But what if half your “customers” just occupy tables, waste your baristas’ time, and never buy coffee?

Meanwhile, real customers leave due to no tables and slow service?

Well, that’s the world of web crawlers and bots.

These automated programs gobble up your bandwidth, slow down your site, and drive away actual customers.

Recent studies show that almost 51% of internet traffic comes from bots. That’s right — more than half of your digital visitors may just be wasting your server resources.

But don’t panic!

This guide will help you spot trouble and control your site’s performance, all without coding or calling your techy cousin.

A Quick Refresher on Bots

Bots are automated software programs that perform tasks on the internet without human intervention. They:

• Visit websites
• Interact with digital content
• And execute specific functions based on their programming. 

Some bots analyze and index your site (potentially improving search engine rankings.) Some spend their time scraping your content for AI training datasets — or worse — posting spam, generating fake reviews, or looking for exploits and security holes in your website.

Of course, not all bots are created equal. Some are critical to the health and visibility of your website. Others are arguably neutral, and a few are downright toxic. Knowing the difference — and deciding which bots to block and which to allow — is crucial for protecting your site and its reputation.

Good Bot, Bad Bot: What’s What?

Bots make up the internet.

For instance, Google’s bot visits every page on the internet and adds it to their databases for ranking. This bot assists in providing valuable search traffic, which is important for the health of your website.

But, not every bot is going to provide value, and some are just outright bad. Here’s what to keep and what to block.

The VIP Bots (Keep These)

• Search engine crawlers like Googlebot and Bingbot are examples of these crawlers. Don’t block them, or you’ll become invisible online.
• Analytics bots gather data about your site’s performance, like the Google Pagespeed Insights bot or the GTmetrix bot.

The Troublemakers (Need Managing)

• Content scrapers that steal your content for use elsewhere
• Spam bots that flood your forms and comments with junk
• Bad actors who attempt to hack accounts or exploit vulnerabilities

The bad bots scale might surprise you. In 2024, advanced bots made up 55% of all advanced bad bot traffic, while good ones accounted for 44%.

Those advanced bots are sneaky — they can mimic human behavior, including mouse movements and clicks, making them more difficult to detect.

Are Bots Bogging Down Your Website? Look for These Warning Signs

Before jumping into solutions, let’s make sure bots are actually your problem. Check out the signs below.

Red Flags in Your Analytics

• Traffic spikes without explanation: If your visitor count suddenly jumps but sales don’t, bots might be the culprit.
• Everything s-l-o-w-s down: Pages take longer to load, frustrating real customers who might leave for good. Aberdeen shows that 40% of visitors abandon websites that take over three seconds to load, which leads to…
• High bounce rates: above 90% often indicate bot activity.
• Weird session patterns: Humans don’t typically visit for just milliseconds or stay on one page for hours.
• You start getting lots of unusual traffic: Especially from countries where you don’t do business. That’s suspicious.
• Form submissions with random text: Classic bot behavior.
• Your server gets overwhelmed: Imagine seeing 100 customers at once, but 75 are just window shopping.

Check Your Server Logs

Your website’s server logs contain records of every visitor.

Here’s what to look for:

• Too many subsequent requests from the same IP address
• Strange user-agent strings (the identification that bots provide)
• Requests for unusual URLs that don’t exist on your site

A legitimate Googlebot request might look like this in your logs:

66.249.78.17 - - [13/Jul/2015:07:18:58 -0400] "GET /robots.txt HTTP/1.1" 200 0 "-" "Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Googlebot/2.1; +http://www.google.com/bot.html)"

If you see patterns that don’t match normal human browsing behavior, it’s time to take action.

The GPTBot Problem as AI Crawlers Surge

Recently, many website owners have reported issues with AI crawlers generating abnormal traffic patterns.

According to Imperva’s research, OpenAI’s GPTBot made 569 million requests in a single month while Claude’s bot made 370 million across Vercel’s network.

Look for:

• Error spikes in your logs: If you suddenly see hundreds or thousands of 404 errors, check if they’re from AI crawlers.

• Extremely long, nonsensical URLs: AI bots might request bizarre URLs like the following:

/Odonto-lieyectoresli-541.aspx/assets/js/plugins/Docs/Productos/assets/js/Docs/Productos/assets/js/assets/js/assets/js/vendor/images2021/Docs/...

• Recursive parameters: Look for endless repeating parameters, for example:

amp;amp;amp;page=6&page=6

• Bandwidth spikes: Readthedocs, a renowned technical documentation company, stated that one AI crawler downloaded 73TB of ZIP files, with 10TB downloaded in a single day, costing them over $5,000 in bandwidth charges.

These patterns can indicate AI crawlers that are either malfunctioning or being manipulated to cause problems.

When To Get Technical Help

If you spot these signs but don’t know what to do next, it’s time to bring in professional help. Ask your developer to check specific user agents like this one:

Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; GPTBot/1.2; +https://openai.com/gptbot)

There are many recorded user agent strings for other AI crawlers that you can look up on Google to block. Do note that the strings change, meaning you might end up with quite a large list over time.

👉 Don’t have a developer on speed dial? DreamHost’s DreamCare team can analyze your logs and implement protection measures. They’ve seen these issues before and know exactly how to handle them.

Your Bot-Busting Toolkit: 5 Simple Steps To Take Back Control

Now for the good part: how to stop these bots from slowing down your site. Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work.

1. Create a Proper robots.txt File

The robots.txt simple text file sits in your root directory and tells well-behaved bots which parts of your site they shouldn’t access.

You can access the robots.txt for pretty much any website by adding a /robots.txt to its domain. For instance, if you want to see the robots.txt file for DreamHost, add robots.txt at the end of the domain like this: https://dreamhost.com/robots.txt

There’s no obligation for any of the bots to accept the rules.

But polite bots will respect it, and the troublemakers can choose to ignore the rules. It’s best to add a robots.txt anyway so the good bots don’t start indexing admin login, post-checkout pages, thank you pages, etc.

How to Implement

1. Create a plain text file named robots.txt

2. Add your instructions using this format:

User-agent: *          # This line applies to all bots
Disallow: /admin/      # Don't crawl the admin area
Disallow: /private/    # Stay out of private folders
Crawl-delay: 10        # Wait 10 seconds between requests
User-agent: Googlebot  # Special rules just for Google
Allow: /               # Google can access everything

3. Upload the file to your website’s root directory (so it’s at yourdomain.com/robots.txt)

The “Crawl-delay” directive is your secret weapon here. It forces bots to wait between requests, preventing them from hammering your server.

Most major crawlers respect this, although Googlebot follows its own system (which you can control through Google Search Console).

Pro tip: Test your robots.txt with Google’s robots.txt testing tool to ensure you haven’t accidentally blocked important content.

2. Set Up Rate Limiting

Rate limiting restricts how many requests a single visitor can make within a specific period.

It prevents bots from overwhelming your server so normal humans can browse your site without interruption.

How to Implement

If you’re using Apache (common for WordPress sites), add these lines to your .htaccess file:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !(.css|.js|.png|.jpg|.gif|robots.txt)$ [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} !^Googlebot [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} !^Bingbot [NC]
# Allow max 3 requests in 10 seconds per IP
RewriteCond %{REMOTE_ADDR} ^([0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+)$
RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>

If you’re on Nginx, add this to your server configuration:

limit_req_zone $binary_remote_addr zone=one:10m rate=30r/m;
server {
    ...
    location / {
        limit_req zone=one burst=5;
        ...
    }
}

Many hosting control panels, like cPanel or Plesk, also offer rate-limiting tools in their security sections.

Pro tip: Start with conservative limits (like 30 requests per minute) and monitor your site. You can always tighten restrictions if bot traffic continues.

3. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

CDNs do two good things for you:

1. Distribute content across global server networks so your website is delivered quickly worldwide
2. Filter traffic before it reaches the website to block any irrelevant bots and attacks

The “irrelevant bots” part is what matters to us for now, but the other benefits are useful too. Most CDNs include built-in bot management that identifies and blocks suspicious visitors automatically.

How to Implement

1. Sign up for a CDN service like DreamHost CDN, Cloudflare, Amazon CloudFront, or Fastly.
2. Follow the setup instructions (may require changing name servers).
3. Configure the security settings to enable bot protection.

If your hosting service offers a CDN by default, you eliminate all the steps since your website will automatically be hosted on CDN.

Once set up, your CDN will:

• Cache static content to reduce server load.
• Filter suspicious traffic before it reaches your site.
• Apply machine learning to differentiate between legitimate and malicious requests.
• Block known malicious actors automatically.

Pro tip: Cloudflare’s free tier includes basic bot protection that works well for most small business sites. Their paid plans offer more advanced options if you need them.

4. Add CAPTCHA for Sensitive Actions

CAPTCHAs are those little puzzles that ask you to identify traffic lights or bicycles. They’re annoying for humans but nearly impossible for most bots, making them perfect gatekeepers for important areas of your site.

How to Implement

1. Sign up for Google’s reCAPTCHA (free) or hCaptcha.
2. Add the CAPTCHA code to your sensitive forms:
   • Login pages
   • Contact forms
   • Checkout processes
   • Comment sections

For WordPress users, plugins like Akismet can handle this automatically for comments and form submissions.

Pro tip: Modern invisible CAPTCHAs (like reCAPTCHA v3) work behind the scenes for most visitors, only showing challenges to suspicious users. Use this method to gain protection without annoying legitimate customers.

5. Consider the New llms.txt Standard

The llms.txt standard is a recent development that controls how AI crawlers interact with your content.

It’s like robots.txt but specifically for telling AI systems what information they can access and what they should avoid.

How to Implement

1. Create a markdown file named llms.txt with this content structure:

# Your Website Name
> Brief description of your site

## Main Content Areas
- [Product Pages](https://yoursite.com/products): Information about products
- [Blog Articles](https://yoursite.com/blog): Educational content

## Restrictions
- Please don't use our pricing information in training

2. Upload it to your root directory (at yourdomain.com/llms.txt) → Reach out to a developer if you don’t have direct access to the server. 

Is llms.txt the official standard? Not yet.

It’s a standard proposed in late 2024 by Jeremy Howard, which has been adopted by Zapier, Stripe, Cloudflare, and many other large companies. Here’s a growing list of websites adopting llms.txt.

So, if you want to jump on board, they have official documentation on GitHub with implementation guidelines.

Pro tip: Once implemented, see if ChatGPT (with web search enabled) can access and understand the llms.txt file.

Verify that the llms.txt is accessible to these bots by asking ChatGPT (or another LLM) to “Check if you can read this page” or “What does the page say.”

We can’t know if the bots will respect llms.txt anytime soon. However, if the AI search can read and understand the llms.txt file now, they may start respecting it in the future, too.

Monitoring and Maintaining Your Site’s Bot Protection

So you’ve set up your bot defenses — awesome work!

Just keep in mind that bot technology is always evolving, meaning bots come back with new tricks. Let’s make sure your site stays protected for the long haul.

• Schedule regular security check-ups: Once a month, look at your server logs for anything fishy and make sure your robots.txt and llms.txt files are updated with any new page links that you’d like the bots to access/not access.
• Keep your bot blocklist fresh: Bots keep changing their disguises. Follow security blogs (or let your hosting provider do it for you) and update your blocking rules at regular intervals.
• Watch your speed: Bot protection that slows your site to a crawl isn’t doing you any favors. Keep an eye on your page load times and fine-tune your protection if things start getting sluggish. Remember, real humans are impatient creatures!
• Consider going on autopilot: If all this sounds like too much work (we get it, you have a business to run!), look into automated solutions or managed hosting that handles security for you. Sometimes the best DIY is DIFM — Do It For Me!

A Bot-Free Website While You Sleep? Yes, Please!

Pat yourself on the back. You’ve covered a lot of ground here!

However, even with our step-by-step guidance, this stuff can get pretty technical. (What exactly is an .htaccess file anyway?)

And while DIY bot management is certainly possible, you mind find that your time is better spent running the business.

DreamCare is the “we’ll handle it for you” button you’re looking for.

Our team keeps your site protected with:

• 24/7 monitoring that catches suspicious activity while you sleep
• Regular security reviews to stay ahead of emerging threats
• Automatic software updates that patch vulnerabilities before bots can exploit them
• Comprehensive malware scanning and removal if anything sneaks through

See, bots are here to stay. And considering their rise in the last few years, we could see more bots than humans in the near future. No one knows.

But, why lose sleep over it?

Pro Services – Website Management

Website Management Made Easy

Let us handle the backend — we’ll manage and monitor your website so it’s safe, secure, and always up.

Learn More

This page contains affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission if you purchase services through our link without any extra cost to you.

The post How To Stop Web Crawlers and Bots From Slowing Down Your Website appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

We’re not talking about pleases and thank yous. We’re talking about micro-animations, those subtle, functional movements that make your site feel polished, intuitive, and alive.

Because even if your copy is sharp and your pages load in a flash, a site that doesn’t respond to user actions can still feel clunky and cold. Micro-animations fill in those gaps. They guide. They reassure. They create moments of delight that stick.

Think of them as the quiet MVP of user experience (UX) — small details with a big impact.

Let’s break down how these tiny visual cues punch above their weight and how you can start using them without turning your site into a theme park.

What Are Micro-Animations?

Micro-animations are small, purposeful animations — blips of motion that help your interface speak the same language as your users. They usually last less than a second, and when used right, they make everything feel smoother, smarter, and more human.

Examples include:

• That slight bounce when you click a button
• The smooth transition when you hover over a menu item
• The satisfying little wiggle when you complete a form
• That perfect little swoop when a modal window appears

Think about how less satisfying “heart-ing” something on Instagram would be without this haptic and visual feedback:

Micro-animations are especially powerful on mobile, where space is tight and every touch counts. A tiny bounce here and a smooth fade there help users get where they want to go without second-guessing.

The Psychology of Micro-Animations (+ How They Improve User Experience)

Our brains are hardwired to notice movement. It’s an evolutionary thing. Movement could mean “food” or “danger” or “potential mate.”

Micro-animations tap into this primitive part of our brains by:

• Providing feedback – A button click that responds feels like it’s doing something (because it is).
• Making things feel faster – Even a brief loading animation buys you goodwill while content catches up.
• Reducing confusion – Animations can subtly steer attention where it’s needed.
• Building trust – Visual confirmation that something worked, like a checkmark or a progress bar, goes a long way.
• Adding delight – A small, clever animation can make your site more memorable and your brand more lovable.

Micro-animations sit in that sweet spot between lifeless icons and bandwidth-hogging video. Static visuals? They’re quick but flat. Video? Flashy but heavy. Micro-animations? They’re the Goldilocks solution — just enough movement to feel alive, not enough to tank your load time.

If you’ve ever been seduced by the products on Apple’s website, micro-animations have a LOT to do with that:

This is backed by cold, hard facts: studies have found that people recognize animated elements up to 60% faster than static ones, highlighting how motion can attract attention and convey information.

The business case for these tiny delightful elements is equally compelling:

• According to 34.5% of marketers, the average time spent on their website has increased significantly.
• 27.5% of marketers say animations increase click-through rates.
• In 19% of cases, marketers believe animation increases their conversion rates significantly.

Where To Use Micro-Animations (Without Being a Bother)

1. Button Feedback

Nothing is more frustrating than clicking a button and wondering if the website registered your desperate plea for interaction. Try adding a subtle scale or color change.

2. Page Transitions

Make moving between pages feel like silk, not sandpaper. A 0.3-second fade can make your website feel premium – Luxury, but for your eyeballs.

3. Loading Indicators

If your website takes more than two seconds to load something (fix that, by the way), at least entertain me while I wait. A creative loading animation can reduce perceived wait time by up to 30%.

4. Form Validation

Instead of just telling users they screwed up with angry red text, show them with a gentle shake of the input field. It’s like saying “Try again” but with jazz hands. Or tell them they’re doing great with a bright green checkmark!

3 Delightful Real-Life Examples of Micro-Animations

Let’s get specific. Here are five micro-animations that make me want to slow-clap at my screen.

1. Apple’s Navigation Menu

Hover over Apple’s mega menu and watch how elements fade in with a slight stagger effect. It’s butter-smooth and lightning-quick. This isn’t random; the animation subtly guides your eye through the product hierarchy while making the experience feel premium.

2. Spicy Margarita’s Hero Animation

The second you land, Spicy Margarita’s bold typography animates in with just enough swagger to match the brand voice. The lime slice bounces, the salt shakes, and the whole thing screams personality. It’s slick, punchy, and perfectly timed, making a loud first impression while staying clean and controlled.

3. Fenty Beauty’s Slot Machine Animation

The Fenty homepage greets you with a playful, casino-style product reel that spins and lands with a satisfying bounce. It’s bold, punchy, and impossible to ignore — perfectly on-brand for a sale campaign. The motion adds urgency and energy without being chaotic, making the promotion feel exciting instead of intrusive.

How To Add Micro-Animations To Your Website

You don’t need a Hollywood effects budget or a developer team with Pixar résumés. Thanks to modern tools, especially low-code and no-code ones, you can add buttery-smooth motion without touching a single line of JavaScript (unless you really want to).

Step 1: Pick an Interaction

Start with something obvious: a button hover, a CTA click, or a loading spinner. You’re not reinventing the homepage but adding polish where it counts.

Step 2: Choose the Right Tool

Whether you want to drag and drop or fine-tune code by hand, there’s a tool for you.

Here’s a quick-start guide to help you find your fit.

• Experiment with CSS for simple effects: Start with hover animations to make buttons or links interactive. It’s fast, lightweight, and supported everywhere.
• Use GreenSock Animation Platform (GSAP) for advanced effects: GSAP provides versatile tools for crafting custom animations that are both efficient and high-performing, making it a popular choice for complex interactions.
• Try Lottie for scalable vector animations: Lottie enables vector-based animations that maintain quality across devices, perfect for icons and onboarding elements.

And if you want the full landscape, here’s a cheat sheet.

Step 3: Test It

Your animation might look slick on your MacBook, but how does it feel on mobile? Is it fast? Does it help, or just dance around for fun?

BTW, DreamHost offers professional web hosting services to make sure your site stays lightning-fast, even with animation layers added in. And if you need a hand when bringing your animation ideas to life, our team of talented developers can help you build it without breaking your brand or your site.

Step 4: Rinse, Refine, Repeat

Once you’ve nailed one great interaction, layer in another. Maybe a scroll-triggered content reveal. Maybe a little feedback on a form submission. Build up slowly. Not everything needs motion, but the right moments? They stick.

You’re going for elevated, not overcooked.

Best Practices for Micro-Animations

The best micro-animations are invisible in the best way. You feel them more than you notice them. And that’s the goal.

But behind that smooth little fade or bounce is some serious intention.

1. Nail the Timing

Fast animations (around 150–300ms) work best for UI feedback. Think button clicks or form validations.

Google’s Material UI guidelines state that animations between 150-400ms feel smooth to the user while those longer or shorter can feel sluggish and difficult to follow.

Either way, keep it consistent. Erratic animation speeds make your site feel chaotic.

2. Make Them Accessible To Everyone

Creating an inclusive experience is table stakes. Here’s how to keep your micro-animations friendly for all users.

• Respect “reduced motion” settings: If someone has motion sensitivity, offer a simpler experience with fades instead of motion-heavy transitions.
• Use high contrast: Make sure animated elements stand out clearly, especially for users with visual impairments.
• Don’t rely on color alone: Color-blind users can miss subtle transitions. Use shapes, labels, or patterns alongside color.
• Check your contrast ratios: Aim for at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio for animated text and icons. Test with tools like Contrast Checker.
• Support screen readers: Use tools like Wave or Axe to confirm animations don’t trip up assistive tech.
• Add descriptive tooltips or audio cues: If something moves or changes on the screen, explain it — especially if it affects the user experience.

3. Build With Intent

Every animation should answer the question: “Why is this here?” If it doesn’t make something clearer, faster, or more delightful — cut it. A great micro-animation feels inevitable, like it was always supposed to be there.

4. Test On Different Devices

A study by Akamai analyzed over 10 billion visits to top retail sites and found that even milliseconds matter. According to the research, customers go elsewhere even if a page takes longer than three seconds, with more than half leaving if it takes more than that.

Animation that feels silky on your laptop might jitter on a mid-range Android. Test on different devices, browsers, and connection speeds to make sure the experience holds up everywhere.

This is called responsive design.

5. Provide Immediate Feedback on High-Stakes Actions

Micro-animations really earn their keep on transaction-heavy pages. Think e-commerce checkouts, booking platforms, subscription signups, donation flows, or any place where customers submit payment or personal information.

A checkmark after a form submission or a satisfying bounce when an item hits the cart tells the user, “Yep, it worked.”

That tiny flash of confirmation builds trust and prevents double-clicking, rage-refreshing, or user frustration — all of which can kill your conversions.

6. Maintain Consistency

Use a design system or animation library to standardize motion across the site. A button that slides up on one page and fades on another? That’s not personality; it’s chaos.

The Little Things Are the Big Things

Micro-animations are proof that details matter. They make your product look good and feel right. A site that responds, reassures, and delights at just the right moment? That’s not fluff – That’s great product design.

Start with a button. Add a form. Sprinkle in a scroll animation. Then, keep refining. Because once you start paying attention to the little things, your users will, too — and they’ll stick around for it.

Need help figuring out where to start? Just want a gut check on your UX? DreamHost has the hosting power and dev team to make your dreams a reality.

The post How To Use Micro-Animations To Improve Website Engagement appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

We get it.

You want the right option without wasting time or money on the wrong choice.

So here’s a simple way to think of it:

• A static website is like a printed restaurant menu – Beautifully designed. Carefully crafted. Ready to be handed over instantly.
• A dynamic website is like a restaurant menu on an iPad – Easily updated. Can remember preferences. Changes in real time.

Just like these menus, each website type serves different business needs perfectly.

The printed menu (static site) gets into customers’ hands instantly, costs less, and rarely breaks. It’s perfect when your content rarely changes.

The iPad menu (dynamic site) is easily updatable and can even adjust to each customer’s preferences. This is what you need if your content constantly changes.

Neither is “better” — they’re just different tools for different jobs.

Static vs. Dynamic at a Glance

From the outside, static and dynamic websites can be designed to look exactly the same. But they’re very different when you look behind the curtains. BuiltWith can help you see what technology runs behind the curtains for pretty much any website.

Here’s a breakdown of the key differences in plain English.

The core difference? Static sites are pre-built and ready to serve, while dynamic sites are assembled by the server in real-time when a visitor requests them.

What Are Static Websites?

A static website is pre-made, consistent, and immediately available.

The content is fixed and delivered exactly as it was created — to every visitor.

When someone visits your static site, they’re simply receiving pre-built HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files directly from the server.

Put simply, what you create is precisely what visitors see, without any on-the-fly processing or customization. Every page exists as a complete file ready to be served up instantly.

Examples of Static Websites

Visually, both static and dynamic websites can look the same. And it’s difficult to distinguish between static vs. dynamic websites just by looking at it.

Here are two examples of static websites:

• https://moderncss.dev/ is designed using a static site generator called 11ty.
• https://letsencrypt.org/ is built with plain HTML and CSS.

If you see a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, etc, or frameworks like PHP, Flask, Django, the website has a backend system. And it’s most likely a dynamic website pulling data from this backend.

However, if you don’t see either a CMS or framework powering the website, it’s safe to assume that it’s a static website.

When To Use A Static Website

• Professional portfolios for photographers, designers, and consultants
• Small business “brochure” sites with basic company information
• Restaurant websites with fixed menus and location details
• Event landing pages for conferences or special occasions
• Documentation sites with technical information or guides

The Good Stuff (Pros)

Static websites offer some solid advantages over dynamic websites when it comes to performance and cost savings. Here are a few benefits.

1. Rock-Solid Security

With fewer moving parts, static websites present a smaller target for hackers.

They don’t have databases that can be injected with malicious code or complex server-side scripts that might contain vulnerabilities.

This doesn’t mean they’re bulletproof, but they’re naturally resistant to most common attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).

2. Lightning-Fast Loading Speeds

Static websites shine when it comes to performance.

Since there’s no server-side processing required for each page visit, content loads remarkably fast. Studies show static websites typically load 2-3 times faster than comparable dynamic sites.

Google has considered page speed a ranking factor since 2010, and more so after introducing Core Web Vitals, giving static sites a potential SEO advantage.

3. Budget-Friendly Hosting

Static websites demand fewer server resources, translating directly to lower hosting costs.

You can often host a static site for as little as $5-$10 per month, or even for free with platforms like GitHub Pages or Netlify.

This cost advantage becomes even more significant as your traffic grows.

4. Excellent Reliability

With fewer components that might fail, static websites tend to be more reliable. They don’t depend on databases or complex server configurations to function, so there are fewer points of failure.

5. Easy CDN Integration

Static sites work beautifully with Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), which store copies of your website on servers worldwide.

This boosts loading speeds further for visitors regardless of their location and provides excellent protection against traffic spikes.

The Not-So-Good Stuff (Cons)

We wouldn’t need this blog if static websites were perfect in every way, right? Here’s what you need to keep in mind if you consider going with one.

1. Content Updates Can Be Difficult

Making changes to a static website typically requires editing HTML files directly and may require developer time. Even if you do understand code, you’d need a drag and drop static site builder to actually make updates quickly.

2. Limited Functionality

Static websites cannot easily implement features like user accounts, shopping carts, or personalized content without relying on third-party services or learning JavaScript.

3. No Built-In Content Management

Unlike dynamic sites with content management systems, static websites don’t offer user-friendly interfaces for updates. Non-technical team members might struggle to make even simple content changes.

4. Scalability Challenges for Content

While static sites handle traffic well, they can become unwieldy when managing large amounts of content. Add hundreds of product pages, and you’d be creating and maintaining individual files for each of those pages.

What Are Dynamic Websites?

A dynamic website, like that restaurant’s tablet menu, is assembled on demand as requested by the user.

When someone lands on your dynamic site, the server processes their request, pulls information from a database, and generates a customized page specifically for that moment.

This means the website can be built to change based on various factors: the time of day, who’s visiting, what they’ve done previously on your site, or what’s currently in your inventory database.

Examples of Dynamic Websites

Dynamic websites are much easier to come across since most of the popular websites have some sort of database processing to have interactions built in.

Look at pretty much any e-commerce website:

• hexclad.com
• maguireshoes.com

They’re all going to be dynamic — the products displayed on the front-end are being pulled from the database and can be changed as required.

When To Use A Dynamic Website

• E-commerce stores with product catalogs and shopping carts
• Business websites that need frequent content updates
• News sites publishing multiple articles daily
• Online booking systems for appointments or reservations
• Membership sites with user accounts and personalized dashboards
• Forums and community platforms with user-generated content

The Good Stuff (Pros)

Dynamic websites are great, especially if you want control over your website content without having to play with the code.

1. Easy Content Management

Dynamic websites typically include content management systems (CMS) (like WordPress!) that make updates simple. Non-technical team members can add, edit, or remove content through a user-friendly dashboard without touching code.

This feature is a necessity for businesses that publish regularly or need to update information frequently.

2. Powerful Functionality

There’s a lot more to dynamic websites than just updating content. You can create:

• User registration and login systems
• E-commerce with shopping carts and payment processing
• Customer accounts with order history
• Personalized content based on user behavior
• Search functionality across large content collections

3. Database Integration

For a dynamic website, the database integration makes all the magic happen on the front-end.

Because of database integration, dynamic websites can manage large amounts of structured data efficiently. This means you can have thousands of products, articles, or user profiles stored in a database instead of managing thousands of individual files.

4. Content Personalization

Dynamic websites can also be designed to personalize the user experience based on individual preferences, past behavior, location, or device type.

5. Scalable Content Structure

As your business grows, a dynamic website can easily accommodate new sections, features, or content types without requiring a complete redesign.

The Not-So-Good Stuff (Cons)

All that customizability comes at a cost…

1. Typically Slower Loading Times

The need to generate pages on demand means dynamic websites often load more slowly than their static counterparts. Each page request requires database queries and server processing before content is delivered to the visitor.

However, website caching can improve performance to a certain extent here — maybe even make the website fast enough so users don’t notice.

2. Higher Security Maintenance

Dynamic websites face more security challenges because of their complexity. Databases, server-side code, and CMS platforms all need regular updates and security patches to stay protected against developing threats.

There are ways to improve dynamic website security and make it difficult for hackers. But compared to a static website, you’ll always have more attack surfaces.

3. More Expensive To Build and Host

The technical complexity of dynamic websites usually translates to higher development costs and ongoing hosting expenses. You’ll need servers capable of handling database operations and server-side processing, unlike static file hosts, which can be extremely basic and still work well.

4. Technical Complexity

Dynamic websites involve more moving parts, including server configuration, database management, and potentially multiple programming languages. So when things go wrong, you need to figure out which of the moving parts is broken.

How To Decide: Is Static or Dynamic Right for You?

Alright, you understand static and dynamic websites much better now. But you obviously don’t want to pick the wrong option for your website.

Ask Yourself These 5 Key Questions

1. How often will your content change?

This is perhaps the most important factor in your decision.

• Monthly or less frequent updates? A static website likely meets your needs.
• Weekly or daily updates? A dynamic website with a CMS will save you time and hassle.
• Constantly changing information? Dynamic is your best choice.

2. What functionality do you need?

• Simple information sharing only? Static websites are great for this.
• User accounts or personalization? You’ll need a dynamic website.
• E-commerce capabilities? Dynamic websites handle this much better.
• Contact forms? Both can manage this (static sites with third-party services).
• Search functionality? Dynamic sites offer more robust searching.

3. Who will manage your website?

• Web developer or technically skilled team member? Either option works.
• Non-technical staff? A dynamic site with a CMS will be much easier.
• Multiple content contributors? Dynamic sites better support collaborative workflows.

4. What’s your budget?

• Limited budget for both development and ongoing costs? Static may be best.
• Willing to invest more upfront for easier management? Dynamic could save money long term.
• Growing business with increasing needs? Dynamic offers more room to expand.

5. How important is performance?

• Visitors expect websites that load immediately? Static sites could work great. But look into caching if you need the dynamic flexibility.
• Complex user journeys with multiple pages? Dynamic websites are better suited, since they can design personalized paths based on user behavior and preferences.
• Mostly mobile users with slower connection speeds? Static sites can provide a great experience.

Cost and Maintenance: What Small Business Owners Need To Know

What can you expect to pay for creating and maintaining a static vs. dynamic website?

Initial Development Costs

Once you decide between static vs. dynamic, you need to hire a web developer to create the website.

Monthly Hosting Costs

Next, you’d be hosting the website. That’s going to be an ongoing cost for keeping your website live.

Ongoing Maintenance Expenses

Both types of websites have ongoing maintenance costs, but they vary depending on what you need to change. You may even want to hand over the website maintenance to a service provider.

The Hidden Costs To Consider

Beyond the obvious expenses, you also need to consider these potential hidden costs:

No-Code and Low-Code Solutions To Build a Static or Dynamic Website

Not every business needs a website that’s coded and built from the ground up. For most small business use cases, like showing your service portfolio, allowing for meeting bookings, displaying product catalog, etc., can be easily done with the help of customizable themes and website builders.

Static Website Builders

• Liftoff AI website builder: Tell AI what website you want, and it builds the site for you
• Wix: Drag-and-drop editor with hundreds of templates
• Squarespace: Design-focused platform with beautiful templates
• Carrd: Extremely simple one-page website builder
• Adobe Portfolio: Great for creative professionals

Dynamic Website Platforms

• WordPress.com: Hosted version of the popular CMS
• Shopify: All-in-one e-commerce platform
• Webflow: Visual development platform with CMS capabilities
• Wix: Also offers dynamic features and an app marketplace

Static Site Generators (Middle Ground)

If you have some technical skills, static site generators (SSGs) can be the perfect middle ground where you have both a CMS and a static website.

• Jekyll: Popular static site generator
• Hugo: Extremely fast site generator
• Gatsby: React-based static site generator
• Eleventy: A simpler alternative to complex generators

How To Choose a No-Code Platform

Again, the tool you pick will depend on what features you need, so you need to try them out and see if they fit. These are some basic guidelines for picking a good no-code web dev platform.

• Ease of use: Is the interface intuitive, or does it have a steep learning curve?
• Templates: How well do the existing templates fit your vision?
• Customization: How much can you personalize the look and feel to match your brand?
• Growth potential: Can the platform scale with your business, or will you need to migrate to something complex later?
• Support: What help is available when you get stuck, and what resources are available to help?
• Cost: What are the monthly/annual fees? Are there transaction costs you should know?

If you don’t want to spend time, pick an option from the ones listed above, and you’ll do just fine.

When To Skip DIY and Hire a Pro

You may not always be satisfied with the default look of the template you’re using, or maybe you need integrations (like passing sales data to your accounting software or integrating with other business apps).

Here are some other reasons you might skip DIY:

• Your website is central to your business model
• You need custom functionality beyond standard templates
• Your brand requires a unique visual identity
• You’re building a complex e-commerce system
• You’re not technically inclined and don’t have the time to learn

That’s when the basic templates will not be enough and you’d need professional web developers, like us!

Make the Right Choice for Your Business

While there’s no universally “correct” choice, picking between static and dynamic websites is a rather straightforward decision.

If you want to update the website as and when required, take the dynamic route.

If you need performance and don’t care about changing much, pick static websites.

And whichever type of site you choose, the performance depends heavily on your hosting environment. So, it might be worth testing your site on powerful hosting right from the beginning.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS) give raw power and flexibility to host even the heaviest of sites without sacrificing performance. Want to give it a try? Start with a small VPS and scale it up as your website grows.

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Here’s how DreamHost’s VPS offering stands apart: 24/7 customer support, an intuitive panel, scalable RAM, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited hosting domains, and SSD storage.

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The post Static vs. Dynamic: Which Website Is Right for You? appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

That’s why Elementor has become a lifesaver for countless site owners.

Now for the real question: is the free version enough? Or do you need Pro to unlock your site’s full potential?

After testing Elementor’s limits, reading through subreddits packed with user questions, and seeing how different sites work with either version, we have to say that the decision comes down to your specific needs (ugh, I know, right?)

To help you decide, we’ll compare the features, strengths, and limitations of both Elementor Free vs. Pro so you can skip the guesswork and start your web design process.

Let’s jump in!

What Is Elementor?

Elementor is one of the most popular WordPress website builders around today. It’s widely used among site owners and web designers for these reasons:

• Its intuitive drag-and-drop editor allows you to create custom layouts for pages and posts. With Elementor, you can customize your website without learning to code. However, even if you’re a developer or experienced WordPress user, there’s still plenty to gain from using the plugin.
• With Elementor, you won’t have to worry about the plugin slowing down your site. It’s optimized for speed and continuously releases new versions to improve performance.

Doesn’t WordPress already offer a website builder?

Well, technically, yes. The WordPress Full Site Editor is a page builder that is built into the WordPress core. It simplifies the process of creating and customizing posts and pages within your editor.

Alas, the default WordPress editor doesn’t offer nearly as many features as Elementor.

By using the page builder, you’ll get access to more customization options than you otherwise would using only the WordPress Full Site Editor.

What Are the Benefits of Using Elementor?

Why do so many users swear by Elementor? Let’s look at its standout benefits through the lens of building a website for your small business.

1. Intuitive Interface

Imagine you’re setting up a homepage for your small business website. You could hire a developer, but with Elementor, you don’t have to.

Anyone can create sleek, professional-looking pages using its drag-and-drop editor without writing a single line of code. You can highlight your services, showcase customer testimonials, and add stunning visuals — all on your own.

2. Real-Time Previews

As you build your homepage, every change you make will be updated instantly in Elementor’s editor. You won’t have to toggle between the backend and a preview window.

Want to tweak the layout of your hero section or adjust the color scheme for a seasonal promotion? You’ll see your changes live, saving time and ensuring everything looks perfect.

3. Widgets for Every Need

Your small business website needs more than just text and images. Elementor provides a robust library of widgets to help you create engaging content.

Add a contact form so customers can reach out, display a gallery of your products, or include an FAQ section to address common queries. These widgets make your site functional and user-friendly.

4. Time-Saving Templates

Don’t have the time to design each page from scratch? The templates provided by Elementor give you a great starting point.

Select a layout for your “About Us” page, customize it with your business’s story, and match the colors to your brand.

You can also save your designs as templates to reuse across multiple pages, providing you consistency throughout your website, irrespective of the WordPress theme.

5. Mobile Optimization

53% of all website traffic comes from phones, so your small business site needs to work perfectly well on mobile.

Elementor’s responsive design tools make it easy to optimize your website for mobile devices. For instance, you can hide less essential sections on mobile to keep your homepage focused and fast-loading for users on mobile devices.

6. SEO Integration

Your website’s design shouldn’t come at the cost of search engine visibility.

With Elementor’s compatibility with search engine optimization (SEO) plugins like Yoast SEO, you can optimize your pages while designing them.

Add keywords to your content, optimize image alt text, and structure your site for better rankings — all within the same workflow.

7. Beginner-Friendly Learning Tools

If you’re new to website building, Elementor offers built-in tutorials and documentation to guide you.

From setting up your first page to mastering advanced features like popups, these resources ensure you’re never stuck.

You’ll feel confident managing your website, creating landing pages, and making updates as your business grows.

A Quick Overview of Elementor Free vs. Pro

Price: Elementor Free stays at $0, while Elementor Pro starts at $59/year.

As with any freemium tool or service, the paid version offers more features and tools. That said, the free Elementor plugin is a robust tool with various elements and features to enhance your site.

The main difference between Elementor Free vs. Pro is that the paid version provides you with more widgets, premium support, and a full template library.

This may not be an issue even if you’re a freelancer, small business owner, or startup. For example, you may prefer the free version because the options will be less overwhelming. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the paid license hurting your budget.

That said, let’s take a closer look at each.

In the following sections, we’ll explore Elementor Free’s features, including its pros and cons, and then do the same for Elementor Pro.

Elementor Free: Features, Pros, and Cons

Elementor is a leading website-building platform in the WordPress community. It can be used by everyone, from beginners to professional developers. It boasts an intuitive visual builder that lets you control every aspect of your pages.

The best part is that you can add, customize, and modify elements without touching a single line of code. Let’s explore some of the specific features that you can use.

Feature: Over 40 Free Widgets

Elementor provides more than 40 free widgets that you can use to build your professional website.

Some of the most popular Elementor Widgets include:

• Heading
• Image
• Video
• Button
• Image Box
• Icon
• Image Gallery and Carousel
• Progress Bar
• Toggle
• Accordion

This is just the beginning. All the elements you would need for building basic pages on your site are included with the free plugin.

Plus, you can easily insert them using the intuitive drag-and-drop editor.

Feature: Live Drag-and-Drop Editor

One of the best features of the Elementor page builder is the live drag-and-drop theme editor. The intelligent interface lets you seamlessly add, customize, and move elements and modules on your pages.

You can create various layouts, and then insert any of the free widgets available from the Widget Library. Within the Elementor editor, you can easily edit and customize the settings of each widget by simply clicking on it.

Then a panel will open that lets you configure the various controls as well as change the typography, colors, spacing, etc.

Being able to see the changes you’re making in real time can enhance the site-building experience. You won’t have to waste time “previewing” your changes on the front end of your site like you would if you were only using the WordPress editor.

The drag-and-drop editor lets you create distinct pages with varying layouts that fit the intent of that particular page.

It’s incredibly easy to use, which makes it a great option for people who are new to website design.

The editor also includes a “Navigator” — a feature that helps you seamlessly switch between sections and inner sections of your page designs. The panel displays all elements and widgets on the page so you can move about and arrange them with ease.

Feature: Reusable Templates

Elementor offers an expansive template library. These pre-built layouts provide you with the foundation needed to create your pages with ease. With the free version, you have access to more than 30 templates.

This includes options for popular pages, such as your homepage, contact, and “About Us” pages. Elementor allows you to create custom layouts and designs, giving you more flexibility than many other options. Another handy feature is that it lets you create reusable templates.

This saves you time by eliminating the need to start from scratch every time you want to design a page that is similar to one you already have. You can use the reusable templates on any page.

This is really helpful if you want to create a consistent look and feel for your website or if you need to create multiple pages that have the same layout. Then, choose from the library of widgets to add additional functionality to your pages, such as contact forms, social media icons, and maps.

Feature: Website Kits

Another element that sets Elementor apart from other page builder tools is its website kits. The free version comes with five of them.

These website kits help you design every aspect of your site.

Similar to starter sites, the templates can be used on any page and make it easy to customize the essential pages of your website, including the homepage, blog posts, and 404 pages.

Elementor Free: Pros and Cons

One of the main advantages of Elementor is that you can download and use it for free. You get access to all of the features we just discussed without having to spend a dime.

It is also incredibly easy to install and use. Once activated, you can access the “Edit With Elementor” button on any page or post within WordPress.

But the downside is that you don’t get as many features as you would with the Pro version. For example, you won’t be able to use all of the templates from the Elementor library, nor will you get premium support.

The good news is that if you start using the plugin and find that you would benefit from these extra add-ons, you always have the option to upgrade directly from your WordPress dashboard.

Elementor Pro: Features, Pros, and Cons

The free Elementor plugin is not lacking in features. The Pro version, however, offers some additional features not included in the free version.

With a paid license, you get unlimited access to the template library. This is a bonus for large websites that are constantly adding new pages with unique requirements.

The drag-and-drop builder also lets you edit all areas of your site, including the header and footer. You can also design archive and single post pages. You can build custom post type templates and add dynamic content from custom fields from plugins such as Advanced Custom Fields.

Feature: Popup Builder

Another unique feature of Elementor Pro is the “Popup Builder.” This tool lets you create a wide variety of popups, including lead capture and subscription forms, exit intents, ad banners, and more:

The Popup Builder lets you display the element on specific pages using certain predefined parameters and triggers. You can also configure it to appear based on visitors’ actions, such as clicking on a button. It also lets you adjust how it displays, such as in fullscreen mode, a slide-in effect, or positioned at the bottom of the screen.

Feature: WooCommerce Store Builder

Another feature that you get with Elementor Pro that you don’t have access to with the free plugin is the WooCommerce Store Builder. Elementor Pro provides WooCommerce-specific widgets that simplify the process of designing and personalizing your storefront:

This includes widgets for:

• Add To Cart Button
• Product Price
• Product Title & Description
• Product Rating
• Breadcrumbs
• Upsells
• Product Stock

This feature makes it easy to build and customize every part of your online shop. You can use the visual editor to build your single product page, archive product page, and other store elements.

As with the widgets included with the free plugin, you can easily drag and drop the elements anywhere on the page. Then you can use the editor panel to the left to configure the settings. Note that these widgets are only available when you have WooCommerce installed and activated on your website.

Feature: Global Widgets

Elementor Pro users also get access to Global widgets. This feature lets you create a widget and set it to Global, meaning that any change you make to the individual widget will be applied to any other place it’s used on your site.

This can help you save a lot of time. For example, if you added a call to action (CTA) widget and wanted to change the typography of its colors, you wouldn’t have to edit it on each page that you placed it on. You can simply edit it once, and then the changes will automatically apply across all instances of it on your site.

Elementor Pro Features:

In addition, Elementor Pro features include:

• Exclusive Pro Kits
• Advanced motion effects
• Theme Builder
• Dynamic content
• Marketing automation and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) integrations
• Over 90 professional widgets
• Custom CSS and custom code
• Premium support

The downside to Elementor Pro is that you need to pay a premium license. Pricing for the paid plugin starts at $59 per year. This includes all Elementor features, premium support, and more “Website Kits.”

Also, keep in mind that you may not need all the features that come with Elementor Pro. If most of the settings and extras appear unnecessary, a paid license might not be a worthwhile investment.

Elementor Free vs. Pro: Frequently Asked Questions

It’s probably fair to say that by now you know the difference between Elementor Free and Pro. But to make sure we’ve covered all essential aspects, let’s wrap up with some frequently asked questions.

What is the main difference between Elementor Free and Elementor Pro?

The main difference between Elementor Free and Pro is the number of templates and widgets you get access to. There are plenty of features available with the free plugin. However, if you’re looking for a more expansive set that includes super niche options, you might want to opt for Elementor Pro.

Can you use the Theme Builder with both versions?

The Theme Builder is available with both Elementor Free and Pro. But, Pro lets you customize every aspect of your theme, including the header and footer. With the free plugin, you’re restricted to your WordPress theme’s limitations.

Is support included with the free Elementor plugin?

Premium support is only included with Elementor Pro. This includes 24/7 support available through your dashboard. Even so, the free version has numerous resources, tutorials, and documentation to help you.

Does Elementor work with all WordPress themes?

Yes, Elementor is compatible with all WordPress themes (with respect to the standards set by WordPress Codex). This includes features such as the Theme Builder.

Can I use Elementor to create my own theme?

You can edit and customize every aspect of your theme using Elementor. You can also access pre-made Elementor templates. But you can only import or export entire themes with all of their parts.

Is it necessary to have both Elementor Free and Pro?

You can certainly use Elementor Free as a standalone plugin. If you opt to upgrade to Elementor Pro, you’ll first need to install the basic version.

Is Elementor Pro worth it?

At this point, hopefully, you have a better understanding of Elementor Free vs. Pro. The free plugin comes with everything you need to build a beautiful website and increase your conversion rate.

For those looking for more advanced features and functionality, the paid version may be well worth the money. Elementor Pro can be particularly helpful if you have an online store and want unlimited access to the WooCommerce-specific widgets.

Remember that you don’t need to start with Elementor Pro, especially if you’ve never used the plugin before. You can always start with the free version to see whether it’s something you’d like to commit to. If you enjoy using it and think it would be worth upgrading to unlock unlimited access, switching to the premium version is quick and easy!

Elementor Free vs. Pro: Which One Is Better for You?

Elementor is a powerful tool. Regardless of which version you choose, you’ll be able to leverage it to simplify and streamline building and designing your website pages.

Choose Elementor Free if:

• You’re a freelancer or a small business with basic needs, like a blog, portfolio, or informational site. For example, if you’re a photographer showcasing your work or a yoga instructor sharing schedules and updates, Free provides all the essentials.
• Budget is your top priority, and you’re okay with fewer customization options.
• Advanced features like dynamic content or WooCommerce-specific widgets aren’t critical to your goals.

Go for Elementor Pro if:

• You’re running an online store or a growing business with a need for advanced tools. For instance, Pro is perfect for e-commerce sites requiring WooCommerce widgets, like adding product galleries or custom checkout pages.
• You want full creative control, such as designing unique headers, footers, or landing pages tailored to specific campaigns or promotions.
• Your business heavily relies on lead generation or interactive elements. Features like the Popup Builder, global widgets, and custom CSS can make your site stand out while saving time and effort.

We recommend starting with the free version to try it. Plus, if you do decide to upgrade, Elementor offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can always try the Pro version for a month before deciding to continue or not.

Spin Up a Testing Environment and Try Elementor Yourself

When you’re new to website design, you’re likely looking for a user-friendly solution that’s affordable and helps you create your pages quickly. Fortunately, a website builder plugin such as Elementor can help.

As we discussed in this post, Elementor is a powerful WordPress tool that lets you easily build and customize pages for your website without touching a line of code.

While Elementor Pro gives you unlimited access to its full suite of features and templates, the free version is more than enough to provide you with a better experience for building and designing your site!

At DreamHost, our mission is to make your site management as simple and seamless as possible. That’s why we offer WordPress hosting designed specifically for WordPress users. Check out our DreamPress-managed WordPress hosting plans to learn more!

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Wouldn’t it be nice to take something off your plate?

Well, that’s what smart entrepreneurs are doing right now. Their secret is AI.

We’ll not suggest that artificial intelligence can automate your whole workday or replace staff, but there’s no doubt that the technology can boost your productivity at work.

To help you unlock these benefits, we made an actionable guide to AI-powered productivity.

Ready to jump in? Let’s roll!

How AI Can Enhance Your Productivity

AI is having a moment right now. You’ve probably heard people say the technology will “disrupt every industry” and “replace everyone with robots.”

That remains to be seen. We aren’t really at that point yet.

AI is more like a really smart intern. You probably shouldn’t let it do anything unsupervised. But with the right instructions, it can handle a range of tasks and support your own work.

Just as importantly, most AI tools are much easier to use than traditional software. You simply type in what you need and wait for the response. If the first answer isn’t quite right, you just ask for revisions.

What AI Can (and Can’t) Do for Your Business

Let’s take a minute to cut through the hype. Here are some examples of how AI can help with business productivity:

• Automating simple admin
• Running data analysis
• Enhancing customer support
• Diving into research
• Helping with creative support

On the flip side, you should be very cautious about using AI to complete tasks such as:

• Writing full drafts
• Finding accurate, up-to-date information
• Working on HR and legal matters
• Financial decision-making
• Automating creativity

Current AI tools are unreliable, so it’s best to avoid using AI when mistakes matter.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that large language models don’t have new ideas — they just remix concepts they’ve come across before. For this reason, we recommend maintaining control over your creative workflow and using AI as an assistant or partner.

12 Effective Ways To Boost Productivity With AI

Enough with the vague rules of thumb; if you’re serious about using AI to increase productivity, we have a whole heap of ideas ready to go!

1. Automate Your To-Do List and Prioritize Tasks

As a small-time entrepreneur, you probably don’t have a private secretary. Task management is your own domain.

And boy, do you have a lot of to-dos. Just keeping the list updated is a part-time job.

If you prefer to spend more time getting things done, you could try using the AI tools baked into platforms like Notion, ClickUp, and Todoist. These tools help to organize your workload by automatically prioritizing tasks, setting reminders, and even suggesting workflows based on your goals.

Imagine you have a chaotic list of tasks for the week. AI can categorize them (e.g., “urgent,” “low priority,” etc.) automatically and then create a daily schedule that balances your workload, ensuring you focus on what matters most.

Pro Tip: Integrate your project management tool with your calendar app to see your to-dos within your schedule.

2. Reply to Emails Faster

If you could describe anything in business as a necessary evil, email probably comes the closest.

The average American employee spends almost 11 hours per week typing up emails. You can bet that figure is higher for founders.

The good news is that it’s possible to cut this time dramatically using artificial intelligence.

Superhuman, superReply, and Gmail’s very own Smart Compose all use AI to craft email drafts in seconds. They can even “read” previous messages in the conversation and write a reply that matches the context. Some allow you to choose the tone you want, as well.

Pro Tip: Use ChatGPT for composing emails! Just be sure to upload an example of your writing style so the AI hits the right tone.

3. Upgrade Your Time Management

When you’re focusing on something, it’s easy to forget time is passing. This is fine on high-priority tasks, but you can spend an entire week thinking up profound thoughts to post on LinkedIn. Not very productive.

To make sure you’re using your precious time wisely, it’s a good idea to track your work. Tools like RescueTime TimeSheets and Timely use AI to monitor exactly how you spend your time, identify inefficiencies, and suggest ways to optimize your schedule. They can also help you set realistic goals and track your progress.

Pro Tip: Check the weekly reports provided by smart time-tracking tools to identify patterns in your productivity, and adjust your work habits accordingly.

4. Block Out Distractions

Spending time on the wrong task isn’t the only productivity killer.

Any interruption during an important task can easily destroy your focus. It only takes one notification to send you down the path to procrastination. And if you work from home, there are plenty more potential distractions to avoid!

Thankfully, help is at hand. A new generation of AI-powered apps is emerging, offering smart filters that block websites and apps that look unproductive — social media, news sites, YouTube, and so on. Two frontrunners are FocusTug and Hedge.

Whereas traditional distraction blockers rely on simple filters, these browser extensions vet every page to make sure you’re not drifting off the job. With Hedge, you can actually tell the app what you want to work on, and it will help you stay on task.

Pro Tip: Hedge also includes a timer for the Pomodoro technique, meaning you can lock in for a set amount of time.

5. Schedule Smarter With AI-Powered Calendars

Like task management, scheduling can have a pretty big impact on your overall productivity.

Take meetings as an example. After a morning stacked with video calls, your burnt-out brain isn’t going to get much done in the afternoon.

Equally, certain tasks take a specific amount of time. Fitting these jigsaw pieces together in your calendar can be a time-consuming puzzle.

AI can shortcut this process. Tools like Motion and Clockwise can whip up a draft schedule in minutes, and help you to identify suitable gaps for new meetings and tasks. Motion can even intervene when you’re about to stretch yourself too far.

If only there were something similar for dessert menus.

Pro Tip: Most AI calendar tools allow you to share your calendar with your staff so they can schedule a time that works for them. If you need to move things around later, the app can reach out and rearrange the event for you.

6. Speed Up Content Creation

Of course, social media isn’t always a distraction. As a business owner, you might be in charge of posting to the company accounts. You could be the person who creates email newsletters and blog posts, too.

While AI can fully automate these tasks, the results can be underwhelming. Instead, it’s worth using AI as your creative partner.

You can use popular platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to research topics, develop engaging angles, and even optimize content for SEO. ChatGPT and image generators, like Pika, can produce visual content from written instructions, and dedicated AI models can even create short videos. It’s all much quicker and easier than working from scratch.

To get a better understanding of the workflow, imagine you own a business selling solar panels. You could open up ChatGPT and ask for content ideas that would suit your target market. You could then pick out your favorites, and ask the AI to create a bullet-point outline or a prompt for generating visual content.

Once you’ve made the draft, you can plug it back into the AI and ask for feedback.

Pro Tip: Specialized content tools usually produce more impressive results. For written content, consider using Write or Jasper. For visuals, try Pika, Descript, or Canva.

7. Work With a Brainstorming Buddy

Content is not the only area where AI can act as your collaborator.

Say you’re thinking of launching a new product. What should you call it? What would be a suitable price point? What does the competition look like?

These are all questions that tools like ChatGPT and DreamHost’s very own AI Business Advisor can help you with. The answers may not be perfectly accurate, but this should give you a starting point for extra research and brainstorming.

You can also ask AI to help you solve specific problems within your business. The more detailed your prompt, the more personalized the answer will be.

Pro Tip: Remember, AI is your assistant. Use the responses as a starting point, pick out the options that make the most sense, and build on them using your own knowledge and experience.

8. Get Perfect Notes From Every Meeting

Note-taking is an essential admin task, but there’s no way you can concentrate on a meeting while keeping a comprehensive record of the key points. Not unless you use AI, that is.

Tools like Fireflies.ai and Otter.ai turn a recording of your meeting into a full transcription. You can then add the names of the people speaking, and generate a summarized version of the discussion. These tools can even extract action items from the conversation and analyze the emotional tone of the chatter, meaning no context is left out.

As a busy entrepreneur, being able to remind yourself of the key talking points from a client meeting three months ago is super useful.

Pro Tip: Always spend a few minutes reviewing AI-generated notes to make sure that the details have been captured accurately, especially for high-stakes meetings.

9. Build Presentations and Slide Decks Faster

Delivering a great presentation, and backing it up with a slide deck, is a proven way to win over big clients. The problem is, that preparing all those slides takes a ridiculous amount of time.

AI presentation tools are changing the game here. With the likes of Tome and Beautiful.ai, it’s now possible to build polished, professional slideshows in minutes.

These intelligent platforms handle the visual side, selecting layouts to suit your content and inserting relevant graphics. Some can even generate a script, or extract bullet points from an existing pitch.

Of all the use cases for AI, this has to be one of the biggest time savers.

Pro Tip: AI can provide a great starting point for your slideshow. Nonetheless, you should always tailor the content to your brand voice and audience requirements.

10. Run Advanced Data Analysis in Seconds

Data analysis is an important first step to improving processes in your business. The problem is that few small business owners have the time or resources to devote to a deep dive. Maybe once a year, but definitely not every month.

Perhaps that would change if you had a full-time data professional on hand? It sounds expensive until we tell you that this expert goes by the name of ChatGPT.

The world’s favorite AI is actually an accomplished data analyst — capable of extracting key insights from large data sets and producing impressive visualizations. All you have to do is upload the raw data (a CSV file will do) and ask for anything you want to know.

You could even go one step further and upload a year’s worth of sales data, customer interactions, and market trends. The AI should generate a comprehensive report showing correlations between product performance, customer demographics, seasonal variations, and potential future opportunities.

If that’s not a worthwhile productivity boost, we don’t know what is!

Pro Tip: Remember that AI data analysis is about gathering information. While this process might reveal powerful insights, your professional judgment should drive the decision-making process.

11. Get a Summary of Any Document

Oh boy. An 80-page document just landed on your desk, and you need to know all the key takeaways by the end of the week.

You could spend the next three business days reading every word…or you could just get AI to pick out the most important points and then continue with your task list.

We reckon the second option is probably more efficient.

Again, ChatGPT and Claude are your buddies here. Upload the document you need to scrutinize, and then ask the AI to summarize the text. Alternatively, you can ask specific questions and have the AI answer by picking out verbatim quotes.

While we wouldn’t recommend this technique for really important stuff (like legal documents), it can definitely save you time in catching up with internal reports and the like.

Pro Tip: Instead of only reading the summary, you can ask the AI to highlight relevant areas of the text, and then study those sections yourself in full.

12. Take Basic Customer Support off Your Plate

Unless your business is big enough to have a full-time support agent, you probably still handle a lot of incoming queries. And to be brutally honest, some of them are really pointless — like questions that have already been answered in your FAQs.

The good news is that you don’t need to spend half of your workweek handling these requests. You can get an AI support bot to do it instead.

Solutions like Zendesk and Help Scout allow you to set up AI-powered chatbots that can provide 24/7 support for customers via your website. These bots can interpret incoming requests, direct users toward relevant resources, and collect information about more complex support tickets.

Pro Tip: Keep your AI customer support system updated with new product information, common customer queries, and brand guidelines to make sure the responses are always up to snuff.

Improve Productivity Throughout Your Business

As this guide proves, AI has the potential to improve multiple areas of your workflow as an entrepreneur — from speeding up everyday chores to enhancing your creativity. It can even help you multitask more effectively.

The key is not to rely on AI too much. The current generation of tools is powerful, but you should still have your hands firmly on the steering wheel.

If you want to experiment, try our AI Business Advisor. It’s designed to help you tackle common business tasks, and it’s completely free for DreamHost customers!

And if you feel like updating your online presence, head over to our Liftoff AI Website Builder. Type in what you need, and it will create a fresh, ready-to-publish design in just 60 seconds.

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The post 12 Smart Ways To Boost Your Productivity With AI appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

She pulls out her phone and decides to check her website. But what she sees…is a nightmare.

Her site loads slowly. She has to pinch and zoom just to read the text. And the buttons? Tiny and impossible to tap without three tries.

Her site looks fine on a desktop. On mobile, though? It’s a hot mess.

In the meantime, she’s losing customers every second it stays this way.

If her customers are struggling, so is Google — because mobile performance matters a lot for ranking. A site that frustrates users simply can’t compete online.

Why Mobile-First Design Is Essential

Lisa’s story isn’t unique.

84% of people own smartphones, and most use their phones as their main device. That’s far more people with access to PCs and laptops.

Mobile browsing now makes up over 60% of web traffic, and Google’s focus on mobile-first indexing reflects this shift.

If your site offers a poor user experience on mobile, you risk losing visitors, search results ranking — and most importantly, relevance.

It’s that simple.

A mobile site fix isn’t just another project for any business. If anything, it’s what will breathe life into the business, retain customers, and add yet another channel for customers to find you.

A mobile-first design keeps users happy with quick load times, smooth navigation, and easy interaction.

So, if you’re ready to optimize your online presence, start with mobile. Because it’s where your customers are, and it’s how your site will succeed.

What Does Responsive Web Design Mean?

Responsive design means that your website automatically adjusts to fit any screen size — a smartphone, tablet, desktop, or even a smartwatch.

And it doesn’t just fit, but also provides information in a clear and accessible format. You want to make sure users don’t have to zoom or scroll around just to see content that could fit on whatever screen they’re on.

When you browse a website, you should notice that it adapts to the size of your screen.

For large screens, elements will scale up to a point so they don’t look oversized, but remain easy to engage with.

The opposite happens with mobile devices. When you’re using a smaller screen, you want the content of your site to scale down, but not so much that it becomes unreadable or impossible to interact with.

Here’s what the DreamHost homepage looks like on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Websites that can pull off this balance are considered responsive. Web design and development go hand in hand here, as the site’s graphical assets need to scale.

In the background, there are CSS and stylesheets that govern how the website will display across different size screens.

Until recently, responsive design was an afterthought. We used to design websites all around the desktop experience.

Now that mobile traffic comes first, so does mobile design. That’s why you’ll often hear the term mobile-first in web design circles.

There’s another term that’s commonly thrown around with responsive design.

On the other hand, adaptive design involves creating multiple versions of a single page and serving them depending on what type of devices visitors use.

That approach to web design is considered outdated nowadays, as responsiveness is the more efficient option.

How To Think Mobile-First When It Comes to Web Design

Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal, spent nine months building his company’s site from scratch.

“Right out of the gate, there were major problems,” he says.

“We assumed that the majority of our users would shop for a lawn care service from their desktop or laptop computer. But it became very clear, very quickly that more people were accessing the website from their mobile phones and tablets than from a desktop or laptop computer — 4-to-1.”

The original full-featured desktop experience included all kinds of bells and whistles, such as animations.

“We had all kinds of other features that make a desktop experience delightful,” he recalls. “The problem with this approach was that the desktop experience would not translate to a mobile web browser.”

As a result, the website was bloated and didn’t work well on mobile. Users found that they had to pinch and zoom to get through the sign-up process.

“Before our website was rebuilt for a mobile-first experience, conversion on a mobile browser was less than 4%,” he says.

“That means that people who attempted to sign up abandoned in the process 96% of the time.”

After rebuilding the site to be mobile-first, Clayton found that 82% of people who initiated the sign-up process to get a free price estimate completed the entire process from their mobile devices and tablets.

“Our mobile-first product is the only reason why we are even in the game today,” he says.

Key takeaways:

Drawing on GreenPal’s mobile-first journey, Bryan Clayton offers insights that can simplify your approach to mobile design:

• Understand your user base: Start with data on how visitors access your site. If most users are on mobile, make sure mobile experience is your top priority. Clayton’s data showed that 4 out of 5 visitors used mobile, and this reshaped GreenPal’s approach.
• Eliminate desktop-only features: Avoid features that clutter or complicate the mobile experience, like complex animations or tiny icons, which work well on desktops but not on smaller screens.
• Optimize critical actions: On mobile, the path to key actions, such as signing up or making a purchase, should be as simple and intuitive as possible. Track and refine conversion steps for mobile-specific flow.
• Keep visuals clean and functional: Limit distractions and focus on usability by keeping the layout simple, with well-spaced elements and clear calls-to-action.
• Test, iterate, and improve: Regularly test your site on mobile devices to identify potential pain points in the user journey. Adjust based on feedback to enhance accessibility and ease of navigation.
• Prioritize conversion paths: Test and optimize sign-up flows on mobile. An 82% mobile sign-up completion rate showed that refining the process pays off in user satisfaction and conversions.

When it comes to responsive design, there are a lot of things that we can learn from GreenPal’s experience.

Let’s start by talking about honing in on your audience.

Hone In on Your Audience and Ask for Customer Feedback

When it comes to redesigning a website, you’ll likely need to figure out how customers are currently interacting with it. That means looking at analytics and seeing if the engagement numbers look different for mobile and desktop users.

Analytics might reveal a higher bounce rate among mobile visitors or less time spent on site.

Those are dead giveaways of a poor mobile user experience. If the data points in that direction, your best option is to ask customers what they like and what they don’t like about your site.

Zondra Wilson, the owner of Blu Skincare in Los Angeles, only found out that her site wasn’t mobile-friendly when she started asking for feedback from customers.

“I would ask my customers to write a review and they would say they couldn’t find where to write it,” she recalls.

“I would ask them about my blog or articles that I posted and they had a hard time finding them. They had trouble viewing my site on their cell phones. They had to scroll down a lot before my first picture or any information about my company popped up. They didn’t know how to navigate through my site. Many were frustrated and didn’t go past the first page.”

When Wilson upgraded her site to a more mobile-friendly version, she noticed right away that users started viewing more pages on the site than usual.

Key takeaways:

• Listen to direct feedback: Wilson’s customers shared difficulties with site navigation on mobile screens, from finding review sections to reading her blog. Their feedback highlighted specific problem areas, guiding improvements that increased engagement on her mobile site.
• Observe user behavior in analytics: A high bounce rate on mobile or low session times can indicate a poor experience. Use these metrics to prioritize design changes and enhance key mobile touchpoints.
• Make navigation intuitive and content accessible: Wilson’s site adjustments focused on making her content immediately visible on mobile, reducing excessive scrolling, and improving the ease of finding critical sections like reviews and product details.

There are a lot of tried-and-true techniques for optimizing a website for mobile devices. However, customer feedback will often reveal parts of the user experience that you would otherwise miss.

Optimize What Goes on Your Page

The amount of information users can see and interact with in one view, also known as UI density, is an important decision when considering mobile design.

Take a look at these images and see which one’s more dense:

Both have the same number of dots, but image A looks more dense than image B. Simply organizing the dots into two columns makes image B look less dense.

Earlier designs tried to pack in as much as possible.

Think of the Yahoo! Homepage, for instance:

Even to this day, you’ll see a lot of websites that are similarly packed with information.

However, modern mobile interfaces prioritize clarity over clutter, giving users exactly what they need — no more, no less.

And that’s the design style Google followed right from their initial days.

Here’s an image of Google from the early 2000s:

As design expert Matthew Ström writes, “UI density isn’t just about how much we see on a screen; it’s about how intuitively information flows, moment to moment.”

Too much clutter on mobile forces users to hunt for what matters, slowing them down. But a sparse design that sacrifices important information can be equally frustrating.

Key takeaways:

• Prioritize essential actions: Identify the most important actions for your users — like calls-to-action and forms — and keep these elements prominent. Then, trim unnecessary links or buttons to prevent clutter.
• Use visual hierarchy to guide flow: Structure content so it naturally guides users through the page, reducing the need to backtrack. As we saw in the dots example above, grouping related items with clear headings can help direct attention while making the UI feel less cluttered.
• Use white space wisely: White space is valuable real estate on mobile. Use it to separate distinct actions or elements, but avoid overdoing it. Proper spacing can help users visually group related information without adding too much scrolling.
• Design for touch-friendly interactions: Ensure buttons, links, and icons are large enough for easy tapping on small screens. Aim for at least 44×44 pixels per touch target.
• Keep text readable without zooming: Maintain consistent font sizes and spacing to make text readable at a glance. Responsive grids and media queries can help ensure content scales correctly across different devices.

For a mobile site, maintaining an effective balance in UI density makes sure that users quickly find what they need without feeling visually overloaded.

Think Small (in Terms of Screen Size)

Modern smartphones are powerful, and a big part of your audience will have access to a decent internet connection.

However, you’ll want to make sure that your site loads as fast as possible. This makes taking away excess clutter one of the best design strategies.

Vitaliy Vinogradov, CEO of Modern Place Lighting, found that switching to a responsive, mobile-first site design led to 30% more conversions compared to desktop.

“One important thing to do is to remove excess plugins, pop-ups, or any other screen inhibitors on the mobile version of the site,” he says.

His team combed through the site and eliminated a few social sharing plugins that took up valuable real estate on the screen. When you design with large screens in mind, you might find that you end up including a lot of elements that don’t provide much value to users.

“You need to design for small,” explains Matt Felten, a Los Angeles-based product designer.

“You have to be a little more focused. You have to cut down on information and content.” After your mobile site is in place, you may find that you don’t need to add more to the desktop version of the site after all.

You can make your website easier to use on mobile by removing all that visual clutter. Also, visitors will be able to focus on the content that really matters. That means calls-to-action, forms, posts, and other key elements in the user journey.

Key takeaways:

• Prioritize speed over excess features: Simplify the mobile experience by removing non-essential plugins, pop-ups, and large images that can slow loading times.
• Emphasize essential content: Focus on what your users need most, especially on mobile devices. Trim down large sections of text, unnecessary images, and redundant features. Keep critical elements, like calls-to-action and navigation buttons within easy reach.
• Make navigation intuitive: On small screens, users benefit from a straightforward layout. Stick to a single-column layout that scrolls vertically, and place navigation items in easily accessible locations.
• Design with tap targets in mind: Buttons and links should be large enough to be tapped comfortably on a small screen. Avoid tiny buttons or closely packed links that lead to accidental clicks.
• Reduce visual clutter: White space is crucial for readability on mobile. It gives each element room to breathe and improves the overall usability of the page.

Refine Your Design Aesthetic

“Consumers today expect more sophisticated design”, says Felten. “There’s a big push to see the business cases of a beautiful and well-performing website,” he says.

“If I’m a small-business owner and all of the competition has a really nice, responsive website and I don’t, in less than a second, people make a negative judgment about my product.”

When you build a professional-looking website, it doesn’t only show off your eye for design, but also how much effort you put into providing a great user experience.

Unless you work in an incredibly niche field, customers almost always have other alternatives online.

Your site’s design should represent your business well, so put your best foot forward.

8 Ways To Optimize Your Website for Mobile Devices

Now that you know why it’s necessary to prime your site for mobile usage, let’s get a little more practical. In the next few sections, we’ll walk you through some of the most critical aspects of creating a mobile-optimized website, ranging from the simple to the more technically complex.

We recommend that you take the time to implement as many of these methods as possible to improve the odds that your website performs well on all devices — and is favored by Google’s mobile-first index.

Let’s get to work!

1. Test Your Site Using Google Lighthouse

Take inventory of your site’s mobile-friendliness right now before taking any further action.

This will help you hone in on the specific areas of your site that need work, and give you useful information on how you can make improvements.

One way to do this is by simply using your website on several different devices. Access the site using your own smartphone or tablet and see how it looks and feels to use.

Doing this lets you get a feel for the loading times, how well the design works on a smaller screen, whether the content is still readable, and whether the navigation is easy to use.

To go deeper and get detailed diagnostics, use Google Lighthouse — an open-source tool that offers audits focused on performance, accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO), and more.

Lighthouse is now directly integrated into Chrome DevTools, making it accessible and easy to use for a comprehensive analysis of your web pages.

Here’s how to access it:

1. Open Google Chrome: You need to be on the latest version of Chrome, as you need Chrome DevTools to be able to use Lighthouse.
2. Go to an incognito tab: You can click Ctrl + Shift + N on Windows or Cmd + Shift + N on Mac. The reason why we want to do incognito is because plugins can interfere with Lighthouse performance analysis, and even Google recommends running this test while in incognito mode.
3. Navigate to the website you want to check: Enter your site’s URL and allow it to load fully to get an accurate reading.
4. Open DevTools: Right-click anywhere on the page and select Inspect, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows or Cmd + Option + I on Mac to open DevTools.
5. Select the Lighthouse tab: Once in DevTools, click on the Lighthouse tab at the top. This section is where you’ll configure and run the audit.
6. Configure the audit settings: Choose Mobile to evaluate your mobile performance. Keep all categories checked for a full analysis — “Performance,” “Accessibility,” “Best Practices,” and “SEO.”
7. Run the audit: Click Analyze page load to initiate the analysis. Lighthouse will begin testing and compiling results for each selected category, including mobile optimization for mobile pages. This process may take a few seconds to a minute.

Lighthouse gives you scores and recommendations in each category:

• Performance: Tells you about loading speed and responsiveness.
• Accessibility: Shows how user-friendly your site is for people with disabilities.
• Best practices: Checks for issues with security, mobile design, and quality.
• SEO: Offers tips on how well your site is optimized for search engines on mobile.

Each section has specific suggestions. Going through these can help you improve your site’s mobile performance, making it faster and easier to use.

Now don’t get too caught up on the scores. As you can see, even Google scores 83 on SEO. You simply want to improve it as well as you can, and bring it as close to 100 as you can.

At this point, you can deal with each listed issue in turn. For example, if you run the test on a particular page and the analysis doesn’t finish, your robots.txt file could be blocking Google’s bots.

Simply edit your robots.txt file to allow Google to access blocked files or fix any redirection errors.

2. Use Custom CSS To Make Your Website Responsive

A big part of implementing responsive web design involves using CSS. You’d be surprised how far just a little CSS knowledge can take you when it comes to making your site mobile-friendly.

To give you an example, you can use CSS to implement what we call media query ranges.

With media queries (or responsive breakpoints), you can tell browsers when to load different layouts for a page depending on the size of the screen they’re using.

Here’s what a simple media query looks like:

@media (max-width: 768px) {
  /* CSS rules for screens 768px and smaller */
}

Any styling rules you add inside this block will apply to devices with screen sizes 768 pixels wide or smaller.

This is one of the ways you can tell the browser to stack two buttons on top of each other, or show them side by side, based on the screen sizes.

Media queries are an essential component of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript libraries, including Bootstrap as they allow for mobile responsive design.

Other ways that you can use CSS to make your website more responsive include:

Creating a CSS grid layout:

CSS grid layouts, such as the one that Bootstrap provides, offer a simple way to help you adjust designs to various screen sizes. Having a layout with well-defined elements can enable you to configure how they appear and how much space they take with each size of the screen.

.container {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(200px, 1fr));
}

Using size percentages for layout elements:

As you might know, CSS enables you to set the height and width of elements using pixels and other units of measurement. To make your website more responsive, we recommend using percentages. That way, elements such as buttons should adapt seamlessly as screens get smaller.

img {
  width: 100%; /* Scales with container size */
  height: auto;
}

Fluid typography and spacing:

Images and other visual elements on a page shouldn’t be the only things that scale for smaller screens. Text also needs to be responsive, or you can end up with a mobile site where users can only see a word or two on their screen before needing to scroll down. Setting fonts in relative units, like em or rem, makes them scale with the device.

h1 {
  font-size: 2.5rem;
}


@media (max-width: 600px) {
  h1 {
    font-size: 2rem; /* Smaller font size for smaller screens */
     }
}

Controlling the spacing between elements:

CSS helps you easily add spacing between different HTML blocks using padding and margin.

Here’s a simple example of how margin and padding can be added to a block, as well as how you can apply media queries to add different spacing:

.card {
  margin: 20px;
  padding: 15px;
}
@media (max-width: 768px) {
   .card {
       margin: 10px;
       padding: 10px;
     }
}

If you feel comfortable using HTML and CSS, designing a fully responsive website can be easier than you think.

However, if you use a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress, the whole process becomes much simpler since you rarely need to deal with code, even when working on responsive design.

3. Choose Responsive Themes and Plugins

WordPress makes it easier than ever to build a responsive website, thanks to a huge range of themes and plugins designed for mobile-friendliness.

Most new themes (over 10,000 of them!) are built with responsive design principles, so choosing the right WordPress theme should be easy.

And whichever theme you choose should automatically adapt to any device without any extra work.

If you want to check if a theme is responsive before installing — or buying — it, we recommend that you check out its demo. A lot of theme demos will include previews of how their designs look on smaller screens.

Tips for ensuring responsiveness:

• Preview using page builders: With tools like Gutenberg (Block Editor), Spectra, Elementor, and Divi, you can preview how your pages will look on desktop, tablet, and mobile views. This step helps ensure each page is optimized for different devices from the start.
• Avoid heavy plugins: Stick to plugins that focus on performance and responsiveness. Some plugins add significant load times, impacting mobile performance. Use lightweight plugins or opt for built-in WordPress features whenever possible.
• Test with staging sites: Use a staging environment to test new themes and plugins. This gives you a safe space to adjust settings, add content, and ensure your site is responsive on all devices before pushing changes live.
• Consider alternatives to the Class Editor plugin: The Classic Editor is less visual than newer editors, making it harder to preview mobile-friendly designs. Upgrading to the Block Editor or a visual page builder like Spectra ensures a better experience for mobile design.

Spectra is a powerful WordPress plugin that helps you design beautiful sites with a native drag-and-drop interface optimized for mobile devices.

It extends the capabilities of the WordPress Block Editor and helps you create user-friendly websites that are inherently responsive, making sure they look great on every screen size, from smartphones to large desktops.

Its intuitive design options allow you to customize each element for optimal viewing on all devices, making the mobile-friendly design even more accessible.

If you’re finding it difficult to create responsive pages, try out an AI website builder, like Elementor or Spectra, or switching themes. These can make major changes to any page, so you’ll want to take your time and familiarize yourself with how the new plugins and themes work.

4. Test Your Website’s Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals are Google’s performance metrics focused on user experience. They help evaluate how a site loads, interacts, and stabilizes — factors that strongly impact SEO and user satisfaction.

Here’s a quick breakdown of these metrics:

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): This metric measures how long it takes for the largest element on a page to load (generally the hero image or heading text). A low LCP score means that the page loads quickly overall. Faster LCP means your main content is accessible sooner, ideally within 2.5 seconds.
• First Input Delay (FID): The goal of this metric is to measure interactivity. The FID score tells you how long it takes before a user can interact with a page as it loads. Aim for an FID below 100 milliseconds to ensure a smooth experience.
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): This tells you how much the layout of a page “shifts” or moves around as it loads. You want to aim for a CLS score of near zero to minimize that movement.

Putting a score on a website’s user experience is tough. Therefore, Core Web Vitals don’t paint an entire picture of the overall user experience of a site. However, they enable you to measure key technical aspects of any page that have a direct impact on how enjoyable they are for users.

Furthermore, Core Web Vitals aren’t just a theoretical exercise.

They have a direct impact on SEO and page rankings. Google allows you to test Core Web Vitals using its free PageSpeed Insights tool.

Once you enter a URL, PageSpeed Insights will return an overview of its Core Web Vitals:

Just as with the Lighthouse tool, Google provides specific suggestions on what improvements you can make to optimize the website.

Since Core Web Vitals focuses more on performance, most of the suggestions that you’ll see here have to do with speed optimization:

Keep in mind that PageSpeed Insights returns separate results for the mobile and desktop versions of your site.

That means you might get a different set of suggestions for each version. Focusing on the mobile optimization suggestions will drastically improve both sets of scores.

5. Improve Your Site’s Loading Times

As we hinted at in the previous section, website speeds are particularly significant on mobiles.

Optimizing your site for speed will not only help you keep your bounce rate down, but it can also improve your users’ experience, which is good news for your bottom line.

Testing your website’s Core Web Vitals will give you an accurate idea of how long it takes to load.

Armed with that information and the performance optimization suggestions the tool provides, you can get to work on improving your site’s loading times.

Here are some of the most impactful optimization methods that you can use on your website:

• Implement caching: When you use caching, some of your website’s files will be saved in a more convenient location (such as on each visitor’s local device), so they don’t need to be downloaded every time a new page is accessed. There are many free caching plugins available, although some hosting plans, such as DreamPress, include this feature by default.
• Use a content delivery network (CDN): Instead of delivering your files from one central server, a CDN lets you store copies of them in a series of servers that are spread out geographically. This makes loading times more balanced regardless of a given user’s location, while also reducing your bandwidth usage.
• Optimize your images: Large image files are often the culprits behind slow loading times. By compressing them, you can reduce their size without affecting their quality. There are several free and premium solutions to help you do this, including the ShortPixel plugin and the TinyPNG website.
• Minify your code: By optimizing your site’s CSS, HTML, and JavaScript code, you can make it more efficient and shave precious seconds off your load times.
• Keep all aspects of your site up to date: Using outdated software to run your website not only leaves you vulnerable to security issues, but also prevents it from performing at peak efficiency. By keeping your plugins, themes, and CMS updated at all times, you can avoid those problems.

While this may seem like a lot of work, most of these techniques can actually be implemented using simple, free solutions that require little to no configuration on your part.

As a result, your site should perform considerably better on mobile devices and have an advantage in search engine rankings.

6. Redesign Your Pop-Ups for Mobile Devices

While pop-ups get a lot of criticism for being intrusive and interruptive, they remain a surprisingly effective lead-generation method.

As such, we wouldn’t be surprised if your site contains at least one or two strategically positioned pop-ups, designed to capture leads or pass vital information on to users.

Although pop-ups can be highly effective, they can negatively impact the mobile experience.

On a smaller device, screen space becomes more important, and even medium-sized pop-ups can become far more disruptive than they appear on the desktop version of your website.

A while back, Google began to crack down on pop-ups by implementing a set of rules these elements needed to follow so they didn’t overly affect the user experience.

Here’s an example of what Google considers intrusive:

The pop-up interrupts the user flow and covers the main content, either immediately after the user navigates to a page from the search results or while a user is looking through the page.

On the other hand, here’s an example of what’s good in Google’s eyes:

This pop-up is a-okay by Google because it has an easy-to-click big button.

Also, most pop-ups created in response to a legal obligation, such as for cookie usage or for age verification, are perfectly fine as long as they’re not overdone.

These rules include the following:

• Pop-ups must be as non-obstructive as possible: On mobile devices, pop-ups should only cover a small fraction of the screen.
• They should be easy to close: It should be clear how mobile users can dismiss the pop-up, usually via a visible, decently-sized button. Add a clearly visible and adequately sized close button, enabling users to dismiss the pop-up effortlessly. 
• Pop-ups containing necessary information are exempt: The above guidelines do not apply to login dialogs, age verification forms, cookie notices, GDPR consent notices, and more.

As long as you bear these considerations in mind when designing your pop-ups, your site shouldn’t be at risk of any negative impacts. However, websites that don’t follow pop-up guidelines might get penalized in the rankings.

7. Choose a Reliable Web Host

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again — picking the right web host for your site is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

Why?

Mobile users are typically on the go, often on slower networks, so every second of loading time matters.

An optimized host keeps your site fast, reliable, and always accessible.

The simple fact is that if you choose a host or plan that doesn’t offer the speed and resources you need, no amount of work on your part can stop your website from performing poorly.

With that in mind, you’ll want to choose a plan that can guarantee consistently high performance and minimal downtime. We suggest picking either a VPS or a managed dedicated hosting plan for consistent performance.

Virtual private server (VPS) hosting is ideal for websites that need consistent speed and flexibility without breaking the bank. With VPS, you get a virtualized server that offers dedicated resources, meaning your site won’t slow down during high-traffic times.

At DreamHost, we offer a variety of VPS plans suited for WordPress and other CMS platforms, so you can scale as your site grows.

If you need even more out of your web hosting, you might want to go with a managed dedicated server — which means you’ll be able to use a server that’s reserved specifically for your site.

For larger sites or e-commerce platforms, managed dedicated hosting offers maximum control, speed, and security. With dedicated resources, you can tailor the server to your site’s needs, ensuring top-notch performance at all times.

Not only does this let you customize the server to your exact requirements, but it also means increased security and speed — both of which are key elements of a mobile-friendly site.

What to look for in a host for mobile optimization:

• High uptime guarantee: Look for a host that provides at least 99.9% uptime, ensuring your site is always accessible to mobile users. For instance, DreamHost provides a 100% uptime guarantee.
• Content delivery network (CDN): A CDN can further speed up your site by delivering content from servers closer to your users. With DreamHost, you don’t need to subscribe to and configure a third-party CDN, that’s ready to speed up your website for you.
• Caching and compression: Choose a host that supports caching and image compression to reduce load times, which is particularly valuable for mobile users on slower connections. DreamHost automatically caches your website on our servers as well as optionally on the user’s browser to speed up page load times.

8. Create a Mobile Application

Finally, we arrive at a seemingly monumental task — creating a mobile application.

Mobile apps are no longer exclusive to major brands. The market has changed significantly, and it’s now commonplace for almost any type of business or organization to offer a mobile app in addition to its standard, responsive site.

Having a dedicated app also comes with many unique benefits that a simple website can’t provide. For example, you can offer exclusive content, manage subscriptions directly, and use push notifications to reach users instantly — keeping them engaged with news, offers, or updates.

You don’t need to start from scratch, either.

While it’s possible to code a mobile app from scratch (or hire a developer), a far easier solution is to use a tool that helps you turn your site into an app.

With tools like AppPresser, specially designed for WordPress users, you can convert your existing website into an app with minimal coding.

This is a premium tool with plans starting at $59 per month. For that, you get an intuitive app-builder interface that should be easy to use if you’re already familiar with WordPress.

With this tool, you can quickly put together a mobile app based on a specific site for both Android and iOS, which you can then share with your users via the App Store or Google Play store, or provide it directly to your site’s visitors or subscribers.

Mobile Optimization Can’t Wait!

Taking your site mobile means reaching your audience where they are — right in their hands.

With more people relying on mobile devices, a quick-loading, user-friendly mobile experience has become essential for any online presence.

So, each improvement, from responsive design to optimized loading times, helps strengthen user engagement and positions you favorably in search rankings.

Whether you’re working with a hard-coded website or using a CMS like WordPress, don’t wait.

A mobile-optimized site is the foundation for growth and connection with your audience.

Ready to go mobile-first? Our DreamPress plans include managed WordPress services and an AI website builder that make it easy to create pages that look fantastic on mobile devices!

Pro Services – Development

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The post A Surprisingly Fresh Take on Optimizing Your Site for Mobile appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

And if your fonts take too long to load, users are left staring at a blank screen. Even worse, your site might look unstable as text shifts unexpectedly.

This also hurts Core Web Vitals — the metrics that directly affect your search ranking and user experience.

Here, every millisecond matters.

So, how can you keep your choice of web fonts without sacrificing performance?

Let’s break it down, one step at a time.

But first, what exactly are web safe fonts and web fonts?

What Are Web Safe Fonts?

Web safe fonts are the tried-and-true options that work everywhere. They’re fonts most devices already have, which means you can count on them to load quickly.

Here are the web safe fonts you can use:

• Arial
• Times New Roman
• Verdana
• Trebuchet MS
• Courier
• Impact
• Georgia
• Comic Sans MS

Even with limited choices, a skilled designer can use these fonts creatively.

But, websafe fonts are often overused and give your website a “similar” feel — even when you’ve put a lot of effort and money in designing the website.

So how do you make it look prettier?

With web fonts.

What Are Web Fonts?

Web fonts let you move away from the often overused websafe fonts.

Instead of relying on fonts available on a user’s device, web fonts can be downloaded from an external source like Google Fonts or directly from your server onto your user’s device (temporarily).

This allows you to use any custom font that matches your brand or design needs.

We have also curated the best Google fonts to help you get started.

When a user visits your site, the web font is temporarily downloaded and applied to the text using the @font-face rule in CSS.

Web fonts then begin to behave like local fonts — They auto-adjust to the screen sizes while keeping your website looking sharp.

Fonts have also evolved over time to have more efficient storage formats. Similar image formats, fonts have TTF, WOFF, WOFF2, and EOT.

• Embedded OpenType (EOT): Compatible with older versions of Internet Explorer (below IE9). Not compressed by default, but GZIP compression can be applied.
• TrueType (TTF): Supported by older Android browsers (below version 4.4). It’s uncompressed by default but can be GZIP-compressed.
• Web Open Font Format (WOFF): Supported by most modern browsers and includes built-in compression.
• Web Open Font Format 2 (WOFF2): Compatible with browsers that support it, featuring custom compression algorithms that reduce file size by around 30% compared to other formats.

The modern formats offer compression for better performance and help keep your site’s design both functional and visually distinct.

What Are Core Web Vitals (CWV) Metrics?

Here’s the thing: Google wants all of its users to have an excellent experience.

Whichever website or app gives Google’s users the best experience will get more “love” from Google’s algorithms.

And how’s this “experience” measured?

Google launched Core Web Vitals in early 2020 for just that purpose.

CWV is a set of three metrics that tell Google how your website or app performs for the users they send there.

Higher scores on these metrics can help you rank higher on Google. Let’s quickly go over these metrics.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

LCP measures how long it takes for the largest visible element on your page to load.

This is generally an image or video but could be a large block of text or an embedded video.

The faster this happens, the better your site performs in the eyes of both users and search engines.

A good LCP score means users aren’t left waiting for your main content to appear.

Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

INP measures the time between a user’s interaction (like clicking or tapping) and when the page responds visually.

It gives a more accurate picture of interactivity than FID, as it considers the full user journey rather than just the first interaction.

A low INP score means your site feels responsive, improving user engagement and satisfaction.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

CLS measures how stable your page is while loading.

When elements move around unexpectedly, it frustrates users and makes the page feel unreliable.

A low CLS score means your page loads smoothly, without layout shifts that disrupt the user experience.

How To Optimize Web Fonts for Better Core Web Vitals

So, what’s all the fuss about web font performance?

Why can’t we just add web fonts and call it a day? Well, you can.

But as we’ve talked about before, web fonts aren’t local. They are fetched from a server, downloaded, and applied to your site, and that’s where the problem lies.

It takes time.

And if it takes too long, it affects your Core Web Vitals and website conversion rate.

Let’s look at some ways to optimize web fonts for better core web vitals.

1. Preloading Fonts

You want your fonts to be ready the moment the page starts loading.

So when the page is ready for the user, so is the font.

That’s called preloading.

Preloading tells the browser, “Hey, this font is important. Please load it right away.”

Let’s say you’re using the popular Google font, Roboto.

You need to add a single attribute to your HTML code to preload the font: rel = “preload”

<link rel="preload" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin>

After this, the browser knows to prioritize downloading Roboto, so your text appears styled with the right font faster.

This reduces the time it takes for the largest text block (LCP) to render, so users see the final version of your site sooner.

2. Control Font Load Behavior With the Font-Display Property

However, preloading could increase the initial load time by a little since the fonts are given priority.

The font-display property lets you control how your text behaves while custom fonts are still loading.

This can help you avoid the dreaded Flash of Invisible Text (FOIT), where users see blank spaces, and the Flash of Unstyled Text (FOUT), where the page appears with fallback fonts for a second and immediately switches to custom fonts.

The font-display property has four ways to manage text behavior: block, swap, fallback, and optional.

Let’s look at the two that you’d need.

font-display: swap — This option is the safest bet for most sites. It ensures text appears immediately with a fallback font and swaps to the custom font once it is ready.

@font-face {
  font-family: 'Roboto';
  src: url('https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/roboto/v27/KFOmCnqEu92Fr1Me5Q.ttf') format('truetype');
  font-display: swap;
}

Here, the fallback font (like Arial or another system font) will load instantly, keeping the page readable.

When Roboto is downloaded, it replaces the fallback font without leaving a blank space on the screen.

Here’s a demo of what font-display swap behaves like in the real world.

font-display: optional — If you’re concerned about speed, this tells the browser to skip the custom font if it doesn’t load fast enough. This works when you don’t mind if the fallback stays in place.

@font-face {
  font-family: 'Roboto';
  src: url('https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/roboto/v27/KFOmCnqEu92Fr1Me5Q.ttf') format('truetype');
  font-display: optional;
}

This option makes sense when performance is more critical than design, making it perfect for a site that’s all about speed.

Here’s an example of what this looks like in the real world. You won’t notice the switch here since most fonts load quickly enough.

However, the optional argument is great in case your font server goes down or slow.

3. Subsetting Fonts

Most fonts come with hundreds, even thousands, of characters.

Chances are, you only need a small portion of those. Removing those is called font subsetting.

That’s right, you can remove unnecessary characters to reduce the size of the font file.

Suppose your site only needs English characters.

A tool like FontTools can help you subset your font to only include the characters you’ll actually use.

This means all Unicode characters that aren’t necessary in the English language can be removed to save the file size.

This reduces the file size from, say, 80 KB to 30 KB.

Smaller files mean faster downloads, improving both LCP and CLS since the font loads quickly and doesn’t shift the layout.

Here’s an example of how you’d remove everything other than English characters using FontTools:

pyftsubset Roboto-Regular.ttf --unicodes=U+0020-007F

Now, your Roboto font only contains the basic Latin characters needed for English text, making it much faster to load.

If you prefer a GUI-based approach, you can also try font-squirrel. Once you upload a font file, you get quite a lot of customization options to add or remove

4. Compressing Fonts

Modern font formats like WOFF2 offer compression that can reduce font size by up to 30% compared to older formats like TTF.

Using the most compressed version of your font can significantly reduce its impact on page load time.

For instance, here’s how you can ensure you’re using WOFF2:

@font-face {
  font-family: 'Roboto';
  src: url('roboto.woff2') format('woff2'),
       url('roboto.woff') format('woff');
  font-weight: 400;
}

This way, browsers that support WOFF2 will use it by default, reducing load times while still displaying a crisp, high-quality font.

However, if a browser can’t use WOFF2, it defaults to WOFF.

5. Base64 Encoding

This is another commonly used practice to optimize your web fonts.

However, you need to be cautious about when to use Base64-encoded fonts.

Base64 encoding is most useful for small fonts or icons.

If it gets overused though, you can bloat the CSS, increasing the page load time more than just using the font itself.

If you want to use Base64 encoding for an icon font, you’d first convert the font file to Base64 format. Here’s how it might look:

@font-face {
  font-family: 'CustomIcons';
  src: url('data:font/woff2;base64,d09GRgABAAAAAAn4ABAAAAAAB...') format('woff2');
  font-weight: normal;
  font-style: normal;
}

This method works well for small icon fonts you use frequently throughout the site.

The CSS file loads with the embedded font, eliminating an extra HTTP request.

However, avoid this for large body fonts, as it can slow down initial page rendering.

6. <link> vs. CSS @import for Fonts

<link> and @import have a significant difference in load performance.

The <link> tag loads fonts asynchronously, meaning it doesn’t hold up the rest of your page from rendering, while @import is a bit slower.

Use <link> whenever possible.

“For 90%+ of the cases you likely want the <link> tag. As a rule of thumb, you want to avoid @import rules because they defer the loading of the included resource until the file is fetched.” Ilya Grigorik, Engineer and Technical Advisor to the CEO at Shopify

It loads fonts independently, allowing the rest of the page to load without waiting on the font file.

<link rel="stylesheet" href= "https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap">

This is the preferred method for loading Google Fonts or similar external font services.

Placed in the <head> section of your HTML, it ensures the font starts loading early without blocking other resources.

Avoid @import for critical fonts.

@import waits until the CSS file is fully loaded, which can increase load time and hurt LCP.

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap');

Using @import for fonts only works for secondary or less critical fonts. As a practice, avoid it for anything on the first screen of content.

7. Reduce Visual Shifts/CLS With Font Matching and Size Adjust

Visual shifts — or cumulative layout shifts (CLS), as Google calls them— occur when the layout changes unexpectedly, often due to font swaps.

To minimize this effect, choose fallback fonts that closely resemble your custom font’s style and dimensions.

The CSS size-adjust property also lets you control the fallback font size, reducing visual shifts when the custom font loads.

If your custom font is Roboto and a fallback font, adjust its size to match Roboto, making the transition almost seamless.

@font-face {
  font-family: 'Roboto';
  src: url('roboto.woff2') format('woff2');
  font-display: swap;
  size-adjust: 100%;
}

Here, Roboto’s fallback (e.g., Arial) maintains consistent size, reducing any noticeable movement when Roboto fully loads.

Once you align the size and spacing of the fallback with your custom font, you ensure that when Roboto replaces Arial, the shift is minimal, keeping CLS low and improving the user experience.

8. Find the Right Place To Host Web Fonts

Self-hosting your fonts doesn’t always mean faster performance.

Many third-party options also perform well—and sometimes, they can even load faster.

The Web Almanac found that certain sites using third-party fonts rendered faster than those with self-hosted fonts.

Ultimately, font performance depends less on hosting choice and more on three key factors:

• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Ensures faster delivery by serving fonts from multiple locations worldwide.
• HTTP/2: Boosts loading speed by handling multiple requests in parallel, reducing latency.
• Web Caching Policy: Caches fonts efficiently, so they don’t need to be re-downloaded with each visit.

Instead of getting stuck on the hosting debate, focus on setting up these essentials to keep your fonts loading smoothly, no matter where they’re hosted.

How To Simplify Web Performance Optimization

If the techniques above feel too hands-on, a plugin like Jetpack can make it easy.

Jetpack, developed by Automattic (the creators of WordPress), is an all-in-one solution built specifically for WordPress sites.

It combines essential features for security, performance, and marketing, all managed from one platform.

Even if you are non-technical, Jetpack can help improve site speed, strengthen security, and enhance the user experience. (No complex setups necessary!)

Create the Perfect Balance Between Beauty and Performance

Web fonts give your site a unique, beautiful look.

However, without the right tweaks, they can also slow it down and frustrate users.

While we’ve covered essential font optimization techniques, fine-tuning performance involves countless technical details.

And getting the best results can feel overwhelming.

That’s where DreamHost’s professional web development services come in.

We’ll make sure your site is beautiful and optimized for speed and user experience.

Let us handle the technicalities while you focus on building a site that truly stands out.

Pro Services – Development

You Dream It, We Code It

Tap into 20+ years of development expertise. Just let us know what you want for your site – we’ll take it from there.

Learn More

This page contains affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission if you purchase services through our link without any extra cost to you.

The post Core Web Vitals: How to Avoid the Performance Pitfalls of Web Fonts appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

Panic sets in. What does this mean? How many customers are seeing this error instead of your products? How is this affecting your business?

If you’ve ever felt the frustration of getting an error instead of the webpage you expected, or woken up in a cold sweat imagining it happening on your site at a critical moment — you’re not alone. The 400 Bad Request error can be a thorn in the side of entrepreneurs and small business owners who rely on their websites for success.

But don’t worry.

This guide is here to help you understand and fix this issue so you can return to providing a seamless experience for your customers.

Why Understanding HTTP Errors Matters for Your Business

Your website is often the first point of contact between you and potential customers. HTTP errors like the 400 Bad Request can disrupt this connection, leading to a poor user experience, lost sales, and even a dent in your search engine rankings.

For small businesses and entrepreneurs, every visitor counts, and making sure your website runs smoothly is how you keep growing, maintain your reputation, and run a successful online business.

Understanding and promptly resolving errors isn’t just about fixing a technical glitch — it’s also about maintaining professionalism, building trust with your audience, and protecting the online presence you’ve worked so hard to establish.

What Is the 400 Bad Request Error?

When you or any site’s visitors try to access a page, your browser sends a request to the website’s server. The server then processes the request and returns the desired information — unless something goes wrong. The 400 Bad Request error is an HTTP status code that indicates the server couldn’t understand the request because of invalid syntax.

In simpler terms, the server thinks there’s something wrong with the client’s request. Instead of loading the page, it displays an error message, leaving both you and your visitors in the dark.

Variations of the Error Message

While this error typically shows up as “400 Bad Request,” it can manifest in several ways, so you may see some variations:

• “Bad Request – Invalid URL”
• “HTTP Error 400”
• “Bad Request. Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.”
• “HTTP Status 400 – Bad Request”
• “HTTP Error 400 – Bad Request”
• “400 – Bad Request. The request could not be understood by the server due to malformed syntax. The client should not repeat the request without modifications.”
• “400 Bad Request. Request Header Or Cookie Too Large”
• “Bad Request – Error 400”

Regardless of how it’s phrased, the message indicates the same issue: the server can’t process the request because of a client-side error. The 400 Bad Request error can be very frustrating, as it blocks access to the site without giving you any helpful information.

Let’s discuss some of the most common causes.

Common Causes of the 400 Bad Request Error

When a server returns a 400 Bad Request, it means that it can’t understand and process your request. Usually, this is because of a client-side error, which means there’s a problem at your end.

Understanding what triggers this error is the first step toward fixing it. Here are some common issues that may cause a 400 Bad Request error:

• Invalid URL syntax: You may have mistyped the URL or used invalid characters. This can include typos, misplaced characters, or unsupported symbols in the URL.
• Corrupted browser cache or cookies: Outdated or corrupt files stored by your browser can interfere with requests. If your browser cookies have expired or your cache is corrupted, the server may not be able to process your request properly.
• Conflicting browser extensions: In some cases, your browser extensions can interfere with the request and cause a 400 Bad Request. Add-ons or extensions might block or alter requests unintentionally.
• Bad DNS cache: Outdated DNS information can lead to miscommunication with the server. Your locally cached DNS data could be out of sync with the current DNS registration for the domain.
• Large uploaded file size: Attempting to upload files that exceed the server’s size limits can cause an error. If you’re uploading a large file to a site, it could exceed the maximum upload limit and therefore, cause the error.
• Server-side issues: Misconfigured server settings or temporary glitches could also cause a 400 Bad Request error. For example, the website may have a misconfigured server or a temporary glitch. While less usual, don’t write it off.

How To Fix the 400 Bad Request Error (6 Methods)

Now that we’ve pinpointed potential causes, let’s dive into actionable solutions to get your website back on track.

When you first see a 400 Bad Request error, try refreshing the page. Sometimes, this will resolve any temporary glitches. If it doesn’t work, you can try the following steps.

1. Check for Errors in the Address

Check your URL for any errors. This is one of the most common causes of a 400 Bad Request. There could be typos, malformed syntax, or extra characters in the address.

Why this helps: A simple typo or misplaced character in the URL can prevent the server from understanding your request.

What to do:

1. Double-check the URL: Go back to the domain name, directory path, and query string to make sure the address is correct. Look for misspellings, extra slashes, or unsupported symbols. During this process, check for special symbols. Random characters like hyphens (-) or percentages (%) could cause the Bad Request. For example, if you intended to visit www.yourbusiness.com/products but typed “www.yourbusiness.com/prod%ucts,” the “%” symbol could cause an error.
2. Use a URL decoder tool: Some URLs have special characters, but you’ll need to make sure they’re coded correctly. You can check the address using a URL Decoder/Encoder. This tool will identify any invalid characters in the URL.
3. Navigate manually: You can also try searching for the web page differently. For example, you can run a search for the site’s domain name and a relevant keyword. If you were looking for a DreamHost post on featured image sizes, type “site:dreamhost.com featured image sizes” into a search engine. This will allow you to access the page without having to type in the URL manually.

Pro-tip: Keep your website’s URLs simple and user-friendly to minimize the risk of typos.

If you still get a 400 Bad Request error after trying all these tips, continue to the following method.

2. Clear Your Browser’s Cache and Cookies

Your browser saves site data in a cache, so when you revisit the site in the future, the browser can serve the cached content to make the page load faster.

As you’re browsing the Internet, cookies will also be stored in your browser. These are small files that contain data such as the length of your browsing session. Cookies can also remember personalized information like your login details or site preferences.

Although your browser’s cache and cookies can be helpful tools, they can also become corrupted, and cookies can eventually expire. When this happens, it can trigger a 400 Bad Request. To solve this problem, consider clearing the cache and cookies in your browser.

Why this helps: Over time, cache and cookies can become outdated or corrupted, leading to communication issues with the server.

What to do:

1. Access browser settings:

• In Google Chrome, click on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, select More Tools > Clear Browsing Data.
• In Mozilla Firefox, click on the three-line menu, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data.

2. Select data to clear: 

• In Google Chrome, check Cookies and other site data.
• In Mozilla Firefox, check Cached images and files.

3. Choose a time range: For a thorough clean, select All time.
4. Clear data: Click Clear data and wait for the process to complete.

Keep in mind that this will sign you out of many websites. You may also experience slower loading times when you visit these sites again. However, it could remove corrupted or expired data that may cause a 400 Bad Request.

3. Disable Browser Extensions

If you’re a website owner, you likely know that third-party plugins can cause many WordPress errors. Similarly, the software in your browser extensions could interfere with your request, so try disabling extensions temporarily if you’re seeing 400 Bad Request errors.

Why this helps: Some extensions may interfere with website requests, especially those related to security or content filtering.

What to do:

1. Access your extensions:

• In Chrome, go to the three-dot menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
• In Firefox, click on the three-line menu > Add-ons and themes.

2. Disable your extensions: Toggle off all extensions to disable them temporarily.
3. Test the site again: Reload the page that showed the error.
4. Identify the extension that was causing the error: If the error resolves, re-enable extensions one at a time, checking the website after each to pinpoint the problematic extension.

Some extensions are more likely to be common offenders than others when it comes to 400 Bad Request errors. These include: ad blockers, privacy extensions, or VPN-related add-ons.

4. Flush the DNS Cache

The first time you visit a website, some of its data is stored locally in a cache. To load pages faster, your computer will save DNS information about websites. This will eliminate the need to search for the site’s nameserver and IP address every time you come back.

Just like your browser cache, the DNS cache can also become corrupt or outdated. Sometimes, a website will update its DNS information. If this conflicts with your cached data, it can lead to a 400 Bad Request error. To fix this error, you’ll need to flush your DNS cache.

Why this helps: Clearing the DNS cache ensures your computer communicates with the most recent DNS information.

What to do:

On Windows:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type cmd and press Enter.
3. In the Command Prompt, type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

On Mac:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter the command sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press Enter.
3. You might need to enter your system password.

On Linux:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Enter sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches and press Enter.

For browser DNS cache (Chrome):

1. Type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar.
2. Click on Clear host cache. This will flush your browser’s DNS cache.

After you successfully flush your DNS, check to see if this resolves the error. If not, you’ll need to try another method…

5. Check the Uploaded File Size

Sometimes, you’ll see the 400 Bad Request error right after uploading a file to a website. In this case, your file may be too big to upload to the site’s server.

To see if this is the case, start by uploading a smaller file. If this is successful, you’ll need to resize or compress the original file.

Why this helps: Uploading files larger than the server’s limit can trigger a 400 error. Every site has a maximum file upload size. Although this is set by the hosting provider, it usually falls between 2 MB and 500 MB. If you upload a larger file, you’ll likely receive a Bad Request.

What to do:

1. Confirm your file size limit: Check the website’s or server’s maximum upload size. For WordPress sites, you can find this in Media > Add New.
2. Reduce file sizes: 

• For images: Use tools like TinyPNG to compress images and reduce file sizes without losing quality.
• For documents: Compress files into a ZIP folder.

3. Upload smaller files: Try uploading a smaller file to see if the error persists.
4. Increase your maximum file size: If you own the website that’s throwing the 400 Bad Request error, you can increase your site’s maximum upload size by adjusting your server settings or contacting your hosting provider.

6. Troubleshoot Your Device and Internet Connection

Now, if every single page you visit returns a 400 Bad Request, you might just have a poor internet connection. To see if this is the case, try switching to a different network. For example, you can turn off Wi-Fi for your mobile device and use cellular data.

Why this works: Network issues can prevent requests from reaching the server correctly.

If this resolves the error, you can troubleshoot your Internet connection.

What to do:

1. Restart your device: Since this can clear Random Access Memory (RAM), flush temporary caches, and close running programs, it may help solve a Bad Request.
2. Restart your Wi-Fi router. A simple reboot can clear temporary glitches.
3. Check your connection: Switch between Wi-Fi and a wired connection, or try accessing the website on a different network.
4. Disable VPNs or proxies: If you’re using a VPN or proxy service, disable it temporarily to see if it’s causing the issue.
5. Run a network troubleshooter: 

• On MacOS, use the Wireless Diagnostics tool.
• On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Network and Internet. Click Run.

If none of these options clear the error and you’re still getting a 400 Bad Request error on multiple or all websites, consider contacting your service provider to help fix the issue.

Monitoring and Preventing 400 Bad Request Errors

Being proactive can save you from future headaches. Here’s how to keep an eye on your website’s health:

Use Website Auditing Tools

Tools like Google Search Console can scan your website for errors, including 400 Bad Request issues. Here’s what to do:

1. Set up the tool: Follow the tool’s instructions to connect it to your website.
2. Run a scan: Initiate a crawl of your website to detect errors.
3. Analyze the results: Look for any pages returning a 400 status code.
4. Fix issues: Use the insights provided to correct URLs, fix broken links, or adjust server settings.

Regularly Update Your Website

Keeping your website updated prevents critical security issues and other problems that can cause errors, including 400 errors. Keep all components, especially things like plugins and themes, up to date to ensure compatibility. And make sure your content management system (CMS) is always updated to the latest version.

Educate Your Team

Make sure anyone who adds content or manages your site is aware of best practices to avoid introducing errors —including everything we’ve covered so far in this article.

When To Seek Professional Assistance

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the 400 Bad Request error persists. Then, it might be time to call in the experts.

Indicators that you might need help resolving a 400 Bad Request error:

• Server-side issues: If the error is due to server misconfigurations or database problems, it might be outside of your control.
• Widespread impact: If multiple users report the same error across different devices and networks, you might need professional assistance getting it solved quickly before the effects snowball.
• Lack of time and/or expertise: Business owners are busy, and your time is valuable. If you have too much on your plate and can’t focus on a website error right now, it’s better to ask a professional for help.

How DreamHost can help: At DreamHost, we’re committed to supporting you in maintaining a flawless online presence. Our award-winning, in-house support staff and service team are on hand 24/7 to help with whatever you need, including 400 Bad Request errors. Our experts can:

• Diagnose and fix server-side issues.
• Provide guidance on optimizing your website.
• Offer hosting solutions tailored to small businesses.

Get Ready for Error-Free Browsing

The 400 Bad Request error can be a stumbling block, but with the right knowledge and tools, it’s one you can overcome. By understanding the causes and implementing these fixes, you’re taking proactive steps to ensure a seamless experience for your visitors — a critical factor in the success of your business.

Fortunately, there are many ways to resolve the issue. One simple solution is to reload the browser and check for temporary glitches. However, you may need to flush your DNS cache, restart your device, or reduce uploaded file sizes.

Remember, you don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. Stay ahead of potential issues by subscribing to the DreamHost Blog for more tips, or explore our range of services designed to empower small business owners like you.

Educate your team on other common website errors with these helpful guides:

• 9 Tactics For Fixing The 504 Gateway Timeout Error
• How to Fix the 503 Error in WordPress
• 10 Ways To Fix The ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error
• Fixing The HTTP 500 Internal Server Error On Your Website
• Fixing The ERR_CACHE_MISS (Confirm Form Resubmission) Error In Google Chrome
• How to Fix Fatal Error: Maximum Execution Time Exceeded (In 6 Steps)

The post 6 Ways To Fix the 400 Bad Request Error appeared first on DreamHost Blog.

You’re in an exciting situation, especially if you’re just starting online.

But after a week of being online, you noticed your site’s loading slower than a sloth on a lazy Sunday, and visitors are bouncing faster than a kangaroo on caffeine.

Sound familiar? Well, you need to start thinking about what Google calls the Core Web Vitals (CWV).

According to the latest Chrome reports, over 50.1% of websites already have good Core Web Vitals scores. And this number continues to grow month-over-month, which means more and more savvy site owners are catching on to this performance-boosting secret.

Here’s the kicker: if you’re not part of that 50% yet, you’re risking your Google rankings, frustrating your visitors, and potentially leaving money on the table.

Let’s change that, shall we?

What Are Core Web Vitals, Anyway?

Think of Core Web Vitals as your website’s report card.

As you drive traffic to your website, Google uses these metrics to gauge how user-friendly your site is. Basically, it’s measuring your website’s speed, responsiveness, and visual stability.

There are three Core Web Vitals metrics:

1. Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
2. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
3. Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

These may not make sense right now — Let’s try to understand each of them separately.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Imagine you’re at a restaurant, and the waiter brings out your appetizer almost instantly.

That’s what a good LCP does for your website.

It measures how quickly the largest content element — the hero image, a large video, or a big chunk of text — loads on your page.

According to the same Chrome Core Web Vitals report, 64.8% of websites have already achieved their LCP scores. And more new sites are serving up their main content faster every month.

If you want to join the LCP hall of fame, you need to aim for a load time of 2.5 seconds or less to increase your website’s conversion rate.

Anything above four seconds, and you’re losing customers.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Think of times when you might have clicked a button on a mobile site — and another element loaded in its place, making the button disappear — and you clicked that element instead.

It’s not fun. The CLS score aims to eliminate this.

It measures how much your page elements move around as the page loads. A low CLS score means that your layout stays pretty stable throughout the entire loading process.

You can consider your website mobile optimized if the layout does not shift during load.

As of September 2024, 78.2% of websites have achieved good CLS scores, with a consistent increase in the numbers month-over-month. This shows that more developers are prioritizing a smooth, shift-free user experience.

So, if you want a stable user experience, aim for a CLS score of 0.1 or less. Anything above 0.25, and your users will feel like the entire page is moving around.

Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

INP was added on March 12, 2024, to the Core Web Vitals framework, replacing the older First Input Delay (FID) metric. While FID only measures the first user interaction, INP looks at all interactions throughout a page visit.

Chrome report data shows that 85% of websites are already scoring good INP scores. It’s likely that if you’re optimizing your site for the previous two scores well, INP will fall into place.

To keep your users happy and engaged, aim for an INP of 200 milliseconds or less. If you’re hovering between 200 and 500 milliseconds, you’ve got some work to do.

Anything above 500 milliseconds, and you are giving your visitors the dial-up experience.

How To Measure Core Web Vitals

Before you start working on improving your Core Web Vitals scores, it’s wise to get an idea of where your site currently stands. This way, you’ll be able to measure your progress. Regularly assessing your scores can be a valuable part of your website maintenance.

Let’s look at a few different ways to measure your website’s performance.

PageSpeed Insights

There are a handful of online tools you can use to measure Core Web Vitals, including Pingdom and GTmetrix. However, we recommend using Google PageSpeed Insights.

To get started, enter the URL of your website, and then click on the Analyze button.

When it’s done analyzing your site, it will provide a summary of some of the key data and the site’s Core Web Vitals data. As you can see in the image above, the default Google website has:

• LCP: 0.7 seconds
• INP: 63 milliseconds 
• CLS: 0

PageSpeed Insights tests both mobile and desktop scores at the same time, and you can switch between them right below where you entered the website.

If you scroll further, you’ll also find some diagnostics and suggestions for improvements. Based on the score of your site, PageSpeed Insights offers a handful of recommendations that you can use to increase your score and improve your site’s performance.

Chrome User Experience Report

You can also access your Core Web Vitals through your Chrome User Experience Report. This can be particularly helpful for developers and webmasters.

This report is available through Google Search Console and provides real data and insights from your visitors. It helps you understand how your users use the web and interact with your site.

To view it, you’ll need to head to your Google Search Console’s dashboard. Then, navigate to Core Web Vitals, which is located under the “Experience” section.

Core Web Vitals Chrome Extension

If you’re a Chrome user, you can use the Web Vitals Chrome extension to assess your Core Web Vitals for any website you’re on.

Just add the extension to Chrome, and you’re ready to go!

Next time you’re on a website, simply click on the extension icon at the top of your page, and you’ll see the Core Web Vitals score for that website.

Here’s what the output from the extension looks like:

You’ll see the LCP, CLS, and INP scores at a glance without visiting the PageSpeed insights page every time.

How To Improve Core Web Vitals for Better Google Scores?

Now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s dive into some best practices to boost your page’s Core Web Vitals scores. Remember, this isn’t just about impressing Google — it’s about creating a website your visitors will love using.

1. Use Modern Image Formats

We’re visual creatures, but those beautiful, high-resolution images can kill website performance if not compressed properly.

You need to optimize images and then upload the optimized images to your website instead of using server-side solutions.

To solve this issue and make the web faster, Google launched the WebP format. It retains a lot of the image details while significantly reducing image sizes.

WebP can be the go-to format for photographs and complex images. It offers better compression than JPEG or PNG, meaning you can have smaller file sizes without sacrificing quality. WebP images are about 30% smaller than their JPEG counterparts. So, you’re saving a lot of bandwidth and the time it takes to load the page.

At DreamHost, we love using Squoosh to convert images to WebP or just compress them to save space.

Here are some additional image optimization plugins to consider:

• ShortPixel Image Optimizer
• EWWW Image Optimizer
• Imagify
• Smush

Along with WebP, we’d recommend using SVG for icons, logos, and illustrations.

SVGs (Scalable Vector Graphics) aren’t images per se. Compared to regular image formats like JPEG, PNG, WebP, etc., SVGs are an XML-based markup language that describes the image on a 2D geometric plane.

This description text is then sent to the user, and the user’s browser converts it into an “image” after receiving the full SVG markup.

All this makes SVGs extremely lightweight — since they’re essentially just small blocks of text.

Also, since it’s created based on math, SVG images can scale infinitely without losing quality, and they look crisp on any device, from a tiny smartphone to a giant 4K monitor.

SVGs are called vector formats while WebP is a raster format, and you can see how both react to zooming in.

The font is a prime example of a vector in daily use. You can zoom into fonts as much as you want, but they won’t pixelate. While we’re on the topic of fonts, another way you can optimize your website for Core Web Vitals is to use fewer fonts.

2. Optimizing Fonts for CWV Performance

Fonts can make or break your website’s design. But when it comes to optimizing fonts for performance, fewer fonts are often better.

Here are a few tips to optimize fonts for your website:

• Limit the number of fonts: Stick to two main fonts across your website—one for headings and one for body text. This reduces the number of HTTP requests and simplifies your design. Also, be selective with font weights; only include the ones you need.
• When possible, use system fonts: Most devices already have system fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Georgia installed. They load instantly and eliminate the need for additional font downloads.
• Preload critical fonts: Adding a preload link in your HTML can instruct the browser to fetch your most important fonts early in the loading process. This can significantly improve text rendering times. 
• Optimize custom fonts to prevent CLS: The browser doesn’t know the exact dimensions of custom fonts until it downloads them, leading to layout shifts. Some open-source tools, such as Font Pie, help generate CSS that eliminates or at least reduces the CLS.
• Subset your fonts: Remove unused characters from your font files—like non-Latin characters if your site doesn’t use them. This reduces file sizes and speeds up load times.

We’ll be covering some advanced font optimization strategies in the future, but for now, using this quick list should help you get the website fonts ready for better scores.

3. Think Twice Before Using Google Tag Manager

We know what you’re thinking: “But Google Tag Manager makes my life so easy!”

And you’re not wrong.

It’s a fantastic tool for managing multiple tags without diving into code. However, it can present both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to Core Web Vitals.

While Google Tag Manager is excellent for organizing your tags, it can potentially slow down your site if not used judiciously. Each tag adds a little bit of load time, and those milliseconds can add up faster than your coffee bill at a developer conference.

Ask yourself: do you really need all those tags firing on every page load? Could some of them be implemented manually for better control over when they load?

As a thumb rule, use Google Tag Manager for essential, site-wide tags only and implement less critical or page-specific tags manually.

4. Implement a Caching Solution

Think of caching as your website’s short-term memory. Instead of generating every page from scratch for each visitor, caching stores a copy of the page and serves it up lightning-fast.

Implementing caching can dramatically improve your LCP scores, especially for dynamic websites. There are various levels of caching you can consider:

• Browser caching: Tells browsers to store certain files locally.
• Server-side caching: Stores generated pages or database queries.
• Object caching: Caches individual elements like widgets or menus.

Depending on your web host, you may be able to leverage caching on the server level.

By default, DreamPress plans include built-in caching to reduce the load of uncached visits without the need to add any caching plugins to your site yourself.

Also, suppose you’re using WordPress as your website’s content management system (CMS). In that case, plugins like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache can help you implement additional layers of caching, including browser and object caches, further improving website speed.

5. Eliminate Render-Blocking Resources

Render-blocking elements refer to the static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files needed to render a page on your site. Each of these files contains scripts that can prevent your users from viewing content.

Typically, they’re created from third-party plugins and tools such as Google Analytics.

However, one way to avoid these scripts hurting your UX (and, in turn, help improve Core Web Vitals) is to eliminate render-blocking resources and minify and remove any unused CSS or scripts.

There are multiple techniques you can use to go about this.

One is to minify your JavaScript and CSS by eliminating any white spaces or unnecessary comments.

You can use a tool such as CSS Minifier to make this easier:

You input your CSS and select the Minify button. Then, you can copy and paste the output to download and replace your code.

Another method is to condense your JavaScript and CSS by combining the files. This is another task that the file optimization feature in WP Rocket can help with.

6. Defer Loading of JavaScript

If you’re looking to boost your FID scores, you can use the technique known as deferring the loading of JavaScript. This is another way to eliminate render-blocking elements.

This process makes your web pages load faster because it delays the loading of JavaScript. In other words, it loads other content on the page once a visitor arrives, rather than waiting for all JavaScript files to finish loading.

Your files will be forced to wait to load until everything else on your web page is ready.

Also, you can configure your site settings so that the critical CSS loads “above the fold content” more quickly. “Above the fold” refers to the elements on the web page that appear first.

You can do this by taking the content out of the main CSS file and inlining it into your code. This will help it load faster, thereby improving the UX. Some caching plugins like WP Rocket offer an Optimize CSS Delivery feature that can be helpful for this.

7. Use a Content Delivery Network

Imagine if your website had a clone of itself in every major city around the world. That’s essentially what a Content Delivery Network (CDN) does.

It distributes copies of your static assets (like images, CSS, and JavaScript files) to servers worldwide, so your visitors can download them from the nearest location.

The result? Faster load times, improved LCP scores, and a better user experience for your global audience. It can also help minimize the Time to First Byte (TTFB).

There are several third-party tools that you can leverage for your WordPress site. One of the most popular options is Cloudflare.

As with caching, some hosting providers offer built-in CDN or at least integration with CDNs. For instance, at DreamHost, we have DreamSpeed, a powerful CDN that takes advantage of our existing infrastructure and gives you blazing-fast websites with minimal effort.

8. Properly Size Images

The larger the images, the bigger the file size.

Therefore, it’s smart to make sure that you’re not using overly large images everywhere. For instance, there’s no reason to use HD images for your thumbnails. You can work with much smaller, lower-resolution images here.

To further optimize your images, you can use the srcset attribute in your HTML code. With this tag, you can specify the locations of images of different sizes, and modern browsers can automatically serve images of the correct size based on the resolution of the device, improving the LCP scores.

In addition to this, you can always specify the width and height attributes for your image tags or reserve the required space with the CSS aspect ratio to ensure that the user sees smaller images automatically.

However, we’d always suggest using a tool like Sqoosh to resize images before you even upload them.

9. Implement Lazy Loading

We also recommend that you implement lazy loading. This helps ensure that your images will load precisely when users get to that section of the web page, rather than loading at the same time as everything else on the page.

Lazy-loading images can help improve your LCP and loading speed. The best part is that it’s quite easy to implement.

Modern browsers support native lazy loading with the loading=”lazy” attribute on <img> tags.

It’s as simple as adding a single attribute, and your page is ready to lazy load.

For WordPress users, you just need a plugin like Jetpack or Smush to get lazy loading enabled.

10. Upgrade Your Hosting

Sometimes, you can do everything right and still have low Core Web Vitals scores. At this point, it makes sense to look into upgrading your hosting provider plans.

For instance, if you’ve recently started receiving a lot of visitors or have added many new products with lots of images, you may be hitting the upper limits of your web host.

In such cases, if you’re on a shared hosting plan, you can move to a virtual private server (VPS) hosting or managed dedicated hosting.

For WordPress users, managed WordPress hosting can give a good boost to your site’s performance without being too expensive. For example, at DreamHost, we offer DreamPress plans aimed at WordPress site owners looking to get a high-performance site without breaking the bank.

Whichever type of hosting you go with, or are already using, the consensus is that upgrading your hosting provider or plan is the quickest way to speed up your website.

We suggest choosing a managed host with servers optimized specifically for WordPress that can handle the various technical aspects of site performance.

Enhance the User Experience and Reap the Rewards

You now have the knowledge required to join the 50.1% of websites that are already meeting the Core Web Vitals scores and offering a great experience to their visitors.

It’s true that some changes required to improve the scores can be complex — maybe even technical, requiring developer support to fully optimize your website.

If you want to offload the optimization, try DreamHost’s web development services.

Our developers work with you to optimize existing websites and can even build a website from scratch to provide an excellent user experience and boost Core Web Vitals scores.

With DreamHost, you invest in a long-term performance strategy. Our experts will:

• Audit your site’s Core Web Vitals.
• Use the latest optimization techniques.
• Build your site on a solid, scalable foundation.
• Provide ongoing support to keep your site running smoothly.

You can focus on running your business and creating great content while we optimize your site. So, if you’d like DreamHost to build or optimize your website, book a consultation or chat with us today!

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The post Better Performance for Better Rankings: 10 Tips for Improving Core Web Vitals appeared first on DreamHost Blog.