How Website Speed Impacts Business

by Greg Johnson, Owner / Developer

Here’s why speed matters—and how you can ensure your site keeps up.

Speed Affects First Impressions

When users visit your website, they expect it to load quickly—ideally in under 2–3 seconds. Slow websites frustrate users and create an immediate negative impression.

Studies show that 1 in 4 visitors abandon a website that takes more than 4 seconds to load. If your site is sluggish, you're likely losing valuable leads before they even see what you offer.

Top tip

Test your website’s speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.

It’s a Direct Ranking Factor for SEO

Google cares about user experience—and speed is a huge part of that. Since 2018, page speed has been a ranking factor for mobile and desktop search.

A faster website can help improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for new customers to find you online. This is where professional SEO services that include technical optimisation become invaluable.

Top tip

Prioritise mobile optimisation—Google uses mobile-first indexing.

Speed Impacts Conversions

The faster your site loads, the more likely users are to complete the actions you want—whether that's filling out a form, making a purchase, or booking a consultation.

Amazon found that every 100ms delay in load time cost them 1% in sales. Even small delays can have a big financial impact.

Top tip

Optimise images, leverage caching, and minimise third-party scripts to speed things up. These optimisations require expertise in [web development](/services/web-development) to implement correctly.

In Summary: Fast Sites Win

Speed isn’t just about user experience—it’s about real business results. A fast website builds trust, improves SEO, boosts engagement, and drives more conversions.

If you’re serious about growing your business online, making your website faster should be high on your priority list.

At The Web People, we specialise in building lightning-fast, high-performing websites that don't just look good—they deliver results. Our web design and web development approach prioritises speed optimisation from the ground up, ensuring your site performs well for both users and search engines.

Need help speeding up your site? Contact us for a free website performance audit.

More articles

Enhance Your Brand Identity with Strategic Web Design

Leverage strategic web design to elevate your brand identity and engage customers effectively. Tips on aesthetics, navigation, and more.

Read more

Boost Your Business with Mobile-First Design Strategies

Discover mobile-first design strategies to enhance user experience and SEO for small businesses. Optimise your website and increase engagement today.

Read more

Tell us about your project