Would you like to know how to run a site speed test in WordPress?
Site speed can make or break your WordPress site’s success. When I started managing WordPress sites, I noticed visitors leaving quickly when pages took too long to load. My bounce rates were high, and my search rankings suffered, despite the quality of my content (which I made sure was high).
Testing your website’s speed is like taking your car for a regular check-up—it helps you spot and fix problems before they affect performance. However, many WordPress users skip speed testing because they think it’s too technical or requires special tools.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to test your WordPress site speed, the easy way.
You’ll learn how to run speed tests, understand your results, and get actionable tips to make your site faster. After using this method on dozens of WordPress sites, I can say it’s the most straightforward way to keep track of your site’s performance—and anyone can do it.
In This Article
Why You Need to Test Your WordPress Site Speed
Have you ever clicked away from a website because it took too long to load?
I’ve been there, and so have your visitors. A slow website is like a store with a long line at the checkout—people get frustrated and leave. And according to the leaked Google algorithm docs, this type of user data impacts rankings.
In short, your site’s speed plays a big role in search rankings. Google looks at how fast your pages load when deciding where to rank them. I’ve watched sites climb up in search results after fixing speed issues that our tests uncovered.
From my experience managing WordPress sites, I’ve also realized that site speed directly affects visitor behavior. When I improved one client’s loading time, I saw an increase in average time on site. I also saw an increase in conversions.
Mobile users are especially sensitive to speed. After all, more than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. When I started regularly testing mobile speed, I found issues I never noticed on desktop—like images that were too large for phone screens.
For more on this aspect, check out our guide to mobile SEO.
Testing your site speed isn’t just about getting a good score. It’s about finding specific problems you can fix. For example, I once discovered that a single plugin was adding 3 seconds to my load time. Without running speed tests, I might never have found that issue.
How to Run a Site Speed Test With AIOSEO
Now that you know the importance of running a site speed test, let me show you how you can easily do so in WordPress.
Step 1: Install and Activate AIOSEO
The easiest way to run a site speed test is to use All In One SEO (AIOSEO). From working with different SEO plugins, I’ve found AIOSEO to be the most user-friendly option for speed testing.
AIOSEO is a powerful yet easy-to-use SEO plugin that boasts over 3 million active users.
Millions of savvy business owners rely on the plugin to effortlessly improve their search engine rankings and drive targeted traffic to their WordPress sites. Recognizing the importance of qualified traffic for business success, AIOSEO offers a range of user-friendly SEO features.
One thing I love about AIOSEO is that it’s super easy to use, even if you have zero technical knowledge. Plus, it’s designed to give your website and content a better chance of ranking, making it a fantastic SEO tool for individuals and small businesses.
For step-by-step instructions on how to install AIOSEO, check our detailed installation guide.
Step 2: Access the Site Analysis Module
To check your site speed using AIOSEO, you’ll have to access the Site Analysis module. From your WordPress dashboard, go to AIOSEO » SEO Analysis.
The SEO Analysis module crawls your site and content, and gives you a snapshot of your SEO and an overall score.
It also gives recommendations on what to improve to get your site properly optimized.
One thing I love about the SEO Analysis feature is that you can also use it to analyze your competitors’ sites.
This gives you a peek into their SEO strategy.
Check out our guide to competitor analysis for more information.
Step 3: Check Your Site Speed Report
To access your site speed report, scroll down to the Performance section. Here, you’ll find details about your technical SEO.
This is where you’ll also find your site speed test report. To access the detailed report, simply click on the arrow at the far right to expand the section.
The site speed report gives details of issues affecting your site speed and recommendations for fixing any issues AIOSEO finds.
For actionable tips on fixing issues that slow down your site, check out our guide on speeding up your WordPress site.
Need help fine-tuning your site to perform at its peak?
Check out our Site Optimization service and let our experts deliver done-for-you technical optimization to skyrocket your online visibility and user experience. For example, you’ll get:
- Faster load times
- Improved overall performance
- Enhanced user experience
Ultimately, all this leads to better search rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a site speed test?
A site speed test is a process of analyzing how quickly a website loads and performs for its users. It involves using specialized tools to measure various metrics related to loading time, page size, the number of requests, and other factors that influence the perceived speed of a website.
How often should I run speed tests on my WordPress site?
I recommend running a speed test at least once a month and after any major changes to your site. For example, after installing new plugins, switching themes, or adding resource-heavy features like video galleries. This helps you catch speed issues before they affect your visitors.
Why is my mobile speed score lower than desktop?
Mobile scores are often lower because phones have less processing power and typically use slower internet connections. Plus, some features that work well on desktop (like large images or complex animations) can slow down mobile performance significantly.
Will running speed tests slow down my site?
No, running speed tests won’t affect your site’s performance for regular visitors. AIOSEO runs these tests in the background without impacting your live site.
Run Regular Site Speed Tests for Optimal Performance
Running regular speed tests with AIOSEO helps you keep your WordPress site running smoothly. From my experience maintaining multiple WordPress sites, the sites I test regularly always perform better than those I neglect.
Remember, site speed isn’t a one-time fix—it’s something you need to monitor over time. New plugins, content updates, and even WordPress itself can impact your site’s performance. I recommend running a speed test at least once a month or after making significant changes to your site.
By following the steps in this guide, you now have everything you need to test your site’s speed and make informed decisions about performance improvements. Your visitors will thank you with longer visits, and search engines will reward you with better rankings.
I hope this post helped you know how to run a site speed test in WordPress. You may also want to check out other articles on our blog, like our article that troubleshoots Google indexing issues or our list of the best caching plugins to boost your speed.
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The post How to Run a Site Speed Test in WordPress first appeared on AIOSEO.
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