November 2011 Site Performance Report

sethwalker

Story by sethwalker

Published on Nov 23, 2011 in Product Announcements

Photo by vlad

It’s been an exciting run up to the holidays for performance here at Etsy. The Engineering Team has been hard at work launching some big features and tightening things up in preparation for the holiday shopping season. At the same time, we’ve been making a number of improvements in engineering and operations that have helped bring some of our performance numbers down across the board. Things are looking quite a bit different than what we observed in the last Performance Report. Today I want to give you a quick update on our progress.

In the last Performance Report, we talked about why we measure server side times, which pages we focus on, and how we’re measuring. We gave you the time to generate listing pages, profile pages, search pages, shop pages, and the personalized homepage on August 2. We shared both the average and the 95th percentile, which we look at to get a feel for what most visitors to Etsy are experiencing.

Today we’ll compare those numbers with the measurements taken November 15, a Tuesday as before.

As you can see, most pages have seen a decent improvement. It’s also worth noting that at this point we’ve already seen a significant increase in traffic as we approach peak holiday season. We promised in the last Performance Report that we’d be taking a look at the homepage, and it’s clear from this chart that the homepage saw the most improvement, the majority of which can be attributed to the removal of the “You Might Like” module. Its poor performance was one of the factors that led to the decision to remove it. Now that the homepage is at an acceptable level, our next target will be search. Search is a complicated beast and very important for our members. Given that it is currently hovering at the limit of what we consider acceptable, we’ll be looking for opportunities to improve its performance over the coming months.

Ed. Note: This chart has been updated to fix a measurement error, the one originally published can be found here.

Discuss: 58 comments

58 comments

Sign in to add your own
  • buffalogirls

    buffalogirls says:

    Ok, now I understand why you took out You might like. It was the loading time. It is all about finding a good compromise between load time, function and aesthetics. I do not envy you. Thanks for the report.

    181 days ago

  • BenjaminKrudwig

    BenjaminKrudwig says:

    Looks like great improvements to me! can't wait to see how other features are going to be optimized! Thanks for working so hard engineering team!

    181 days ago

  • OnceUponAGem

    OnceUponAGem says:

    Thanks for the report. I'm glad that search will be next as complicated as it is. Thanks

    181 days ago

  • jacarandadesigns

    jacarandadesigns says:

    That's major improvement on the home page - very encouraging. Thanks

    181 days ago

  • closencounters

    closencounters says:

    If being syndicated is required to have Google pick up a shop, and Etsy chooses which shops to syndicate and only after the shop has a number of sales - please consider making this available for shops with little or no sales - we are the ones who would benefit the most, or rather, are in need of this trafic to our shops the most. And thank you for the improvements so far!

    181 days ago

  • jbeaudet

    jbeaudet says:

    Thank you for the improvements! I'm wondering if my photos are too large, does that effect the page loading for viewers?

    181 days ago

  • Ebrown2503

    Ebrown2503 says:

    This is a wonderful diagnostic tool. I'm so glad to see the end of the 'you might like feature.' In future, no one really wants items shoved under their nose, so to speak. Shoppers like to hunt, find and discover. Your job is to facilitate that without being obvious--not an easy task! LOVE the changes you've made.

    181 days ago

  • compassionmalas

    compassionmalas says:

    Cool! Keep up the good work.

    181 days ago

  • HouseHoldWords

    HouseHoldWords says:

    Thanks for the update. Much appreciated.

    181 days ago

  • Jalycme

    Jalycme says:

    Awesome! Thank you for the update!

    181 days ago

  • sethwalkerAdmin

    sethwalker says:

    jbeaudet: Good question! We show visitors optimized versions of listing images, so the uploaded size is not a concern. I'll talk in the next post about how images and other components that the browser has to download impact performance and some of the ways we handle that.

    181 days ago

  • AntwarePottery

    AntwarePottery says:

    Thanks. Optimizing searches is an excellent choice.

    181 days ago

  • inkadinkadoodle

    inkadinkadoodle says:

    Great update - thanks!

    181 days ago

  • whatanovelidea

    whatanovelidea says:

    Good to have some improvements for the upcoming xmas season! Happy selling all.

    181 days ago

  • JudyStalus

    JudyStalus says:

    So if the You Might Like was such a flop (and I would certainly agree) why is it now on the bottom of every search page being even more annoying?

    181 days ago

  • Mclovebuddy

    Mclovebuddy says:

    i signed up for the infinite scroll on search results beta. it's cool so far. would love to see that speed up, too.

    181 days ago

  • stevenjameskeathley

    stevenjameskeathley says:

    Good info. Thanks for the update, Seth!

    181 days ago

  • BizzieLizzie

    BizzieLizzie says:

    Seth, Thanks for the update!

    181 days ago

  • ImprimereGraphics

    ImprimereGraphics says:

    Thank you for the report. Seeing posts like this really makes me love Etsy even more. I love that you share with the community and don't just make decisions in a vacuum without opening these decisions with the community. Now if only our government... and even facebook would follow suit .... Thank you again!

    181 days ago

  • GardenHomeArt

    GardenHomeArt says:

    Thank you for the update

    181 days ago

  • CreamNoSugar

    CreamNoSugar says:

    Appreciate all the hard work!

    181 days ago

  • CreamNoSugar

    CreamNoSugar says:

    P.S. It is very helpful to read these posts.....to understand more about the workings of Etsy - Thank You!

    181 days ago

  • VeronicaRStudio

    VeronicaRStudio says:

    Thank you for the update! The home page looks a lot better without the You Might Like module. I'm really looking forward to search improvements!

    181 days ago

  • StelmaDesigns

    StelmaDesigns says:

    OK, that is looking very good; thank you!

    181 days ago

  • patspottery

    patspottery says:

    Ah ha, that explains it!

    181 days ago

  • romanticcrafts

    romanticcrafts says:

    Load time is important, the quicker, the better!

    180 days ago

  • shadowjewels

    shadowjewels says:

    Thank you Seth! I appreciate your updates.

    180 days ago

  • ImagineStudio

    ImagineStudio says:

    great work!

    180 days ago

  • SimpleThymePrims

    SimpleThymePrims says:

    Thank you for the performance report, thanks for all you do to continue to make improvements here on Etsy.

    180 days ago

  • DesignsbyHarriet

    DesignsbyHarriet says:

    Thanks for the report. Can't wait till you work on the search function. Hope you report on what you have done when the time comes.

    179 days ago

  • SouthernBelleOOAK

    SouthernBelleOOAK says:

    Thanks for the update Seth! Looking forward to your report on your most challenging job of improving SEARCH.

    179 days ago

  • austinbaubles

    austinbaubles says:

    Yes, thanks Seth. It is wonderful to know the minds of Etsy. Keep up the fantastic work. I marvel at all the improvements Etsy has made.

    179 days ago

  • deltamoonsoap

    deltamoonsoap says:

    I'm so glad you guys are always looking for ways to improve the Etsy experience for all of us! :-)

    178 days ago

  • DivineinTime
  • diddle47

    diddle47 says:

    curious to know how some people can sell multiple items that are neither vintage or handmade,,new from china,,,

    178 days ago

  • wirely

    wirely says:

    Great job guys! Sergey, WebPerfCrafter ;)

    178 days ago

  • IsabelleKnits

    IsabelleKnits says:

    Terrific news.

    177 days ago

  • Squier

    Squier says:

    Interesting! I like the removal of "you might like" for esthetic reasons and better performance is an excellent bonus.

    177 days ago

  • DovelySells

    DovelySells says:

    Why have you removed ALL methods of viewing what is selling? People shop in trends. It can be the color or item type or material. How and why they do it has puzzled many a long time retailer. Many times I have gone to Pounce & Time Machine to see what was selling at that given time. It could be 9 out of 10 items are pink or they could be buying pin-up art. I would check many times a day and if I had anything like what was selling I relisted it to get it right out there. AND YES I GOT A LOT OF SALE FROM IT. It's also where I have done most of my etsy shopping. Don't tell me to check my stats. My stats only tell me where I came into the picture. Not what they are buying in real time. Stats tell me what they are thinking about buying... e.g. this month my wedding gowns are getting dozens of views and favs. This tells me I'll be answering at least two dozen emails about wedding gowns this month. I only actually sell about 6 gowns a year. I live off my smaller sales. So why did you remove this extremely valuable tool and what are you going to do about replacing it? http://www.TheBohemianGoddess.etsy.com http://www.DovelySells.etsy.com

    177 days ago

  • JackieDoremus

    JackieDoremus says:

    That is awesome!!

    177 days ago

  • TidBitz

    TidBitz says:

    Sounds good to me!

    177 days ago

  • amberstudios

    amberstudios says:

    Thanks for your update!!!

    177 days ago

  • misanthropycreations
  • WaterburyJewels

    WaterburyJewels says:

    Way to go!

    175 days ago

  • custombybernolli

    custombybernolli says:

    Thanks for the info and thanks for all you do! Can't wait to see your other features about searching!

    172 days ago

  • FineFollyGlassworks

    FineFollyGlassworks says:

    .•:*¨*:•.THANK YOU.•:*¨*:•.THANK YOU.•:*¨*:•.THANK YOU.•:*¨*:•.

    172 days ago

  • jewelryplace

    jewelryplace says:

    Thanks for the update!

    172 days ago

  • mystic2awesome

    mystic2awesome says:

    Good info in an easy to read format...Carry On sethwalker!

    171 days ago

  • finefeatheredfinds

    finefeatheredfinds says:

    Thank You!

    171 days ago

  • Yummilicious

    Yummilicious says:

    I'm not really sure where the appropriate spot is to leave this comment anymore...i feel really frustrated by the way the forums have changed. so not user friendly. =/ I was also recently disappointed to discover that Pounce had disappeared. I LOVE to pounce! This was my tried and true way of discovering new items and shops when I wasn't looking for anything in particular, i just wanted to browse and have something jump out at me. i also miss the treasuries being on the homepage. there was always such a variety. Now the items matching my taste never do, and even taking the taste test doesn't change it, becuase all the same types of items show up there. no variety. I am very sad about these changes, and though I love etsy it is no longer so much fun to just come here to "window shop".

    171 days ago

  • siobhanok

    siobhanok says:

    Yes; I find the listings based on my 'tastes' are a waste of space, nd very limited; the 'engine' that generates it is too narrow. I thik it's great to try new things and see what works with your home page but I agree with Dovelysells regarding access to trends. I am new here and a lot of aspects, I like but your home page has dulled since I was last here (several months back) and does not entice me to look; Keep up the good work; you're not there yet.

    170 days ago

  • siobhanok

    siobhanok says:

    oh...and how can I sign as my shop? sokadelix?

    170 days ago

  • worldwideoddities
  • Mistimade

    Mistimade says:

    Sounds awesome, looking foward to it. Thank you for the update.

    169 days ago

  • VenerablePastiche

    VenerablePastiche says:

    While I am overall pleased with my shop performance here at Etsy - Go Vintage! - I must say that I was entirely frustrated when I discovered more than 1/3 of my items had completely fallen off of Google Shopping mid November. Countless emails to admin (who linked me to info on syndication - which I have had for quite some time) were unhelpful. Finally, a fellow seller suggested I deactivate and reactivate my shop - which i did and within 24 hours, and views picked up. I missed out of small biz Saturday and cyber Monday completely as my shop "virtually" disappeared from internet. I now watch my views obsessively, and the moment they start to falter, I head over to Google to check my stats. Unfortunately I'm still unclear as to why this ever happened, but my research and attention was justified when I sold a candelabra a few days ago. The buyer was a first time Etsyer who found the piece when she Googled what she was looking for, and mine appeared at the top of the page. Please help us help ourselves, but share info - this IS a partnership. We need each other.

    168 days ago

  • nicoahsmeem

    nicoahsmeem says:

    Thanks for the research update. Agreat tool to help us all. Keep up the good work. We all benefit from this.

    167 days ago

  • adornablevintage

    adornablevintage says:

    Thank you for this! I live in an area with slow internet and loading time is definitely an issue.

    167 days ago

  • debbiesharpe1

    Debbie from UpcycledSwag says:

    thk u soooooooooooo much

    58 days ago