Use Google Analytics to Diagnose Site Speed

Since fast websites typically result in happy users, it’s no wonder why Google chose to include page load times as a factor in its web ranking algorithm. Google Analytics recently built in a Site Speed section, which gives reporting on how slow or fast pages are loading. Let’s start with some metrics definitions:

• Avg. Redirection Time - the time spent in redirection before fetching this page. If there are no redirects, the value for this metric is expected to be 0.
• Avg. Domain Lookup Time - the average amount of time spent in DNS lookup for this page.
• Avg. Server Connection Time - the time needed for the user to connect to your server.
• Avg. Server Response Time - the time for your server to respond to a user request, including the network time from the user’s location to your server.
• Avg. Page Download Time - the time to download your page.

Now that you understand the metrics, here are some tips to think about when analyzing the report:

• Sitewide: if all of your landing pages show poor speeds, choose to focus on improving those that have the most pageviews (Content Report).
• By Geo: if certain geographic regions are showing high load time, you can deliver alternate pages more suitable to lower bandwidth reception.
• By DNS: if you notice that Avg. Domain Lookup Time is high, you might want to change your DNS provider.
• By Browser: for pages indicating a high load times for different browsers, you can look into and remedy browser issues, and deliver a page that renders better in that browser.

Other Site Speed tools?
Google's Page Speed and Yahoo!'s YSlow can be added to the IE and Firefox browsers and they will help you understand which components on the page are slowing you down and Page Speed specifically will recommend various solutions.

Work with your SEO and Web Support team to speed up your site and enhance your search engine visibility.