- BBC found they lost an additional 10% of users for every additional second their site took to load.
- Statistics indicate that 40% of visitors will leave a website if it takes longer than three seconds to load.
- Prefetching contents helped Terra increase ads click-through rate by 30% and speeds up LCP.
- RedBus improved their website's Interaction to Next Paint (INP) metric and increased sales by 7%
- 64% of dissatisfied shoppers do not visit a slow website again
Web Frontend performance and its monitoring is so important as it directly impacts user satisfaction, engagement, and ultimately, the success of your online business.
Performance plays a vital role in the success of any online venture. Websites that load quickly and respond to user input in a timely fashion engage and retain users better than websites that are slow to load, and feel sluggish.
Here are the reasons why web performance is crucial. The first four reasons primarily stem from user psychology.
1. Best User Experience (UX)
Frontend performance directly impacts user experience. Faster loading times and smoother interactions enhance user satisfaction and engagement, leading to higher retention rates and increased conversion rates.
When users encounter swift response times and seamless interactions, they develop a positive perception of the application. This perception extends beyond just speed—it suggests that the developers have invested in creating a polished and dependable product. This perception of quality can enhance user trust and loyalty over time.
2. Customer retention
Providing a fast and responsive frontend experience enhances customer satisfaction and retention. Users are more likely to return to and recommend a product that performs well and meets their expectations. Positive user experiences contribute to building brand loyalty and long-term customer relationships.
A slow app, on the other hand, may convey a sense of neglect or incompetence, leaving users with a negative impression of the brand or organization behind it. In today's competitive landscape, where user expectations continue to rise, maintaining a reputation for excellence and proficiency is essential for building trust and credibility.
3. Reduced Bounce Rates:
Users are more likely to abandon a website if it loads slowly. By optimizing performance, you can decrease bounce rates and retain visitors for longer periods.
As mentioned above
4. Reduced Cognitive Load
Slow-loading apps impose cognitive burdens on users, requiring them to allocate additional mental resources to process and interpret the delay. Users may experience frustration, impatience, or anxiety while waiting for content to load, detracting from their overall experience.
The stat from above says that the level of stress caused by the delays in an app is almost equal as watching a horror movie. This holds particularly true for applications that contain critical updates and information.
In contrast, faster apps reduce cognitive load by minimizing wait times and cognitive friction. Users can focus their attention on the task at hand without being distracted by performance-related issues, leading to a more immersive and enjoyable experience.
5. Competitive advantage
In today's competitive market, businesses need to differentiate themselves from competitors. A fast and responsive frontend can be a significant competitive advantage. Users are more likely to choose a product or service that offers a better user experience and faster performance over slower alternatives.
6. Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
Search engines like Google consider website performance as one of the ranking factors. Faster websites are more likely to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) compared to slower ones. By optimizing frontend performance, startups and businesses can improve their visibility in search engine results and attract more organic traffic to their website.
7. Enhancing Accessibility: Optimizing for Low-End Devices and Sparse Networks
If your website doesn't adhere to web best practices or lacks performance optimizations, there's a significant risk of losing a large segment of potential customers. These customers include individuals who:
- Are on the move (e.g., using Metro, Bus, or Car)
- Use low-end devices
- Reside in areas with limited network coverage
To ensure a seamless user experience for these individuals, our web application should be designed to be easily usable and functional under various challenging conditions.
By ensuring that your site loads quickly and functions smoothly across different platforms, you can reach a wider audience.
Implementing effective caching strategies, optimizing the use of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), and enabling offline access (among other tactics) ensure that users can continue using our application seamlessly, even in the event of a temporary loss of network or adverse conditions.
In summary, the speed of an app influences user's perceptions, emotions, and behaviors in profound ways. By prioritizing speed and performance, developers can create experiences that empower, delight, and inspire users, fostering long-term relationships and driving business success.
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References
Why does speed matter? | web.dev
Sourojit Das
How Back/forward Cache Helped Yahoo! JAPAN News Increase Revenue by 9% on Mobile | web.dev
Streaming delays mentally taxing for smartphone users: Ericsson Mobility Report
20+ companies that use PWA and how it works for them | Divante
https://cisin.com/coffee-break/how-pwa-app-benefits-the-company-like-flipkart-twitter-lite.html