Problem · 6-min read

Your website is too slow

If your page takes more than 3 seconds to load, most visitors leave before they see your content. Here is why it happens and how to fix it.

Run a free audit

53%

Leave after 3 seconds

2.5s

Target load time

7%

Conversion drop per second

Free

Speed audit included

What makes a website slow?

These are the most common speed killers we find in audits. Most can be fixed in under an hour.

Unoptimised images

A single 5MB hero image can add 3+ seconds to load time. Compress images to WebP format and serve them at the right dimensions.

Too many scripts

Analytics, chat widgets, social embeds, cookie banners. Each one adds a network request. Remove what you do not use.

No caching

Without browser caching, every page load downloads the same files again. Add cache headers to static assets.

Slow hosting

Cheap shared hosting means your site competes with hundreds of others for server resources. Upgrade to a VPS or managed hosting.

Render-blocking CSS/JS

Large CSS and JavaScript files that must download before the page renders. Defer non-critical scripts and inline critical CSS.

No CDN

Serving files from a single server means visitors far away wait longer. A CDN puts copies of your files closer to users worldwide.

The most common fix

Compress your images first

In 80% of the audits we run, unoptimised images are the single biggest speed problem. Convert to WebP, resize to the display dimensions, and add lazy loading. This alone can cut 2 to 4 seconds off your load time.

How to fix a slow website

1

Run a speed audit

Use our free audit to get your current load time and performance score. You need a baseline before you start fixing.

2

Fix the biggest bottleneck first

Usually images or render-blocking scripts. The audit findings are sorted by impact, so start at the top.

3

Re-audit after each fix

One change at a time. Re-audit after each one to measure the improvement. This prevents regressions.

4

Set up monitoring

Speed can regress when new content or plugins are added. Paid Flatline plans include weekly re-audits and alerts when your score drops.

Speed questions

What is a good page load time?+

Under 2.5 seconds on mobile. Under 1.5 seconds is excellent. Over 4 seconds is a critical problem.

Does page speed affect SEO rankings?+

Yes. Page speed is a confirmed ranking factor. Slow sites rank lower and get less organic traffic.

Can I fix speed without a developer?+

Often yes. Image compression, plugin removal, and caching can be done through most CMS dashboards. Complex fixes like code splitting may need a developer.

How does Flatline measure speed?+

We test the mobile version of your site and measure Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), the time until your main content is visible. This is the same metric search engines use.

Find out how slow your site is

Run a free audit. You will get your exact load time, performance score, and a prioritised fix list. 15 seconds, no signup.