Optimizing your WooCommerce store's performance with WP Engine

In this episode, Gaby Galea talks to David Vogelpohl, VP of growth at WP Engine, about optimizing a WooCommerce store’s performance for increased conversions and WP Engine’s WooCommerce hosting plans.  

Episode Highlights and Topics:

• Speed Optimization: David describes how speed directly influences sales.
• Core Web Vitals: Google uses page performance as a ranking factor.
• Google considers 3 components for a Core Web Vitals score:
  • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
  • First Input Delay (FID)
• Plugin Performance: Evaluate yearly to determine if purpose is to generate value, money.
• PageSpeed Metric: Compare and segment mobile, geography, and ISP levels.
• Hosting: Woo stores are dynamic and why it matters - no significant caching, core server.
• Content Distribution Network (CDN): Stores website pieces on servers around the world.
• ElasticPress: Solution that makes WordPress search better to make conversions/sales.
• Cheaper, Expensive, or Managed: How to select the best hosting option, price, provider.
• Fundamental Mission: Deliver performance, ease into market, and drive more sales.
• Visuals: Images and themes impact speed optimization, but CDN helps Woo stores.
• Page Builder Plugins: Functional tools to fill in critical holes and gaps to deliver value.

Resources/Links:

• David Vogelpohl on Twitter
• David Vogelpohl’s Custom Google Analytics Report
• WP Engine
• WooCommerce
• Core Web Vitals
• Google Analytics
• PageSpeed Insights
• Search Engine Land
• WP Rocket
• NitroPack
• Cloudflare CDN
• ElasticPress
• React
• WPCore
• Elementor
• Gutenberg Block Editor Filter
• Beaver Builder
• StudioPress
• Genesis Framework
• Growth Suite from Flywheel
• Castos
• WP Mayor Email
• WP Mayor