>> Introduction
>> Part 1: Caching
>> Part 2: CDNs
>> Part 3: Asynchronous Loading
>> Part 4: Image Optimization
>> Part 5: Security
>> Round-up and acknowledgements
So there we have it folks. Thank you for bearing with me through the previous six posts. I realise that it might not have been the most scintillating thing in the world to many people but it’s my hope that you could find at least one or two things to take away from it all which can help you in your blogging life.
In case you found it very overwhelming and you feel like you couldn’t possibly ever do all the things I mentioned, then allow me to pick out the “top three” for you. Three things which I would recommend you to prioritize above anything else. If you follow these three simple steps, and nothing else then these alone should ensure your site is running significantly more smoothly.
Do these, if nothing else…
- Install and configure a well-known caching plugin, such as W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache. Providing your web host supports it you will already see significant improvements as soon as you’ve done this.
[button link=”https://homesweetsweden.com/index.php/2013/06/optimizing-your-blog-part-1-caching/” color=”silver”] Do it now![/button]
- Sign up for, and set up, a CDN. Whether it’s a free one, such as CloudFlare, or a paid one, such as Amazon CloudFront distributing your static content delivery (images and so forth) amongst a global network of servers will give a huge boost to your page load speed.
[button link=”https://homesweetsweden.com/index.php/2013/06/optimizing-your-blog-part-2-distributed-content-delivery/” color=”silver”] Do it now![/button]
- Follow my instructions to make your blog more secure. Fast sites are great, but it’s no fun if you keep getting attacked!
[button link=”https://homesweetsweden.com/index.php/2013/07/optimizing-your-blog-part-5-security-and-miscellaneous/” color=”silver”] Do it now![/button]
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And that’s it! Easy huh?
In case you’ve stumbled across this page for the first time, or if you’re looking for something in particular then I’m going to index the features and processes I covered in alphabetical order below:
Index
[one_third].htaccess[/one_third][one_third]HTTP Connections[/one_third][one_third_last]Page Caching[/one_third_last][one_third]Amazon AWS[/one_third][one_third]Image Compression[/one_third][one_third_last]Passwords[/one_third_last][one_third]Amazon CloudFront[/one_third][one_third]Image Formats[/one_third][one_third_last]Pingdom[/one_third_last][one_third]Asynchronous Loading[/one_third][one_third]JPEG[/one_third][one_third_last]PNG[/one_third_last][one_third]BJ Lazy Load[/one_third][one_third]KeePass.info[/one_third][one_third_last]Securing your Admin area[/one_third_last][one_third]Browser Caching[/one_third][one_third]Lazy Loading[/one_third][one_third_last]Smush.it[/one_third_last][one_third]Caching[/one_third][one_third]Login Lockdown[/one_third][one_third_last]SpriteMe.org[/one_third_last][one_third]CDN Distribution Creation[/one_third][one_third]Lossless Compression[/one_third][one_third_last]Spriting[/one_third_last][one_third]Choosing a host[/one_third][one_third]Lossy Compression[/one_third][one_third_last]W3 Total Cache[/one_third_last][one_third]CloudFlare[/one_third][one_third]Measuring Performance[/one_third][one_third_last]WordPress Codex[/one_third_last][one_third]CNAME[/one_third][one_third]Minification[/one_third][one_third_last]WP Super Cache[/one_third_last][one_third]Content Delivery Networks[/one_third][one_third]Mobile Themes[/one_third]
Don’t forget…
A good host and a good theme can really make a site. If you’re not yet self-hosted and are considering giving it a try (you should – so much more control over your site!), or if you simply think that your site needs a new lease of life – a new home, or a fresh “coat of paint” if you will, I can recommend the services below:
And finally…
I’d like to thank the good folks at Pingdom, GTMetrix, Amazon Web Services, and CloudFlare for replying so quickly to my requests to reproduce their logos (and as bloggers we all know how important gaining permission is don’t we?!).
The W3 Total Cache developer Frederick Townes deserves a public shout-out for his fantastic support for the plugin. Rare is the time when you see a plugin developer so active on both the WordPress forums, and so quick to reply to support requests.
Thanks for reading everyone. I’ll be back to 100% food, glorious food from now on but if you have questions at any time on the subjects covered here, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
>> Introduction
>> Part 1: Caching
>> Part 2: CDNs
>> Part 3: Asynchronous Loading
>> Part 4: Image Optimization
>> Part 5: Security
>> Round-up and acknowledgements
You put so much effort in these posts, Charles. Terrific jot!
Thanks Karen :). I hope some will find them useful at some point 🙂
Excellent series! So well done.
Thank you kindly Maureen!
As if you hadn’t convinced me before Charles, YOU are definitely my GOTO guy for blogging technical info. You totally ROCK! Thank you for taking the time and energy to put together such a comprehensive tech series, I know I will truly appreciate it (I’m going to have more time on my hands in August, and I shall likely be taking my blog to a self hosted site at that time!).
Looking forward to some food posts too!
Thank you Eva – I hope I can inspire or assist some people through these posts. It can be complicated if you’re not familiar with it and knowledge is power after all!
I’m sure the techies are finding the info invaluable. As for me, no blog in my future plans. I should really go and clean out my newly acquired second, actually, it’s a third hand (brother and SIL, parents and now me) very small freezer.
Hi A_ – It’s a shame you wouldn’t consider porting your writing to WordPress – It’s not a great deal of work, indeed, the free version, WordPress.com requires no maintenance at all.
Thank you for the encouragement but I’m happy with the few people who drop in to my LJ and comment even it’s become a glorified food diary. 🙂
Thanks so much Charles. I’m about to go with Hostgator. I’m sure I’ll be back many times to look over these very helpful posts xx
Hi Charlie – do let me know if you need any clarifications on any points! 🙂
HI, Charles. Thank you for this precious round up and please don’t talk about “bearing”! I’m sure you have taught something new to everyone (and lots of things to a big majority of us 😉 ). Your posts have been very useful and I will certainly be coming back to check things and reread them in the future too.
Thank you Sissi – I guess it’s a lot to take in all at once, but spread over weeks I hope people can glean a lot from them!
Thanks Charles! I will definitely be using your tips to work on my site as soon as Ramadan is over and kids are back to school and I can breathe. Thanks for all your hard work! We do appreciate it!
Nazneen
Thanks Nazneen! Do let me know if you need any further information on any points I’ve covered! 🙂
Charles, I like how you prioritize for us here (this is my kind of post – the coles notes to tech-talk ;-)). Having said that, I think many people (your audience but also those searching google globally) will find your detailed information in this series immensely helpful. Now, if we can just find a way to not only optimize our blogs but also optimize our audiences 😉 – that is the next question! ;O).
Hi Kelly – I do hope so, yes! As for audience optimization… SEO isn’t really my forte, so I’d have to defer to someone more knowledgeable for that point 🙂
Many thanks for your posts, Charles! I do a lot of web design/development and having your suggestions there to expand my horizons is great! 🙂
Thanks Fati – I hope they’ll come in useful over time 🙂
Thanks so much for this series, Charles! You shared wonderful information with all of us!
Hi Laura – I hope it will come in handy to some folks over time. I’ll all in favour of faster websites!
Well, you saw my last comment. You must have been reading my mind! All the steps did seem overwhelming so I’m glad you boiled it down to three. Maybe one day…and believe me, I’ll be consulting you! 🙂
Hi Kristy – you’re more than welcome. You’d enjoy the freedom a self-hosted blog gives you!
I have known more about how my blog works through these six posts of your than I did in my entire year of blogging. Great series Charles!!
Thanks Minnie!
Charles, you are an absolute marvel! I’m going to have study, not just read, this wonderful series.
Hi Jean – I hope you’ll be able to get some good info from my posts! 🙂
I have been silently following your wonderful series Charles and I have to say thank you for the wonderful effort and all the time you put into it.
Personally all this technical stuff is what keeps me from shifting to self hosting although I know that I should.
This series will be my reference for sure when I work up the courage to finally do it
Hi Sawsan – thank you for your kind words. It took a very long time to put together. I had hoped at points that I could make the posts more “bite-sized” but you can only simplify things so much!
Thank you Charles! this has been a very informative series and one that I am sure I will have to refer to later so I am glad that you linked all 6 together. Have a super week. BAM
Thanks Bam – I hope you’ll find it helpful over time 🙂 Take care!