You don’t have to be an online merchant to know how important speed is for online commerce. With so many shopping options for consumers online, the slightest annoyance or inconvenience can send them rushing to a competitor. That is why fast eCommerce hosting must be a priority for any business that hopes to succeed online. Discover how closely linked speed and sales volume are, and then seek out a hosting partner that can deliver a consistently lightning-fast experience. Here are a few of the important facts you need to know:
1. Speed Affects Customer Satisfaction
As many as 47% of consumers expect a website to load in 2 seconds or less—and if it takes more than 3 seconds to load, 40% will abandon the site entirely. Having to sit through a one-second delay decreases customer satisfaction by 16%, meaning that even if they stick around, they are automatically underwhelmed by your online store.
2. Speed Affects Your Sales Growth
We have already established that customers who have to wait turn into unhappy customers. Unfortunately, 79% of customers who report dissatisfaction with website performance also report that they are less likely to buy from that same site again. And up to 44% of online shoppers will tell friends and family about a negative online shopping experience. In a matter of seconds, literally, you can discourage repeat customers and damage your online reputation.
3. Speed Affects Your SEO
New search engine algorithms place an increased emphasis on load times. The faster a page loads, the higher it will rise in the rankings. If your site relies on search engine traffic and random acts of discovery, your slow load times could be making it harder for people to find you. You might have the lowest prices and the biggest selection, but if your site sinks to the second or third page of Google results, your sales growth will almost certainly remain flat.
A good provider of fast eCommerce hosting will be able to supply tools for increasing speeds while providing you with the expertise and support to eliminate issues that can slow your site down. Partner with the team at Pivotree, and discover how fast your site can move!