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Learn page speed with online courses and programs

Slow websites lead to poor user experience and low conversions. Learn the art of page speed optimization from experts, with online courses delivered through edX.

What is page speed?

Page speed is the measure of a web page’s loading time. High page speed ensures a great user experience.1 Google considers load times when ranking relevant search results, so fast page speed is also key for search engine optimization (SEO) and generating organic traffic.2 There are several metrics to measure page speed, such as:3

  • Time for the initial server response (time to the first byte)

  • Time to load all resources (such as images, scripts, and stylesheets)

  • Time it takes for the page to become fully interactive

Slow page speed can lead to dissatisfaction among site visitors, resulting in higher bounce rates and lower conversion rates, ultimately impacting the overall success of online businesses.4

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Page speed course curriculum

If you are interested in how to learn page speed, a beginner page speed tutorial can help. An introductory course can offer practical lessons in improving webpage load times, starting with fundamentals such as:

  • Why speed is important for search engine optimization (SEO) and user experience (UX).
  • How to measure page load speed.
  • How to use web page speed test tools like Google Page Speed Insights and GTmetrix.
  • How to use different methods to increase page speed, such as HTML / CSS / JavaScript minification, image optimization, and browser caching.
  • How to use tools like W3 Total Cache, GZip’s compression feature, and WP Rocket to improve speed scores.

In an intermediate or advanced page speed course, you may cover:

  • Google Core Web Vitals and metrics, like page performance score, first contentful paint (FCP), time to first byte (TTFB), and render-blocking resources.
  • Content delivery networks (CDN), which can improve the loading speed.
  • Advanced code optimization for JavaScript and CSS.
  • Server-side techniques, like load balancing and database optimization.
  • Advanced caching strategies.

Learning about page speed can supplement your knowledge of SEO and web development. For individuals who have an interest in studying these subjects, edX offers a wide array of educational opportunities. A boot camp can provide flexible, hands-on learning for those who want to upskill quickly, while executive education courses are designed for busy professionals. You can also pursue a more comprehensive curriculum through a bachelor’s degree program or, for more advanced learners, a master’s degree program. Find the right learning path for you with edX.

Explore page speed jobs

Page load speed is a critical factor in the search engine rankings and user experience of a website. Therefore, many jobs in the web development and digital marketing domains call for a solid understanding of page speed.

Jobs that may benefit from knowledge of how to improve page speed include:

  • Web developer: Builds and maintains websites with their coding and programming skills. They work with the UI/UX developers to ensure that the website meets functionality and performance goals.5
  • Front-end developer: Works on the user-facing aspects and visual elements of a website. They code and create the functional digital interface of a website based on the client's specifications.6
  • Back-end developer: Works on everything that the users don't see on a website. They work with servers, databases, operating systems, and APIs to manage the website’s code.7
  • SEO specialist: Works toward improving the search engine visibility and ranking of a website. They monitor website performance, identify areas of improvement, and work with web developers to enhance overall SEO performance.8
  • Digital marketer: Strategizes on and executes online marketing campaigns to sell a product or service. They use a combination of channels to achieve marketing objectives, such as social media for brand awareness, email marketing for retention, or paid ads to acquire new customers.9

To acquire technical skills in web development, you can enroll in a. For those who may monitor page speed as part of customer engagement strategies, boot camps in digital marketing can provide instruction on landing page optimization techniques. can also help you learn how complex design, interactive features, video content, animated content, and responsive elements impact the website loading speed.

Discover the wide range of online courses offered by edX and get started on the journey to upskill.

How to use page speed in your career

You can use your knowledge of page speed fundamentals to optimize the loading speed of a website in many roles. For example:

  • Web developers know how to optimize the page speed of a website using best coding practices. They can work on the technical aspects of a website to improve the Core Web Vitals.
  • Front-end developers use specific code optimization techniques like minification, caching, or compression to improve the loading speed of a website. They also reduce bloated code to improve the real-world user experience.
  • Back-end developers work on the server side and use load balancing techniques, perform database optimizations, implement server-side caching, enable asynchronous loading, and optimize server response time to improve the page load speed of a website.
  • SEO specialists may use page speed checkers (like Google’s page speed test, PageSpeed, and Google Search Console) for constant website monitoring and optimization of load speed. They work with developers to implement code changes with the goal of improving a website's performance on desktop and mobile devices.
  • Digital marketers consider page speed a top priority. High page speed is good for an enhanced user experience and higher conversions. These marketers frequently work on landing pages with developers to ensure fast-loading content without compromising on UX.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    How can you improve page load speed?

    You can improve page load speed in multiple ways. Some common methods include the minification of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, reduction of unused code, and reduction of image file size. You can also use content delivery networks (CDNs) and leverage browser caching to boost page speed. Back-end developers can further speed up web page loading time on the server side through the reduction in server response time, elimination of render-blocking resources, and the use of dedicated hosting.

    How important is page speed for SEO?

    Page speed, as a metric, is a crucial factor in SEO as it directly influences the search engine ranking of your page. When a page loads slowly, it results in a poor user experience and a high bounce rate. This sends a signal to Google's ranking algorithm that your page may not be relevant to the user's search query. Since Google aims to provide the most relevant answers to users, anything that indicates a user's inability to find the desired information can impact the search engine visibility of your page.

    What is a good page speed?

    Google recommends a page loading speed of anywhere between two and five seconds. But it also depends on your industry and competitor websites. You can use tools like Pingdom or Google PageSpeed Insights to check the page speed of similar websites and set the right benchmark for you. Optimizing the Core Web Vitals metrics like First Paint, First Contentful Paint, and others is equally important. These performance metrics are a much better indicator of the overall quality of the user experience of your website than speed alone.

    How do you get 100% page speed?

    A100% page speed score is a tough task and might not always be necessary. Different page speed checker tools like Google PageSpeed test or GTmetrix have their own ways of analyzing performance metrics and calculating speed scores. These are simulated scores and might not reflect real-world factors like network connection speeds, user location, or mobile speed that can impact real load times. So, instead of chasing a 100% score, it might make more sense to focus on relevant performance improvements that lead to a good user experience.

    Does page speed affect Google Ads?

    Yes, a slow landing page can lead to a high bounce rate and poor user experience on a website. It can also lead to low conversions and causes users to leave your website without making a purchase. This can affect the Quality Score, ad rank position, and cost of your Google ads. In fact, Google might also stop showing your ads to users due to poor landing page experience.

    1. Winning the Page Speed Race: How to Turn Your Clunker of a Website Into a Race Car. (2021). Moz. Retrieved May 12, 2023.

    2. Page Speed Optimization: Metrics, Tools, and How to Improve — Best of Whiteboard Friday. (2020). Moz. Retrieved May 12, 2023.

    3. Page Speed Optimization: Metrics, Tools, and How to Improve — Best of Whiteboard Friday. (2020). Moz. Retrieved May 12, 2023.

    4. 11 Website Page Load Time Statistics You Need [+ How to Increase Conversion Rate]. (2022). HubSpot. Retrieved May 25, 2023.

    5. Web Developers and Digital Designers. (2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved May 15, 2023.

    6. Web Developers and Digital Designers . (2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved May 15, 2023.

    7. Web Developers and Digital Designers . (2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved May 15, 2023.

    8. Hiring an SEO Expert: When You Should and Shouldn’t. Mailchimp. Retrieved May 25, 2023.

    9. Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers. (2022). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved May 12, 2023.