Why Is My Website Loading Slowly?

A slow website can be super frustrating — for you and your visitors. It can lead to higher bounce rates, lower engagement, and even affect your search rankings. There are lots of reasons a site might be slow, and often it’s a mix of a few things adding up.

Below is an easy guide to common causes of slow loading and what you can do to fix each one.

Common Reasons Your Website Might Be Slow

1. Large Image Files

What’s happening?

Big images take longer to load and slow down your pages.

How to fix it:

Resize images to the right pixel dimensions for the web (no need to worry about dpi).
Use the right file types: JPG for photos, PNG for images needing transparency, and WebP for better compression on supported browsers.
Use tools like tinypng.com to compress images for free.
Or use plugins like Smush, Imagify, or ShortPixel to automatically optimize images.
If Cause Inspired built your website visit the training video section of your Wordpress admin and watch the "Working With Images" video.

2. Poor Quality Hosting

What’s happening?

Cheap or overloaded hosting can cause slow server response times.

How to fix it:

Use tools like GTmetrix.com to check your server response time.
If it’s often above 600ms, it might be time to upgrade your hosting.
Consider managed WordPress hosting or a dedicated server. Need help? We offer these options and can assist with migration.

3. No Caching

What’s happening?

Without caching, your site rebuilds pages for every visitor — which takes time.

How to fix it:

Install a caching plugin like Breeze, WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache.
Enable page caching, browser caching, and object caching.
Clear your cache after site updates to make sure visitors see the latest version.
If you are hosted with Cause Inspired please reach out to us for assistance.

4. Unoptimized Code (CSS, JavaScript, HTML)

What’s happening?

Large or unminified files slow down page loading.

How to fix it:

Use plugins like WPoptimize or Asset CleanUp to minify and combine CSS and JavaScript files.
Remove unused CSS and defer loading scripts that aren’t immediately needed.
Cause Inspired can help with performance optimization, reach out to us for a quote.

5. No Content Delivery Network (CDN)

What’s happening?

If your site serves content from one place only, it can be slow for visitors far away.

How to fix it:

Use a CDN to deliver images, scripts, and styles faster around the world.
We can connect a CDN for you as part of our hosting services or help you set up a free option like Cloudflare.

6. Heavy External Scripts

What’s happening?

Third-party widgets and embeds (like social feeds, ads, or fonts) can slow things down.

How to fix it:

Limit external scripts to only what’s necessary.
Host fonts locally using plugins like OMGF.
Use lazy loading or iframe strategies for embeds.

7. Too Many HTTP Requests

What’s happening?

Every image, script, or style file is a request your site has to make — too many can slow load times.

How to fix it:

Simplify your pages by reducing elements.
Combine CSS and JavaScript files where possible.
Use browser developer tools or GTmetrix to identify heavy requests.

8. No GZIP Compression

What’s happening?

Files aren’t compressed during transfer, making them larger and slower to load.

How to fix it:

Check if your host enables GZIP compression (most do).
Use plugins like Breeze WP Rocket to enable it if needed.
Or, enable it manually in your server settings if you’re comfortable.

9. Outdated WordPress, Themes, or Plugins

What’s happening?

Old software can run inefficiently and cause security risks.

How to fix it:

Keep WordPress, your themes, and plugins updated regularly.
Always back up your site before updates.

10. Database Overhead or Bloat

What’s happening?

Old post revisions, spam comments, and temporary data slow down database queries.

How to fix it:

Use plugins like WP-Optimize or Advanced Database Cleaner to remove clutter.
Set up scheduled cleanups to keep things lean.

11. No Lazy Loading

What’s happening?

Loading all images and videos at once makes your page heavy and slow.

How to fix it:

WordPress now has native lazy loading enabled by default.
For older sites or extra control, use plugins like a3 Lazy Load or Smush.

12. Slow Third-party Services

What’s happening?

External widgets like calendars, reviews, or social media feeds can slow pages down.

How to fix it:

Remove or limit these to only the most necessary pages.
Use static alternatives when possible.

Need Help?

If you want us to review your site’s speed or help implement any of these fixes, just reach out! We’re here to help make your website faster and smoother.