Boost Your Shopify Store’s Speed: Unveiling the Surprising Pagespeed Performance Insights from 2,500 Stores
Overview
In this case study, we will explore the pagespeed performance of 2500 Shopify stores and analyze the distribution of their scores. Using this data, we will provide recommendations on how Shopify (or any E-commerce) store owners can improve their pagespeed performance to enhance user experience, increase conversion rates, and gain a competitive advantage.
Background
Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that enables businesses to easily create and manage online stores. One of the key factors that can impact the success of an online store is the speed at which its pages load. Faster page load times can lead to improved user experience, higher conversion rates, and better search engine rankings. Therefore, optimizing pagespeed performance is a critical component of a successful e-commerce strategy.
Data
We collected the pagespeed performance score for 2500 Shopify stores using Storeleads.
You can find the full dataset here
Below is a chart showing the countries these stores belong to
Now we used Google’s Pagespeed API to get the page speed score for these stores and analyzed the distribution of their scores. The scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better page speed performance.
Analysis
Based on the provided data, we found that:
- The average pagespeed performance score is approximately 36, indicating that there is room for improvement in the pagespeed performance of the stores.
- The distribution of the pagespeed performance scores is skewed left, indicating that there are more stores with lower pagespeed performance scores than higher scores.
- Just 400 stores had their performance score > 50 among 2500.
Check out more information about importance of page speed here
Recommendations
Based on our analysis, we recommend the following strategies for improving pagespeed performance for e-commerce stores:
- Optimize images: Large image files can significantly slow down page load times. Store owners should compress and optimize images to reduce their file size without sacrificing quality.
- Minimize code: Minimizing the amount of code used on a website can help to reduce page load times. Store owners should avoid using unnecessary plugins or features and optimize their code to ensure it is efficient and streamlined.
- Use a content delivery network (CDN): CDNs can help to improve page load times by serving content from a server that is closer to the user. Store owners should consider using a CDN to distribute their content and reduce the amount of time it takes to load.
- Leverage caching: Caching can help to improve pagespeed performance by storing frequently accessed data on the user’s device. Store owners should leverage browser caching and server-side caching to speed up page load times.
- Prioritize mobile performance: With the rise of mobile devices, it is critical for online stores to optimize their pagespeed performance for mobile users. Store owners should ensure that their website is responsive and optimized for mobile devices to improve user experience and increase conversion rates.
By implementing these strategies, store owners can improve their pagespeed performance and gain a competitive advantage in the e-commerce marketplace.
Do a thorough Sitespeed check for your website
- Run the test on your region on Mobile on GTMetrix.
- Use Google’s Pagespeed Insight for accurate behaviour. (That gives actionable insights)
But, How Reliable are above tests
Above tools like GTMetrix and Google’s Pagespeed use synthetic tests to measure website performance, which means that they use simulated devices and network conditions to measure how a website performs under idealized conditions. While synthetic testing is useful for identifying potential performance issues, it doesn’t provide a full picture of how a website performs in the real world. Real-world conditions, such as network congestion and device variability, can have a significant impact on website performance, and synthetic tests can’t fully replicate these conditions.
CrUX, on the other hand, provides real-world performance data based on actual user experiences. The data is collected from real Chrome users who have opted in to share their browsing history and performance data. This data provides a more accurate representation of how a website performs in the real world, under various network and device conditions. It also provides insights into how actual users are experiencing a website, which can help identify areas for improvement that may not be apparent from synthetic testing alone.
Use Looker Studio to see Real behaviour (not emulated like GTMetrix). Check your site real behaviour here and work the way up :))
Go to CrUX Launcher, enter your site’s name and you will see real user insights like this.
