WebPageTest

GreenGecko · 08-22-2016, 02:11 PM

Hosting locally is important, especially with an eCommerce site and it makes a difference

https://www.webpagetest.org/result/160822_67_4GJ/
https://www.webpagetest.org/result/160822_RP_4SJ/

when testing from the same continent:
TTFB 5.2s -> 2.7s
Start render 21.6s -> 12.3s

However, this is still nowhere near enough, but finding hosting close to Uganda is imperative.

There are a number of problems to be addressed. First off, your TTFB needs to be well below 1 second. Not only is DNS slow, but there are some problems with your infrastructure that are also slowing things down - my guess it that you're running on shared hosting? You really need the power of a VPS to run eCommerce, and of course that provides you with a far better view of what's going on and how to fix problems.

Second - server location. Like us here in NZ, you're suffering from narrow pipes from the US, and that's hurting you badly.

Third, the code isn't very good. Use resources like https://validator.w3.org and https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/ to identify errors that will cause both cross browser instability and performance problems.

You also have no SSL cert installed... really is important with an eCommerce site.

hth,

Steve