how important is page speed

Page speed is extremely important for websites because it affects several critical aspects such as user experience, search engine optimization (SEO), bounce rates, conversion rates, and brand perception. If a page loads slowly, a large percentage of visitors leave before the content fully appears—for example, by 3 seconds, about 45% of users may leave. Even a small delay of 500 milliseconds can negatively influence how users perceive a site and the brand behind it. Fast page load times improve the user experience by delivering content quickly and efficiently, helping to retain visitors and encouraging them to engage with the site. From an SEO perspective, page speed is a confirmed ranking factor used by Google on both desktop and mobile. Slow- loading pages are less likely to rank well because they provide a poor user experience, which search engines seek to avoid. Google’s algorithm incorporates page speed in its Page Experience signal, which evaluates how enjoyable and effective a website is for real users. Additionally, faster pages tend to have lower bounce rates and higher conversion rates, directly impacting revenue and business goals. In summary, page speed is critical to achieving good search rankings, keeping users engaged, and maximizing conversions and revenue for websites.