Are you thinking of optimizing WordPress for speed using a CDN? then you should read through this guide and follow the steps provided.
When it comes to website speed, every second counts. A fast-loading website not only enhances user experience but also plays a crucial role in search engine rankings.
In the world of WordPress, there is a powerful tool that can significantly boost website speed: a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
In this guide, we will explore the benefits of using a CDN for WordPress websites and provide a step-by-step guide on optimizing your WordPress site for speed.
What is a Content Delivery Network (CDN)?
To optimize your WordPress site for speed, it’s essential to understand the concept and importance of CDNs.
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a distributed network of servers strategically placed around the globe. The primary purpose of a CDN is to improve website performance by reducing latency and delivering content to users from servers located closer to their geographical location.
CDNs play a crucial role in boosting website speed, enhancing user experience, and improving search engine rankings.
It is also important to note that where your website is hosted also affects the speed of your website, so it is crucial to look critically before choosing a web hosting provider.
See our article on choosing the right web hosting provider for your website
Benefits of Optimizing WordPress for Speed using a CDN
Using a CDN for your WordPress site offers numerous benefits, including accelerated content delivery, improved website performance, enhanced scalability, better user experience, and SEO advantages.
By caching static content, such as images, CSS, and JavaScript files, CDNs ensure faster content delivery to users worldwide. This reduces server load, improves website performance, and enhances the overall user experience.
Many CDNs offer built-in DDoS protection and security features to safeguard your website from malicious attacks. By routing traffic through their network, CDNs can identify and filter out potentially harmful requests, ensuring the security and integrity of your website.
Additionally, CDNs help handle high volumes of traffic, distribute load efficiently, and maintain website stability during traffic spikes. These factors contribute to a positive user experience, reduced bounce rates, increased engagement, and improved SEO rankings.
Leveraging a CDN for your WordPress website provides numerous benefits, including improved website speed, global content delivery, scalability, enhanced user experience, SEO advantages, reduced server load, and enhanced security.
By utilizing a CDN, you can optimize your WordPress site’s performance and provide a seamless and fast browsing experience for your visitors.
Choosing the Right CDN for Your WordPress Site
Selecting the right CDN for your WordPress site is crucial for optimizing speed. There are several popular CDN providers available, such as Cloudflare, StackPath, and Akamai.
These providers offer WordPress integration plugins with various features, pricing plans, and support options.
When choosing a CDN, consider factors such as ease of integration, global server coverage, caching mechanisms, security features, pricing, and customer support. By selecting the most suitable CDN for your WordPress site, you can ensure seamless integration and leverage the full benefits of CDN optimization.
Implementing a CDN on Your WordPress Site
Implementing a CDN on your WordPress site involves a series of steps to ensure a smooth integration process. The following steps will guide you through the process:
Step 1: SIgnup and add your website
The first step is to signup on Cloudflare and add your site. For this guide, I will be working with Cloudflare, one of the best and most popular CDN out there for web performance and security.
Their free version has everything to get you started in optimizing your website.
After signing up, you will be redirected to a page that requires you to add your website. Simply type the domain name of your website in this format “example.com” i.e. without the “HTTP”.
After adding your site, you will have to select a package that fits your requirements. I will be using the free version of Cloudflare. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, select the free option, and click on continue.
Step 2: Changing your domain nameservers
Before proceeding to change the nameservers of your domain, you will be asked to review your DNS records. Make sure your AAA records are enabled as seen in the image below, then click on continue.
Next, you will be asked to change the nameservers of your domain to point to Cloudflare’s nameservers. Note that for the nameservers to propagate fully, it can take up to 24hrs or less than that.
To do that, log in to your domain registrar account and click on manage domain nameservers. There you can delete and replace the nameservers with that of Cloudflare.
You can verify if your domain nameservers have been propagated with that of Cloudflare by visiting WHOIS
After doing that, you will be redirected to the quick start guide page, make sure “improve security” and “optimize performance” is enabled. Then click on finish.
Step 3: setting up page rules
This is the final and most important step of this guide.
Cloudflare Page Rules helps to improve the user experience of your domain with hardened security and enhanced site performance while increasing reliability and minimizing bandwidth usage for your origin server.
The free version allows us to set up only 3 page rules for our website. This is perfectly ok for small-medium scale websites.
Navigate to page rules by clicking on “Rules and page rules” at the left side menu bar of your screen.
The first page rule will be for the home page of your website. Type in your website Url in this format “https://*www.domainname.com/*” if your website uses an SSL Certificate.
The next thing to do which is required is to pick the settings that will be applied to this URL as seen in the image below.
Click on the dropdown icon to begin setting the rules that are to be applied for this particular URL. Click on save and deploy once you are done.
| Browser Cache TTL | A day |
| Cache Level | Cache Everything |
The second page rule will be for your WordPress dashboard. This helps to add security to the backend of your website which is very important.
| Browser Integrity Check | ON |
| Security Level | High |
| Browser Cache TTL | 30 Mins |
| Cache Level | Bypass |
| Disable Apps | Yes, Apps are disabled |
| Disable Performance | Yes, Performance is disabled |
The third page rule is to set up preview conditions for your post and pages. We do not want to cache previews on our website. If this is not set, changes made to your posts or pages won’t be reflected until the cache is cleared.
| Browser Integrity Check | ON |
| Security Level | High |
| Browser Cache TTL | 30 Mins |
| Cache Level | Bypass |
| Disable Apps | Yes, Apps are disabled |
| Disable Performance | Yes, Performance is disabled |
And that is all about implementing a CDN for your WordPress website.
To learn more about Cloudflare page rules, click here to see their recommended page rules.
Best Practices for Optimizing WordPress with a CDN
In addition to implementing a CDN, there are other best practices to optimize your WordPress site for speed. These practices include image optimization, minification of CSS and JavaScript files, lazy loading, leveraging browser caching, and regular performance monitoring.
By optimizing images, reducing file sizes, and enabling lazy loading, you can further enhance website speed and improve user experience. Leveraging browser caching and conducting regular performance monitoring allow you to identify and address any issues affecting your site’s speed and overall performance.
Optimizing your WordPress site using a CDN is a powerful strategy to improve user experience, boost SEO rankings, and enhance website performance.
Key Takeaways
By understanding the benefits of CDNs, choosing the right provider, implementing the steps outlined in this article, and following best practices, you can leverage the full potential of a CDN to deliver a lightning-fast website to your audience.
Implement these steps today and witness the remarkable difference in your WordPress site’s speed and overall performance.
