I have finished my first site using SS. I used Web Page Analyzer - 0.98 - from Website Optimization to see the results.

www.inspiredpetservices.com

Can someone translate the findings for a beginner.

Thanks,
CCW

Basically, you have image problems. They are large and you have too many. Try changing the image format to .jpg instead of .png; you should get better image compression and better load times.

You are also duplicating images for your nav menu. You should used cloned images so the same image can be used in several places on your page.

I don't understand everything it says either, but the main points I take from it are:

1. On your index page you have five images each over 50K. These are in png format. By changing them to jpg format you should get a substantial reduction. If you want to futz with the jpg compression, you should get even more. (Jpg is a much better format for photos.)

2. You have some duplicated images. In particular, your buttons are duplicated and each has two little stud images superimposed. You could render the three parts of each button into a single image (make a group of each triplet and set re-render on for the group). Then uncheck "Unique Clones" in the Object Editor >Components tab. Finally clone that composite button for each new button. These steps would reduce 18 image objects to one.

3. Based on the same idea, "include" those buttons on the other pages where you want them.

See Bandwidth and How to Save It which expands on these and other ideas.

[Ooops, posted before I saw Larry's reply -- still it's good to see that we more or less agree. ]

Thanks for the answers. I need additional clarification. Sorry if there questions sound dumb.

The (4) pictures on the index page are .jpg. I used the Image Icon, selected the .jpg, and then reduced the size and placed on the page.

The buttons were part of the SS Template choices. How do I change them?

Thanks,
CCW

I made a few changes. I set the picture properties to .jpg, and I think I cloned the buttons.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
CCW

I think that is a big improvement. You could also convert your banner (named "top690") to jpg. That image is still 63K in file size.

Brucee,
I have finished the optimization of my page. I think it works pretty good. I am going to take a break for about a week to clear my head!

Thanks,
CCW