How to fix Semrush Issues with Javascript & CSS files

Understanding Common JavaScript and CSS Issues

SEMrush audits often flag JavaScript and CSS file issues that can slow your website. These include unminified, uncompressed, and uncached files. Let’s explore what these terms mean and how to resolve these problems to improve your site’s performance.

What Are Unminified, Uncompressed, and Uncached Files?

• Unminified Files: Contain unnecessary spaces and characters that make them larger. Minifying removes these, making files smaller and faster.

• Uncompressed Files: These aren’t zipped, requiring more time to transfer. Compression reduces file sizes during transmission.

• Uncached Files: When files are not cached, browsers reload them repeatedly, which slows down page loading.

How These Issues Affect Your Website

JavaScript and CSS files are essential for your site’s design and functionality. They control fonts, colors, dropdowns, and more. Hosting these files externally and enabling caching speeds up your site. However, if these files remain unoptimized, they can negatively impact loading times, leading to poor user experiences and lower search rankings.

Solutions Based on Your Platform

1. Squarespace: Files cannot be modified, but the platform likely optimizes them internally. These flags in SEMrush are generally not actionable.

2. WordPress:

   • Use plugins like Autoptimize to address unminified, uncompressed, and uncached files.

   • Consider hosting with SiteGround for an all-in-one solution that automates these fixes.

3. External Files: Issues with third-party files, like Google Fonts, cannot be resolved directly. Focus on optimizing internal files instead.

Final Recommendations

Optimizing JavaScript and CSS files is crucial for a faster, more efficient website. While some platforms, like Squarespace, handle these issues automatically, WordPress users have tools like plugins or hosting services for easy fixes