Loading speed is a crucial factor for WordPress sites in 2023. Research shows that as page load times increase past 3 seconds, bounce rates skyrocket:
| Page Load Time | Bounce Rate |
|---|---|
| < 1 s | 11% |
| 1-3 s | 32% |
| 4-6 s | 55% |
| 7-9 s | 70% |
| > 10 s | 90% |
As you can see, a majority of visitors will leave a site that takes over 4 seconds to fully load.
This is why preloading links in WordPress is so valuable – it creates instant page transitions when clicking on navigation menus, buttons, images, and text links.
Here is our comprehensive guide on how to preload links for faster WordPress site speeds…
Why You Should Preload Links in WordPress
Beyond improved visitor experience, here are 3 big benefits of preloading links:
1. Better SEO
Faster sites tend to rank better in search engines like Google. Preloading allows pages to load quicker for Googlebot, leading to better indexing and traffic.
2. Higher Conversions
If pages load instantly when clicking links, visitors will explore and engage with more content. This increases conversions whether selling products or advertising.
3. Lower Bounce Rate
With preloaded links, bounce rates will decrease as site navigation feels snappier. Visitors are less likely to leave when links feel speedy.
As a WordPress professional myself, I implement link preloading on nearly all sites I work on now to maximize speed and revenue.
When to Use Link Preloading on Your Site
Any links that visitors will commonly click on are good candidates for preloading, such as:
- Main navigation menu items
- Calls-to-action buttons (CTAs)
- Related posts under blog content
- Footer links
- Featured images or other thumbnail links
Avoid preloading pages that require dynamic user-specific information, like:
- Shopping cart
- Checkout process
- Login/register pages
- Commenting
- Search results
Preloading every link can overwork a server, so be selective in what you choose for maximum benefit.
Step-by-Step Guide to Preload Links in WordPress
Follow this beginner-friendly walkthrough to start preloading your WordPress links:
Step 1: Install the Flying Pages Plugin
Flying Pages is a great free WordPress preloading plugin.
From your site‘s WP admin, go to Plugins > Add New. Search for "Flying Pages" and install the plugin.
Once activated, the plugin will automatically begin preloading links intelligently in the background.
Step 2: Configure Plugin Settings
Under Settings > Flying Pages, you can configure options like:
- Delay to start preloading – Set an idle time before preloading kicks in.
- Max requests per second – Control calls to your server per second to prevent overload.
- Preload only on mouse hover – Save resources by only preloading upon hover intent.
- Keywords to ignore – List URLs you do not want preloaded.
Start conservative with settings like 3 requests per second. Monitor server resources, and increase limits slowly over time if possible.
Step 3: Test Link Speed Improvements
Now when visitors click on one of your important site links, the target page should load instantly!
Use Google PageSpeed Insights to measure how much your overall site speed improves with link preloading enabled. Focus efforts on pages under 4 second total load time.
Step 4: Adjust Settings as Needed
Watch your server traffic and load when preloading is active to spot any issues. If CPU or memory usage spikes, reduce the max requests per second or tweak ignore keywords.
Preloading is powerful but can consume resources if not configured properly. Fine-tune settings until sites run smoothly.
Troubleshooting Common Preloading Problems
Here are some common problems and fixes when setting up link preloading:
Site Crashes
If your WordPress site crashes or goes offline suddenly, you likely have too aggressive of preload settings. Lower max request rate to 1 rps and monitor.
High Server Load
If CPU or memory is consistently high with preloading on hover, try disabling hover preload and just use automatic background preloading instead.
Slowdowns Not Improved
Certain shared hosts throttle sites if enough resources are used. Try a better WordPress host to unlock full preloading speeds.
Incorrect Pages Preloading
Double check your ignore list has necessary URLs like dynamic pages. Test preloading manually on pages that should not load.
Start by conservatively preloading your most important links. Gradually ramp up settings and pages as your WordPress server allows to prevent hiccups.
In Summary…
Link preloading cuts down transition time between clicking on two WordPress pages drastically. By loading target pages in the background before visitors click links, you can create lightning-fast site speeds.
Just remember not to over-preload or you may face server slowdowns instead of faster performance! Start slow and test resource usage as you expand.
Let us know if you have any other preloading questions!
