When a user visits your WordPress website for the first time, a request will be sent to the server to generate content. The user’s browser or your server will then store a static version of this page and render that the next time this user visits your site. This process of temporarily storing a static version of a webpage to generate later is called caching. It helps to significantly reduce website load time allowing your site to rank higher on Google search. This blog post will discuss how you can cache your WordPress website and the available caching options.
How Can I Cache My WordPress Website?
With website speed a key ranking factor for Google, many business owners ask themselves how they can cache their WordPress website without much complexity. Simply put, there are two main options available as follows:
a) Browser Caching
When a new user visits your site for the first time, their browser will store some of the static components of your webpage, such as CSS files, logos, and images, for some time.
Each time this user comes back to your site, the browser will retrieve this cache and load up the webpage for them. Some browsers will run a query after loading the static page and update it automatically if the page’s content changes. It will then store this new cache.
It is worth noting that you have little control over this type of cache, and your WordPress site may load slower next time the user visits if they happen to delete the cache.
b) Server Caching
This caching serves all visitors to your website from a shared cache stored between the WordPress website and the origin server generating your content. The main benefit of this cache is that it can be accessed by all visitors and automatically generate a cached version of your website, even for first-time visitors.
Caching Your Website With WordPress Plugins
If you are not tech savvy, all this talk about WordPress caching may seem a point too high for you to reach. But, a simplified way to get it done and optimise your website’s speed is WordPress cache plugins.
WordPress cache plugins allow you to add simplified lines of code to your WordPress site to store and pre-generate cached versions of your web pages for visitors. When added to your site, these plugins help increase overall website speed by more than 50%, hence contributing to optimising your site for a higher search rank on Google.
Some of the most popular WordPress cache plugins you can add to your website include;
- WP Rocket
- Hyper Cache
- WP-Optimize
- Swift Performance
- Comet Cache
What Are Some Of The Best Practices When Using WordPress Cache Plugins?
To optimise your website speed well with a WordPress cache plugin, it is critical to keep in mind a few things that will help you get the most out of them and give users a unique experience. These include;
a) Avoid Using Multiple Plugins
While it’s tempting to install multiple WP cache plugins and utilise the different features they offer, this will cause conflicts and could be detrimental to your efforts to speed up your website. Instead, consider installing a single plugin with the best features on your site.
b) Consistently Lookout For Updates
A cache plugin that regularly offers new updates will help you optimise your website’s speed. Choose a plugin that receives new updates consistently and be on standby to install them.
Get Help Caching Your WordPress Website
Working with us ensures that you cache your website the right way using the best WP plugins and can keep them consistently updated to boost performance and enhance user experience. Book a consultation today, and let us help you optimise your website’s speed with proper caching.
