Website and app performance are not generally seen with the same lens. However, mobile app builders create a dependency between website and app performance. Here is a guide explaining this dependency.
Performance is an essential cog in running a good website. You cannot expect to go far with your website without optimizing your website speed and load time.
WordPress bloggers try out a number of plugins to give their performance a slight edge. Before choosing a web host, the first question you are bound to ask is its impact on your website.
Speed is also an SEO factor. Fast websites tend to make it to the top of the SERP charts more often than not.
To put it in simple words, your website should have high performance standards.
This does not however relate to the title of this piece. How does website speed impact your performance?
Moreover, what are the changes you can make to your WordPress website to improve mobile app performance?
The Website-App Connection
Generally, websites and apps are seen as separate entities. A slow website is not seen as a direct reason behind a sluggish mobile app.
However, the increased use of mobile app builders is changing the script.
A mobile app builder refers to a tool that helps you create an app without writing a single line of code. AppMySite is an example of the same.
These tools tend to use your WordPress website as a base to make an app. They also rely on your website resources to fill up the mobile app.
What does this exactly mean?
Let’s assume that you use AppMySite to build an app. You will essentially use your WordPress website as a base to create the app. All the content of your website, from blog posts to categories and menus, will be exported to the app.
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This creates a connection between your WordPress website and app.
If your website is fast, your app will also perform well. A slow website will naturally cause a sluggish mobile app.
The main attraction of using a mobile app builder is the removal of coding as a requirement. You don’t need to learn coding or hire a development agency to create an app if you use an app builder.
Here is a video tutorial explaining how you can build an app using your WordPress website without writing any code:
Optimize Your WordPress Website to Enhance App Performance
Mobile app builders simplify app development and establish a relationship between website & app performance.
There are many ways you can optimize your WordPress website to improve your app performance.
#1 – Find a superfast website host
The easiest way to supercharge your app speed through your website is choosing a great hosting partner.
The most common reason behind a slow website is an unreliable hosting partner. WordPress bloggers generally cut costs and settle with a cheap hosting plan. This becomes a key reason behind unreliable website performance.
With app builders in the mix, a bad web host can directly affect your app performance.
Selecting a good website host is not as simple as selecting the most expensive plan. You need to scout different hosting providers and select the one that suits your needs.
Account for general performance factors like uptime, bandwidth, and storage. You should also choose a web host that has a robust customer service system.
Other add-on benefits like CDNs, SSL certificates, caching, and more also come into play. A good web host generally provides great add-on benefits.
Migrating your WordPress website to a fast and reliable host is a shot in the arm for your mobile app. On a side note, you will also gain independence from various performance-related worries.
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#2 – Use a content delivery network
The second step is using a content delivery network.
One of the lesser known reasons behind slow speed is distance. If your website server is located in East Asia, serving a visitor from Taiwan is much easier than a visitor from Brazil.
Sending content to the other side of the globe takes time. It takes a lot of load on your server to cater to visitors across the world.
This problem will plague your app as well. If your app users are spread across the globe, depending on one single website server is a bad idea.
A content delivery network (CDN) basically spreads your website resources to servers across the world. This reduces the dependence on one serve and eliminates distance as a factor in website performance.
Hosting providers generally offer free CDNs to customers. You can alternatively use services like CloudFlare to improve your website speed and boost your app performance.
#3 – Optimize your image size
Images add life to a website. They also happen to be a big reason behind slow website speeds.
Text is very small in size and very easy to load. Images however are a complicated matter. They are large in size and delay your loading time.
It is also impossible to create a good website or app without decent artwork. The only real solution here is optimizing the size of the images.
You should generally use JPEG and WEBP file formats when uploading images to your websites. Only use PNGs when you want to showcase the quality of your premium artwork.
Heavy images also slow down your app speed. Use smaller and efficient image formats to ease the load on your website server. This will have an impact on your website and mobile app speed.
#4 – Get an SSL certificate
App builders like AppMySite work better for websites with SSL certification.
The main purpose of SSL encryption is to protect data being relayed between a client and a website server. An SSL certificate also ensures that your domain gets its own unique identity.
Securing your website also adds a layer of protection to your mobile app. App stores often reject apps because of cybersecurity concerns. You can make sure your website has an SSL certificate to shore up app security as well.
Any decent web host will offer you a free SSL certificate. You can thus guarantee an SSL certificate for your website by selecting the right web host.
In Conclusion
Optimizing performance has always come instinctively to people running websites.
The new trend of mobile app builders makes it even more important to seek improvements to web speed. Even the speed of your mobile app depends on your website in case you use an app builder.
This piece explains the connection between website and app performance.