Loading time is the amount of time it takes for a web site to completely load, which means that all text, images, sounds, and scripts have finished downloading and are displaying correctly on the visitor's computer.

For Homestead web sites, all pages, elements, and imported files download from the Homestead servers to the visitor's computer. If a web site has additional html that contacts and loads information from a non-Homestead server, additional loading time may be required.

Certain Homestead elements on a web site require the loading of additional plug-ins and programs to work properly which can add to the loading time of a web site. For example:

• sound files require the downloading of the sound file as well as loading an audio program to play the sound on the computer.
• Homestead java applets (e.g. photo album, animated text) require the loading of the java virtual machine to properly run the java applet.

Loading time can also fluctuate due to the visitor's internet connection speed (e.g. 56K, DSL, Cable) and if the visitor has previously viewed the web site. Browsers cache files, or in other words, temporarily store web page files, to speed up loading times for frequently viewed web sites.

Here are ways to make your page load faster.

1. Use sound sparingly. Audio files slow down the load speed and require more system resources from your viewers' computers.

2. Keep image file size small. Your page will load faster if you keep each image's file size under 100k.

3. Use multiple pages and link them together. Create as many pages as you like. You don't have to put all your elements and information on one page.

4. Minimize use of Homestead animated gifs. Homestead animated gifs are large files and take longer to load. This is not necessarily true for non-Homestead animated gifs.

5. Use small image file sizes in the Photo Album. Each image you add to the Photo Album Element should be under 100k for better loading. All images must be loaded in the album, so if there are ten images in the album, all ten will be downloaded. Using multiple Photo Albums on the same page can significantly slow loading time.

6. Save .jpgs at 72 dpi or less. The "dpi" of an image adds to the image file size. 72 dpi is a good resolution for Web sites.

7. Avoid layering too many Elements. If you make a design with shape Elements, try taking a screenshot of your design and turning the design into a gif to upload.

8. Specify image sizes. If you use images in the HTML Snippet Element, specify the width and height of each image.

9. Create thumbnails for photographs in an image editor instead of using SiteBuilder to resize images.

10. Don't use multiple applet elements (e.g. animated text) on one page.