This is a pretty common experience with WordPress.
WordPress is a free tool for building websites, and it’s great for keeping corporate pages or personal blogs up to date. However, one downside is that it can be slow.
The quickest fix is to use a paid plugin. There are tons of options out there, so you can pick one that fits your budget and give it a shot. But keep in mind, there’s no guarantee it’ll actually speed up your site—even if you pay for it.
So, what can you do on a daily basis? Here’s a rough list of suggestions. They all require some know-how, but since there are no licensing costs, they’re good for those worried about ongoing expenses:
1. Upgrade WordPress.
2. Upgrade PHP.
3. Use free plugins and speed options that come with your theme.
4. Optimize and format images.
5. Remove unnecessary plugins.
6. Cut down on external resources.
Another recommendation is to switch servers. If your current server is over five years old, it’s especially worth considering. If it’s over ten years, you should prioritize that change—it’s almost essential.
Today’s newer servers are optimized for WordPress, and many come with a speed-up plugin included. Just transferring to one of those servers could significantly improve your site’s speed.
For example, this blog is hosted on the popular “X Server,” which uses the built-in WordPress speed-up plugin “Kusanagi.” Even with quite a few images, I think the speed is pretty good.
Speeding up WordPress can be a real challenge, but it’s crucial for boosting traffic and improving SEO, so it’s definitely worth the effort.
