How to Speed Up Downloads on a WordPress Blog
Slow download speeds can discourage your readers from taking advantage of your files or even from coming back to your site. If you are getting multiple reports of slow download speeds on your WordPress blog, a few simple tricks can make things easier for your readers. Download speeds are dependent on a wide variety of factors, so some speed issues may be beyond your control. By taking care of the basics, however, you can help to prevent problems before they begin.
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Instructions
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Reduce the file size of your downloadable files. Putting your files in compressed folders or ZIP format can make them a much more manageable size.
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Avoid uploading large media files such as videos or long MP3s. If you want to share videos with your readers, a much faster way to do so is by using a free video hosting service such as YouTube or Vimeo. If you are sharing your own music, try a music hosting site such as Bandcamp or Soundcloud. Linking to these sites from within your blog will greatly reduce the bandwidth cost of your site. Many of these sites even provide embeddable code that can be used with WordPress's HTML post editor to allow a remotely hosted file to be downloaded or viewed within your own site.
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Indicate the file size next to the download link. Knowing how big a file is can help another user download it more efficiently. For example, if you have a large file available and your reader already has several downloads under way, she'll probably wait until the other files are done before picking yours up. Keeping your readers informed will help improve their download speeds.
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