How-To

How to fix WordPress performance issues for high-traffic news websites

February 28, 2025 No comments yet

News websites attract high traffic, often experiencing traffic spikes during breaking news events. Slow load times not only frustrate readers but also impact search rankings, ad revenue, and user retention. Performance issues can stem from excessive server requests, bloated databases, unoptimized images, or poorly managed plugins.

Optimizing WordPress performance ensures:

  • Faster page load times – Reduces bounce rates and improves user experience.
  • Better SEO rankings – Google prioritizes fast-loading websites in search results.
  • Higher ad revenue – Faster pages lead to more ad impressions and engagement.
  • Improved server stability – Prevents downtime during traffic surges.

Step 1: Implement caching for faster page loads

Caching reduces the load on your server by storing static versions of your pages and serving them to users without needing to regenerate content on every request.

How to enable caching effectively:

  • Use a caching plugin – Popular options include WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, and WP Super Cache.
  • Enable object caching – Use Redis or Memcached to cache database queries.
  • Implement server-side caching – Many hosting providers offer built-in caching, such as Nginx FastCGI or Varnish.
  • Leverage browser caching – Set expiry times for assets like images, CSS, and JavaScript.

Step 2: Optimize the WordPress database

A bloated database slows down query execution, making page loads sluggish.

Database optimization techniques:

  • Use a database optimization plugin – WP-Optimize and Advanced Database Cleaner remove unnecessary data.
  • Regularly delete old revisions, spam comments, and transient options – Keeps the database lean.
  • Optimize database tables – Run MySQL’s OPTIMIZE TABLE command periodically.
  • Use an external database service – Offloading database queries to a dedicated service like Amazon RDS can enhance performance.

Step 3: Manage plugins efficiently

Too many plugins or poorly coded ones can cause excessive resource usage.

Best practices for plugin management:

  • Audit and remove unnecessary plugins – Only keep essential ones.
  • Replace resource-heavy plugins with lightweight alternatives – For example, use Flying Analytics instead of Google Site Kit.
  • Ensure plugins are regularly updated – Outdated plugins can introduce security and performance issues.
  • Use modular plugins – Plugins like Perfmatters allow disabling unused WordPress features for better performance.

Step 4: Optimize images and media files

Large images and uncompressed media files significantly slow down page loads.

How to optimize images effectively:

  • Use next-gen image formats like WebP – Reduces file sizes without quality loss.
  • Enable lazy loading – Load images only when they enter the viewport.
  • Compress images automatically – Plugins like ShortPixel and Smush handle this efficiently.
  • Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) – Distributes images and media files across multiple servers for faster loading times.

Step 5: Implement a CDN for global traffic distribution

A CDN stores copies of your website’s static content across multiple geographic locations, reducing latency for users worldwide.

Recommended CDNs for WordPress:

  • Cloudflare – Free and premium plans with DDoS protection and caching.
  • Fastly – Advanced caching and real-time optimization for media-heavy sites.
  • BunnyCDN – Affordable and performance-focused CDN for publishers.

Step 6: Optimize theme and code performance

Poorly coded themes and excessive JavaScript can slow down page rendering.

How to optimize themes and scripts:

  • Choose a lightweight theme – Astra, GeneratePress, and Newspaper Theme are optimized for speed.
  • Minify CSS and JavaScript – Use Autoptimize or WP Rocket to remove unnecessary characters.
  • Defer non-essential JavaScript – Prevent render-blocking scripts from slowing down page loads.
  • Use asynchronous loading for third-party scripts – Improves perceived performance.

Step 7: Upgrade hosting for better scalability

Shared hosting struggles under high traffic loads. Consider upgrading to a more robust hosting solution.

Best hosting options for high-traffic WordPress sites:

  • Managed WordPress hosting – Kinsta, WP Engine, and Pressable offer performance-optimized environments.
  • Cloud hosting – AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean provide scalable solutions for traffic spikes.
  • Dedicated or VPS hosting – Ideal for complete control over resources and custom configurations.

Step 8: Monitor performance and troubleshoot issues

Regular monitoring helps detect performance bottlenecks before they impact users.

Recommended monitoring tools:

  • Google PageSpeed Insights – Analyzes performance and provides optimization suggestions.
  • GTmetrix – Offers detailed reports on load time, requests, and bottlenecks.
  • Query Monitor – Identifies slow database queries and problematic plugins.
  • New Relic – Advanced performance monitoring for high-traffic websites.

Final thoughts

Optimizing WordPress performance for high-traffic news websites requires a multi-faceted approach, including caching, database tuning, efficient plugin management, and media optimization. By implementing these strategies, publishers can ensure a fast, reliable, and scalable experience for their readers.

Michael is the founder and CEO of Mocono. He spent a decade as an editorial director for a London magazine publisher and needed a subscriptions and paywall platform that was easy to use and didn't break the bank. Mocono was born.

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