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Video, Content Dragging Down Mobile Web Site Load Times

Do you have the patience to wait for a slow Web site page to load, and does the amount of time you're willing to wait coincide with your disposable annual income? Some 52% of survey respondents said a high-performing Web site was the most important expectation for a digital experience.

Some 60% aren't willing to wait more than five seconds for a Web site page to load before becoming frustrated and leaving the site, and a tad more than 20% are not willing to even wait three seconds, per a study from LimeLight Networks, a content delivery network.

The State of the User Experience report -- based on responses from 1,115 consumers ranging in demographics, gender, and education -- found that performance, mobile and personal still play a major role. The study analyzed how long an age group will wait for a Web site to load, links between disposable income and patience for load times, consumers' thoughts on the most important parts of a Web experience, popular online destinations, favorite devices, and more.

Findings from the survey suggest that more than 30% of respondents would leave and buy a product from a competitor if a Web site is slow, while 82% said they would likely recommend a brand to a friend if they had a positive experience.

More than 50% said that most of the time they use either a smartphone or a tablet to access Web sites, and more than 40% expect Web sites on mobile to be as fast as desktop mobile sites. More than 85% use a mobile device at least some of the time to access Web sites.

Not only do Web site pages need to load quickly, but the sites also need to support more pages. Data from HTTP Archives shows that between November 2010 and May 2013, Web sites doubled in size, becoming more interactive and complex. As more content and video gets uploaded to sites, the slower they become, unless optimized properly.

For those Web sites that perform well, consumers are willing to share brands and content with friends and family, MediaPost SearchBlog hears. And despite the push by brands and retailers to personalize the Web experience, consumers still don't want them to know much about them.

"Businessman dragging ball and chain attached to his ankle" photo from Shutterstock.

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