In today's digital environment, where speed is key, every second counts. Website visitors expect instant responses and smooth transitions between content. And while small details like images may seem less important, they can make the difference between a successful and ineffective online store. It's possible that WebP images could help boost your online store sales.
What is WebP and Why Are WebP Images Important for Your Online Store?
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google to enhance web experience efficiency. It represents an upgrade over traditional formats like JPEG, PNG, and GIF, allowing for minimal quality loss image compression, resulting in smaller file sizes and faster webpage loading times.
So why is WebP important for your online store? Primarily for three key reasons:
- Faster Page Loading: Images constitute one of the largest components of webpages, but large image files slow down their loading. WebP image formats enable significant reduction in image file sizes without loss of quality, leading to faster page loading and improved user experience.
- Bandwidth Savings: Smaller image files also mean less bandwidth consumption. This is especially crucial for mobile users with limited data plans. By using WebP image formats, you can attract more visitors as your website loads faster and consumes less data.
- Search Engine Optimization: Page loading speed is crucial for search engine optimization. Google and other search engines prioritize fast-loading websites, so using WebP image formats can contribute to better rankings for your online store in search results.
Concrete Example of Using WebP Images on a Website
Let's consider a concrete example of using WebP images on a website. Let's analyze two cases: firstly, the website was tested with standard image formats commonly used. The page loading time for mobile devices was a lengthy 7.5 seconds. Then, we reanalyzed the website, this time using WebP image formats. The result? The loading time was reduced to just 4.3 seconds. That's nearly half the loading time, which is incredibly important for enhancing user experience and retaining visitors on the website. This example illustrates the power and effectiveness of using WebP image formats in optimizing webpage loading speed.
Page with images in standard formats (png, jpg,..):
https://pagespeed.web.dev/analysis/https-www-degriz-net-reference/ka5ncbdudt?form_factor=mobile
Loading time: 7.5 seconds
Page with images in modern format (webp):
https://pagespeed.web.dev/analysis/https-www-degriz-net-reference/n9x02hgmz9?form_factor=mobile
Loading time: 4.3 seconds
The degriz.net website operates on the OpenMage platform (Magento 1.x).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Different Image Formats
While WebP brings many advantages, it's also important to understand how it compares to other image formats like JPEG, PNG, and GIF:
Advantages of WebP:
- Faster page loading compared to JPEG and PNG.
- Less bandwidth consumption compared to traditional formats.
- Support for transparency and animation.
- Better optimization for search engines.
Disadvantages of WebP:
- Not supported in all browsers, which may require additional work to ensure compatibility.
- Minimal quality loss may occur in some images compared to PNG or JPEG.
How to Enable WebP Format Usage in Your Online Store?
Now that you understand the advantages of using WebP formats, you're probably wondering how to easily integrate them into your online store. There are two main ways:
- Manually Adding WebP Images: If you have full control over your online store, you can manually convert existing images to WebP format and add them to your website. This requires some technical knowledge but gives you complete control over the process.
- Using an Additional Module: For those using platforms like Magento, there are modules or plugins available that enable automatic conversion of images to WebP format. These modules streamline the process and ensure that all images on your website are automatically converted to WebP format.
On the degriz.eu website, images are automatically converted using a custom-developed image conversion module, as manually editing images would take too much time. If you wish to add images to your store manually, check if the online store already supports uploading images in WebP format. If your store is Magento 2 or OpenMage (Magento 1.x) and does not have support, this can be added with a free module.
WebP image formats represent a significant innovation for online stores, enabling faster page loading, bandwidth savings, and better optimization for search engines. By easily integrating them into your online store, you can enhance user experience and attract more visitors. So don't hesitate, start leveraging the benefits of WebP formats today!
