Supportsoft Glossary

Metrics Evaluating Website Efficiency

Measuring website performance is important because it lets organisations evaluate their websites for efficiency from a technical, user experience, and traffic generation standpoint. The three main performance metrics are page speed (the speed at which a web page loads), first byte speed (the time the server takes to begin sending the first byte of a page), the speed of the largest piece of content on the page (the time it takes to render the largest content on the page) and the speed of the site’s response to user actions (e.g., clicks, scrolls, etc.).

These three measurements combined give organisations an understanding of:

1) How quickly users can see the content on a web page;

2) How stable the website is while the web page is loading; and

3) How quickly a website will respond to user actions.

Most organisations monitor their site’s performance using the following types of tools: analytics tools, browser audits, and real-user monitoring systems.

Organisations that provide users with fast-loading websites will see better engagement metrics, such as lower bounce rates, higher time on site, and higher conversion rates.

Tracking performance metrics can help organisations make better, more informed decisions about where to allocate their technical resources, identify bottlenecks in performance, and maintain consistent user experiences across various devices and networks.

Web performance metrics take the abstract issue of speed and make it concrete by allowing web performance teams to collect actionable data that will assist them in providing faster, more reliable digital platforms.