It's not enough to have a great website with the latest trends and a user-friendly interface. If customers and browsers can't quickly hop around, they'll likely go elsewhere. Having a fast website is just as important as the design and search engine optimization (SEO). To maximize the speed of a website, keep these 6 tips in mind.

1. Whittle Down the Ads and Popups

Both ads and popups can cause slower loading times. Even worse, they can also read as spam by Google (News - Alert) Panda and designate the website to the bottom of search engine results. A few well-placed ads, perhaps by Google's AdSense, can be profitable – sometimes.

But to play it safe, go for an ad and pop up-free look.

2. Design Responsively

Responsive design should be at the heart of every Web design and update. It's tricky, as it requires testing that the site works properly – including speed – on every platform. There seem to be new platforms on the market every day, and it's important to keep up with the responsive design of sites.

A site might "work" sometimes, albeit slowly, just because of this issue.

3. Avoid Flash

Flash can definitely catch someone's eye, but it's also notorious for slowing down surf speed. It can also be distracting or make a site seem spammy even when it's not. A little well-placed flash, just like ads, can be okay, but for the safest bet, steer clear of it. Discuss this with the Web designer when the site's in the planning stages.

4. Host with Confidence

Who you choose to be your Web host provider can make a huge difference in speed. Companies like Reseller Hosting, with solid reputations, can help improve the speed of a site. Talk with a representative, ask about speed, and look at client testimonials before choosing a hosting company.

5. High Traffic

This is a problem everyone wishes they had. When a lot of traffic is going to a site, like during an online Black Friday (News - Alert) sale, it can slow down or even halt a website. However, that only happens when the system gets overloaded and usually only for the biggest websites.

If it's a concern, discuss options with the hosting company.

6. Internet Company

If a user has a slow connection on their end, there's not much the Web administrator can do about it. Unfortunately, the consumer might falsely blame the website. To maximize the speed for each user – even those on really outdated platforms – keep the ads and flash to a minimum.

Even with killer responsive design, different platforms might show sites slightly differently. Choose simplicity and avoid needless slowdowns.