One of my principles is to always offer something extra to my clients as a gift for good cooperation. This time, for one particular client, I went above the terms we agreed and have started to develop a web site which has accent on speed and performance. In order to achieve that, I wanted to add something new into optimization mix and I chose HTTP2 hosting, even if I never before worked with that protocol.
HTTP1 is invented in 1989 and it’s first major revision has been done in 1997. This protocol is foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web and without it, we wouldn’t have Internet like we have today. It allowed us to transfer and load different kind of resources on our web pages, like styles, scripts, images etc. It has become obsolete in last several years mostly because it became bottleneck for site performance. It only allowed 2 resources to load at the same time. With media rich web sites, this is a problem, so developers invented a lot of different optimizations to speed up resource loading. Unfortunately, that didn’t fix the main problem.
So what is HTTP2 and why is it so important?
HTTP2 is solving this largest problem we had with resources loading — we are no longer doomed to load 2 of them at a time. It also brought us a lot of improvements when it comes to compression and speed.
Since I couldn’t wait to finish client’s site to see how HTTP2 behaves, I have transferred my old and not particularly optimized web site there. The results are completely amazing!
On HTTP1 web hosting, first frame started to render after 1800ms and was completely loaded after 5–6s. That is acceptable and common result.
On HTTP2 hosting, first frame was rendered after only 600ms! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I have tested it over and over again but results were the same — first frame showed 3X faster than before and site was completely loaded 2X faster than before! That is great improvement, especially because code remained unchanged. Now I can’t wait to finish client’s web site and see the results.
If you take into account how much more visitors will remain on your web site because it loaded faster and how much more money it will bring you because of reduced bounce rate, this is one awesome result! Some studies say that for each 100ms gained in speed, you will retain 1% more of your bounced visitors . In other words - you will both reduce bounce rate and increase sales.
Real benefits for web designers and frontend developers
HTTP2 requires different approach when coding a web site. Most of the old optimizations are not necessary and in a way they can slow down the web site. Because of it — don’t believe Google PageSpeed recommendations if you have HTTP2. This time, they are falling behind with advices.
Now you don't have to combine files, create image sprites and load assets from different domains. All of this will lead to better site structure, more modular design and it will result in sites that are easier to maintain.
HTTP2 hosting
Since HTTP2 hosting is not common today, I would like to recommend Siteground . After results like the ones above, it is certain that I will migrate all of my clients there. For the last 10 years, I have tried out hosting from bunch of other companies and none of them came close to this service I received here.
Beside this improved protocol, I also have access to free SSL service from Let's encrypt. That's right - fully usable and stable SSL that is completely free.
I hope that my positive experience with this HTTP2 protocol will influence you to improve your business as it has improved mine. ;)
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p.s. Even if this article is written as my appreciation of new web protocol, I measure success of the story by checking out how much time some of the URLs are clicked. It gives me clear perspective on weather I should write about this topic some more or not. Siteground links are also affiliate links which means that if you visit them from this blog and buy a hosting there, I will receive a small fee from them (not you, price remains the same for everyone).
Since this is a genuine advice and not some spam post, and since I have never been so sure that this is the best thing that has happened on Internet in last few years, I am certain that it will not harm you to use it for your own benefit. I am certain that my real life customers will love their new blazing fast sites.
For those of you that don't want to click on those links, it's ok. You can always google out "SiteGround" and "Let's Encrypt SSL" and go there directly from there. I hear that Media Temple also offers HTTP2, but on much higher prices. Since css-tricks.com is hosted there, it can't be bad.
I hope this clears things up ;)