What is Google Caffeine?
In April 2010, Google began factoring in page load time into their algorithms for determining PageRank. This widely publicized algorithm change was referred to as "Google Caffeine."
The purpose, according to Google, is to help speed up the web.
How Does Google Caffeine Affect My Website?
If your site is already optimized for speed, it may actually help you achieve higher standing in Google's search engine (especially if competing websites run slower.)
If your website runs slower than the pack, your site could drop.
If you started to see your websites' performance drop towards the end of April and May, you should suspect one of two culprits: Google Caffeine and/or Google "Mayday."
(Watch video from Matt Cutts of Google about Google Mayday algorithm changes.)
How Do I Know If My Website Is Too Slow?
Google does not offer any particular speed standards, but there are plenty of tools you can use to see how fast or slow your site runs and learn more about speed optimization. While you might need a professional to help you make your site run faster (if you do not know how to perform certain development functions) you do not need a professional to tell you what is wrong (or right) with your website.
Here are two must-use, free tools to see how your website stacks up compared to others:
Google Webmaster Central: Create a free Google Webmaster Central account and register your website. You may need a few days to a week for Google to collect data about your site before you start seeing reports.
To see a speed report for your website go to the main Dashboard and select Labs + Site Performance (in the left hand side bar.) Once data is being reported for your website, you will see how fast your site runs compared to other websites on the Internet. Just below the chart, Google lists specific issues to fix. The biggest benefit of using Google Webmaster Central is that the reports show troubles through Google's eyes. If you want to know what Google thinks about your site, use Google Webmaster Central.
WebsiteOptimizer.com: This free site offers several tools to assess your site for speed. This tool often lists page load issues not reported by Google Webmaster Central. It looks at your site through a wider filter - that is, not bearing in mind any single search engine algorithm, just data about what is running slower and how to make things run faster. The site also offers explanations and solutions.
