Introduction to Google Page Speed - PHP

The easiest way to improve your website's conversions may have less to do with SEO and your content and more to do with how fast your pages load. Internet users have a short attention span, and won't wait for your pages to load when the next site is just a click away. Fortunately, you can fix your web page loading times with the help of Google Page Speed.

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By: Codex-M

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February 01, 2010

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SEARCH DEV SHED

TOOLS YOU CAN USE

Google Webmaster Tools recently added a new site feature called "Site performance." You can access your site performance data by logging in to your webmaster tools account, and then going to Dashboard à Labs à Site performance.

You will be provided with the average number of seconds it takes your website pages to load. For example, the above screenshot says that it takes 5.2 seconds for a particular website's pages to load on average. This is slower than 75% of the sites online. This result practically screams that the website needs to improve its website loading performance.

One of the key features of Site Performance is "Page Speed," a Firefox plug-in that can provide suggestions to help you make your website load fast. By default, Site Performance does provide suggestions for improvement based on the "Page Speed" tool. First, you need to install it by clicking the "install" button at the bottom of Site performance.

It is also suggested that you install Firebug before installing Page Speed, because it is a pre-requisite. Downloading Firebug will make it possible to use the Page Speed tool in a Firebug console (see below for details).

How to use Page Speed to analyze performance using a browser

Once installed, you can start using Page Speed by following the steps below.

Step 1: Go to any important page of your domain (e.g. home page). Using your Firefox browser, click View à Firebug.

Step 2: Under "Page Speed," click "Analyze Performance."