How do you test and improve your conference website performance and security?

1 Check your loading speed

One of the most important factors for your website performance is how fast it loads on different devices and browsers. A slow website can frustrate your visitors, lower your SEO ranking, and reduce your conversion rates. To test your loading speed, you can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom, which will analyze your website and give you a score and suggestions on how to improve it. Some common ways to optimize your loading speed are compressing your images, minifying your code, using a content delivery network (CDN), and caching your pages.

2 Monitor your uptime and downtime

Another aspect of your website performance is how reliable and available it is for your visitors. You don't want your website to crash or go offline when you have a surge of traffic or a technical issue. To monitor your uptime and downtime, you can use tools like UptimeRobot, StatusCake, or Pingdom, which will alert you via email, SMS, or phone if your website goes down or has any problems. You can also use these tools to track your response time, which is how long it takes for your website to respond to a request. Some common ways to improve your uptime and downtime are choosing a reliable hosting provider, updating your software and plugins, and backing up your website regularly.

3 Test your functionality and usability

Your website performance is not only about speed and availability, but also about how well it functions and how easy it is to use for your visitors. You want to make sure that your website has no broken links, errors, or bugs that can affect your functionality and usability. To test your functionality and usability, you can use tools like W3C Validator, Broken Link Checker, or UserTesting, which will check your website for any issues and give you feedback on how to fix them. Some common ways to improve your functionality and usability are following web standards and accessibility guidelines, using clear and consistent navigation, and designing for mobile devices.

4 Scan your security and vulnerabilities

Your website security is essential for protecting your data, your reputation, and your visitors from cyberattacks. You want to make sure that your website has no malware, viruses, or vulnerabilities that can compromise your security and privacy. To scan your security and vulnerabilities, you can use tools like Sucuri, Wordfence, or Qualys, which will scan your website for any threats and give you recommendations on how to secure it. Some common ways to improve your security and vulnerabilities are using HTTPS and SSL certificates, updating your software and plugins, and using strong passwords and two-factor authentication.

5 Optimize your SEO and analytics

Your website performance and security are not only important for your visitors, but also for your search engine optimization (SEO) and analytics. You want to make sure that your website is visible and relevant for your target keywords, and that you can measure and analyze your traffic and conversions. To optimize your SEO and analytics, you can use tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, or Moz, which will help you track and optimize your website for search engines and users. Some common ways to optimize your SEO and analytics are using descriptive titles and meta tags, creating quality content and links, and setting up goals and conversions.

6 Update and maintain your website regularly

The last tip for testing and improving your conference website performance and security is to update and maintain your website regularly. You don't want to neglect your website and let it become outdated, slow, or vulnerable. To update and maintain your website regularly, you should create a schedule and a checklist for performing regular tasks, such as checking your speed, uptime, functionality, security, SEO, and analytics, and making any necessary changes or improvements. You should also backup your website frequently, in case of any emergencies or disasters.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?