Optimizing Heavy Assets: Images and Videos
The biggest weight of any catalog comes from high-quality images and videos. Intelligent management of these assets is the key to speed.
A) Using Next-Generation Formats
Compression with traditional formats (JPG/PNG) is not enough. The digital publishing platform must convert images to the WebP format. WebP reduces image size by an average of up to 30% without noticeable quality loss, which is a major advantage for initial loading speed. The same principle applies to videos; using the WebM format instead of MP4, especially for web environments, ensures faster speed.
B) Lazy Loading Technique
This critical technique tells the catalog: "Do not load images and videos on subsequent pages unless the user reaches that page."
- Advantage: This minimizes the catalog's initial loading time (First Contentful Paint) because the browser only processes the content of the current page.
- Mobile Importance: This method saves data consumption and battery life for the customer on weak mobile networks.
Technical and Structural Catalog Optimization
Even the backend code of your catalog must be lightweight, clean, and efficient to ensure high speed.
A) Code Minification and Caching
- Minification: The platform must compress the catalog's HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code. This involves removing unnecessary spaces, new lines, and comments to reduce the overall file size.
- Caching: The catalog should instruct the customer's browser to store static files (like fonts or logos). With this, the catalog loads instantly on the customer's second visit, as these files do not need to be downloaded again.
B) Content Delivery via CDN (Content Delivery Network)
A CDN copies your catalog onto multiple servers worldwide.
- Advantage: When a customer in a distant country opens your catalog, the content is delivered from the closest server to them, not from your company's main server. This drastically reduces Latency and improves loading speed for international audiences.
Managing Interactive Content and Fonts
Interactive elements and custom fonts can easily reduce speed; they must be managed intelligently.
A) Managing Custom Fonts
Using beautiful fonts (like heavy Persian fonts) can slow down speed.
- Async Loading: Fonts must be loaded in a way that does not block the textual content of the catalog.
- System Fonts: For subheadings, using fonts that exist in the customer's operating system (like Tahoma or Yekan) can maintain readability without any additional loading burden.
B) Optimizing Interactive Files
Interactive elements (such as lead forms or pop-ups) should not load in a way that halts the loading of the main content. These elements should be added to the catalog separately and via Async loading so that they do not impact the initial loading speed.
Final Words
Speed is the first and most critical factor in any successful digital experience. Your smart catalog, no matter how beautiful and interactive, will lose customers if it is slow. By focusing on using next-generation formats (WebP/WebM), Lazy Loading for images, and CDN for global distribution, you can ensure your catalog loads in under two seconds. Speed optimization not only transforms the customer experience but is a direct investment in SEO and a better Google ranking.
