This article outlines Finalsite's automatic homepage performance optimizations, including how autoplay video looping and pausing behavior reduces load times and how homepage image slideshow limits are applied.
💡 Quick answers
- Why does Finalsite optimize homepage performance? Most site traffic lands on the homepage first, and Google's ranking algorithm rewards faster page speed and mobile-first performance.
- What happens to autoplay homepage videos after 30 seconds? Videos with hidden play and pause controls loop after 30 seconds, while videos with visible controls pause after 30 seconds until a visitor selects play again.
- Is there a limit on homepage image slideshow size? Yes. Homepage slideshows display up to 20 images, and any additional images beyond that are prevented from loading to avoid slowing the page.
- What does lazy loading do on Finalsite pages? Images below the visible part of the page are not loaded until the visitor scrolls down to them, which speeds up initial page load without a noticeable effect.
- Can homepage optimization be disabled for a site? Yes, though it is not recommended. Submit a Support ticket to help@finalsite.com to disable it if large videos need to autoplay in full.
Why homepage performance matters
For most clients, the majority of traffic funnels through the homepage first. It is almost always the first impression made on new visitors, and it is often the page that receives the most views. Pages with longer load times may lead to higher bounce rates and lower average time on the page.
Google's search ranking algorithm places significant importance on site speed and page experience, and Google continues to emphasize a mobile-first philosophy. Across all Finalsite school websites, an average of 40% of all traffic comes from mobile devices. Performance issues are often amplified for visitors arriving on a slower cellular connection.
What determines page load speed
Page load speed is the combined result of client-side factors and server-side factors.
| Part of the equation | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Client side |
|
| Server side |
|
| Page load speed | The combined result: the perceived performance observed by site visitors. |
What Finalsite optimizes automatically
- Network and hosting. Finalsite sites are served through network and hosting partners such as Cloudflare and Google Cloud Platform, chosen for their proven reliability, speed, and security.
- Autoplay videos with hidden play and pause controls loop after 30 seconds. Loading large videos and playing them in full on every visit slows down the load of the page.
- Autoplay videos with visible play and pause controls pause after 30 seconds. Visitors can select play to resume. Interacting with the video shows the visitor is engaged and purposefully watching it.
- Homepage image slideshows display up to 20 images. If a slideshow contains more than 20 images, the additional images are prevented from loading to avoid slowness. Limiting the images loaded on each visit positively impacts the load of the overall page.
- Images below the fold lazy load on all pages. Images below the part of the page visible to the visitor are not loaded until the visitor begins to scroll. This lazy loading happens without any noticeable effect.
Can homepage optimization be disabled?
Leaving this feature enabled is strongly recommended. There may be situations, however, where large videos need to autoplay in full. To disable homepage optimization, submit a Support ticket to help@finalsite.com.
Finalsite continues to enhance its software so that users get the best experience and results possible. Please reach out to Finalsite's Support Team with any additional questions or concerns.
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