fighting itself: fewer people stay, and Google is less likely to show it in the first place. Fix speed and you improve both conversion and visibility from one job.
How to check yours in two minutes
Run your homepage and a key service page through Google's PageSpeed Insights (free). It scores mobile and desktop and lists exactly what's slowing you down. Test on mobile especially — that's where most of your visitors are, and where slow sites suffer most.
What actually fixes it
- Oversized images — the number one culprit; compress and modern-format them.
- Bloated themes and too many plugins — trim what you don't need.
- No caching — serve pages faster to repeat visitors.
- Cheap, overloaded hosting — sometimes the real bottleneck.
Some are quick wins; some mean a cleaner rebuild. An audit tells you which camp you're in.
Frequently asked questions
Does website speed affect SEO?
Yes. Google measures page experience, including speed (Core Web Vitals), as a ranking factor. A slow site both loses visitors and is less likely to be shown by Google in the first place.
How do I check my website speed?
Run your pages through Google's free PageSpeed Insights. It scores mobile and desktop and lists exactly what's slowing you down. Test mobile especially — that's where most visitors are.
What makes a website slow?
Usually oversized images, bloated themes and too many plugins, no caching, and cheap overloaded hosting. Images are the most common culprit by far.
Is it worth fixing an old slow site or rebuilding?
It depends. Some sites need only quick wins like image compression and caching; others are so bloated a clean rebuild is faster and cheaper long-term. A free audit tells you which.
Think your site might be too slow?
Book a free speed and SEO audit — we'll show you exactly what's slowing your site and costing you enquiries.
Book Your Free Audit ›