How to Speed Up Your Elementor Website in 12 Easy Ways

Why Your Elementor Website Is Running Slow

Before you start taking any steps to speed up your website, it’s important to identify what might be slowing it down. Here’s a structured approach to pinpoint potential culprits:

Identify Slow Plugins

Slow plugins, especially those related to Elementor add-ons, can significantly affect your site’s performance. We recommend using tools like the Query Monitor plugin. With this plugin, you can use the Database Queries tab and check the “time” column. This will show which plugins are consuming the most time.

Consider Checking Your TTFB and Hosting

Time To First Byte (TTFB) measures the time from making a request to when the first content starts to download. Google recommends a TTFB under 200 ms to positively impact Core Web Vital metrics. You can check your TTFB using Chrome DevTools in the Network tab.

If your TTFB is lengthy, consider switching to a more efficient hosting provider. Many managed WordPress hosting services excel in optimizing performance, but be cautious if you use AJAX-dependent plugins like filters. Make sure you have control over caching settings, as some managed hosting services may use generic tools that aren’t optimized for your specific needs.

Monitor Memory Limit and CPU Usage

Elementor functions best with at least 256 MB of WP memory and ideally 768 MB. You can set this in your wp-config.php file:

define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘768M’ );

Monitor your CPU usage as well; high usage might indicate the need for more resources. For dynamic Elementor sites, avoid shared hosting if possible. Shared hosting may impose CPU limits, and high usage by other clients on the same server can impact your site’s performance.

Common Mistakes You Should Avoid that Slows Down Your Website 

Not Using The Correct Theme

Selecting the appropriate theme is important as it forms the structural foundation of your website. A poorly chosen theme can reduce your efforts, potentially driving visitors away and creating a negative impression. Choose a theme that aligns well with your brand voice and enhances user experience. A well-customized theme can improve your site’s performance and visibility on search engines.

Customizing Without Clearing Cache

Frequent customization without clearing the cache is another common mistake. As websites undergo updates and adjustments, it’s essential to clear your cache regularly to avoid conflicts and make sure that changes appear correctly. For Mac users, the cache can be cleared using Command + R, and for Windows users, Control + Shift + R. Regular cache clearing is critical before any site edits to maintain a smooth design process.

Not Optimizing The Images

Failing to optimize images can slow down your website and negatively impact SEO. Many users forget to resize images before uploading them to Elementor, which can increase page load times. Use tools like TinyPNG to compress and optimize images without losing quality, as previously mentioned.

Not Using Global Colours

While it may seem minor, using non-global colours can cause consistency issues across your website. Elementor provides a customizable global colour gallery designed to simplify the design process and ensure uniformity. Utilizing these predefined colours can save time and help maintain a consistent aesthetic throughout your site.

12 Easy Ways to Speed Up Your Elementor Website

1. Avoid Using Free Hosting Servers

If you’re operating a business online, it’s wise to invest in premium hosting to enhance your website’s performance (there are plenty of hosting options available!). Quality hosting can significantly influence your site’s speed and reliability. The limitations of free hosting services, such as slower load times and server unavailability, can negatively affect your website’s functionality.

2. Don’t forget to resize your Images, Videos, or GIF files

It is important to reduce the file size of media files because they can significantly slow your website’s performance. It can lead to slow loading times, increased bounce rates, reduced site visibility, and decreased web traffic.

To address this issue, consider using TinyPng, an effective image compression tool that optimizes your image size while maintaining its original resolution. This can help improve faster loading times and overall performance without sacrificing image quality.

3. Beware of Using Multiple Plugins

In today’s technologically advanced era, WordPress dominates approximately 34% of the internet. The platform is supported by plugins designed to enhance its functionality. However, not all these plugins may be necessary for your needs.

Overloading your website with excessive plugins can lead to slower page loading times. It’s important to carefully consider the utility of each plugin before integrating it into your site. If you have any unused or unnecessary plugins, it’s wise to deactivate them to maintain optimal site performance.

4. Beware of Using External Scripts

Adding external scripts such as HTML, JavaScript, and other codes to your website can sometimes be necessary. However, it’s important to note that these can slow down your site. Common culprits include external resources like Google Maps, Facebook share counts, and avatar images, which are often essential for enhancing website functionality.

If you’re looking to optimize the speed of your Elementor site while still using these essential scripts, you can consider deactivating some resources that might not be as important like Google Fonts, Font Awesome, and Elcons. Just make sure you are certain that you won’t be needing them anymore.

5. Clear Unnecessary Files from the Database

A database is where web files such as photos, videos, GIFs, and voice clips are stored. Accumulating unnecessary files can bog down your website’s loading speed. A common issue is the repeated uploading of the same image, which is inefficient and can clutter your storage.

To optimize your database, upload each image only once. Whenever you need to reuse an image, select it from the media library instead of uploading it again. Additionally, regularly clean out spam comments, as these can also consume valuable web space and slow down your site. Managing your media files and comments efficiently will help maintain your website’s performance and speed.

6. Boost the Memory Limit

Increase your PHP memory limit by going into the root folder

WordPress comes with a default PHP memory limit of 32MB, though some hosting providers may increase this to 64MB. The PHP memory limit is important as it allows WordPress to effectively run and execute themes, plugins, and code.

For optimal performance with Elementor, WordPress needs a memory limit of at least 256MB. Increasing the PHP memory limit is a straightforward process. If you’re wondering how you can do this step, we have a detailed guide on increasing your memory limit.

7. Update to the Latest PHP Version

Review PHP version and update if necessary

Most WordPress themes and plugins are regularly updated to remain compatible with the latest PHP versions. Failing to upgrade your website to the latest PHP version can lead to compatibility issues with some plugins or themes, which may decrease your website’s speed.

Moreover, updating to the latest PHP version is important for enhancing security and providing additional protection against hackers. Ensuring your website runs on the most recent PHP version helps maintain optimal performance and security. We have a detailed guide on how to update your PHP version if you feel comfortable doing this step yourself!

8. Enable Hotlinks Protection

Hotlinking occurs when external sites display videos, images, and other media files hosted on your server, using your bandwidth without permission. If hotlinking is not disabled on your site, it allows others to use your website’s resources, which can significantly slow down your site’s performance. Think of hotlinking like someone using your Wi-Fi without asking. The more they use it, the slower your internet gets.

Most hosting providers offer a hotlink protection feature in their cPanel. By activating this feature, you can prevent unauthorized websites from using your media files and consuming your bandwidth.

9. Select the Right Theme

Choosing the right theme is important for your website’s performance. A well-optimized theme should not slow down your site, yet many themes unfortunately do.

Here are some steps you can take to address this issue:

• Deactivate Problematic Themes: If certain themes are causing performance issues, consider deactivating them.
• Use a Lightweight Theme: Opt for simple, well-coded themes like the WordPress default theme, Twenty Twenty. You can find more information about it in our article on WordPress Default Themes.
• Utilize Elementor Default Templates: Elementor provides a range of default templates that are optimized for speed and compatibility with its builder.

By following these guidelines, you can make sure your website remains fast and efficient while still looking great.

10. Install a Cache Plugin

If you’re new to website management, you might not be familiar with page caching. Let’s explore how it works. A website consists of two main components: the front-end, which users interact with, and the back-end database, which stores content like blog posts, videos, images, and GIFs.

When users visit the front-end of a website, they request specific content. The back-end database then generates HTML files or codes of that requested content and delivers them to the user’s browser in a visually appealing format. However, the server does not store these HTML codes indefinitely. Therefore, each time the same content is requested, the server must regenerate the HTML codes from scratch.

This process can be time-consuming. Caching plugins can help by storing the HTML code after it’s first created. If the same content is requested again, the caching plugins quickly delivers the stored code, significantly speeding up the loading process and enhancing the user experience.

11. Choose a High Performing DNS

DNS, or Domain Name System, is a server that converts human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses (such as 1900.100.101).

How does DNS work? Each website is hosted on a server that assigns it an IP address. When users enter a URL in their browser and press enter, the DNS server begins searching for the corresponding IP address of the domain.

The importance of a high-performing DNS: A fast and efficient DNS can quickly locate the IP address and facilitate the connection to your browser. This speed is important for enhancing user experience by reducing load times. For optimal performance, consider using a high-quality DNS server. Some of the top DNS providers include Cisco OpenDNS, Cloudflare, Google Public DNS, and Quad9. These providers offer reliable and swift DNS lookup services that can significantly improve your website’s accessibility and speed.

12. Deploy a CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers distributed across various geographical locations, designed to deliver web content to users as quickly as possible. For instance, if your website’s server is located in New York, users in the United States will experience fast loading times.

However, if someone from Europe accesses your site, the data has to travel a greater distance, which can result in slower loading times. This geographical latency is why major international businesses with large global audiences, such as Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay, utilize multiple CDNs to guarantee swift content delivery worldwide.

Understanding CDN Usage:

• For Emerging Websites: If your website is relatively new or small, you might not immediately need a CDN. The benefit might not justify the cost until your audience grows.
• For Established Websites: Websites with a substantial audience and significant traffic across different regions should consider using a CDN. This can drastically improve site performance and user experience globally.

Top CDN Providers:

• Cloudflare: Known for its robust security features and efficient content delivery.
• CacheFly: Offers one of the best throughput and reliability in the industry.
• Amazon CloudFront: Integrated with AWS services, providing a reliable and scalable solution.

Investing in a CDN can significantly enhance your website’s loading times, especially for users far from your primary server, which in turn can improve engagement and reduce bounce rates.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Speed Up Elementor Website

Does Elementor slow down a website?

No, Elementor itself does not inherently slow down a website. However, factors such as suboptimal optimization, slow hosting services, heavy themes and plugins, and inefficient content management can contribute to reduced website speed.

How much memory limit is a must for Elementor?

A minimum of 256MB of memory is recommended for running Elementor effectively. For optimal performance, increasing the memory limit to 512MB is advisable.

How to clear the Elementor cache?

Clearing the Elementor cache is straightforward:

1. Log into your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Dashboard > Elementor > Tools > General.
3. Click “Regenerate Files & Data” and then “Save Changes.”

By following these steps, you can make sure that your Elementor site runs efficiently, maintains speed, and supports a robust SEO strategy.

Stop worrying about your website’s speed by leaving the optimization to professionals

And there you have it—12 easy steps to significantly boost the speed of your Elementor website. By implementing these straightforward yet effective strategies, you’ve not only enhanced the user experience but also improved your site’s performance and search engine rankings.

You’ve taken a great step by learning how to boost your Elementor website’s speed, but ongoing optimization can be a complex and time-consuming task. That’s where we can help! Let us optimize your website so you can continue running your business without thinking about this process. Our team of experts will handle everything from continuous performance monitoring to implementing the latest optimization techniques. This ensures your website remains fast, efficient, and ahead of the competition, allowing you to focus on growing your business. Contact us today!