Accessible Japan and its BuddyBoss-powered community, TabiFolk, saw their websites hampered by slow loading times on shared hosting. The website is dedicated to empower disabled travelers to explore Japan. However, the website was frustrating for users because of a lagging TTFB (Time To First Byte) that hindered their ability to provide a smooth and inclusive travel experience. Switching to Rapyd hosting dramatically improved website speed, boosting user engagement and allowing Accessible Japan to serve its community of globetrotters better.
Customer Introduction
Barry Joshua Grisdale is a Canadian-born Japanese citizen who advocates for accessible travel. He uses his platform, Accessible Japan, to empower disabled travelers to explore the beauty of Japan. Born from his own travel experiences using a wheelchair, Accessible Japan tackles the frequent lack of accessible information, providing detailed reviews of accommodations, attractions, and accessible tours. His website also features a blog with travel stories and tips, facilitates equipment rentals, and has published a guide to accessible Tokyo. Accessible Japan actively engages with its community through groups and forums, encouraging users to continually share updates and reviews to enhance travel experiences for all.
Problem
Accessible Japan initially resided on a shared hosting on Siteground. When asked what challenges he faced with his previous host, he shared, “Caching issues, slow speeds, “special” version of PHP”
The slowness directly contradicted Accessible Japan’s mission: to ensure a smooth and inclusive travel experience for all. As Barry said, “I started off on shared hosting and constantly struggled with slow loading times and frustration.”
So when he was considering migrating Accessible Japan to Rapyd, he was still doubtful about it. In Barry’s words, “I was worried it wouldn’t live up to the hype but far surpassed it.”
Solution
Josh learned about Rapyd hosting through the BuddyBoss Facebook group. The promise of superior speed and user reviews of Rapyd was intriguing.
Thus, despite his concerns that a new platform would not live up to the hype, Josh decided to try it on Accessible Japan during the beta phase.
“After I heard about Rapyd, I signed up for the beta and stayed up to 2 am local time waiting for my reservation to open up,” Josh shared.
“Even in beta,” Josh recalls, “it was fast, and the user interface was easy to use.” His doubts were quickly dispelling.
He then moved to Rapyd and bought separate packages for his static and community sites. “My site is still small, so it is on Startup 1. My static site is on the Developer package.”
Josh also highlighted the ease of use of Rapyd’s platform, mentioning a user-friendly interface that simplifies migration. Rapyd also offers a free migration service, further streamlining the customer transition.
Results
The switch to Rapyd has been a game-changer for Accessible Japan. “The cost is actually lower despite getting much more,” says Josh.
He highlights the significant improvement in website speed, specifically mentioning a dramatic decrease in TTFB.
Faster loading times improved user experience and contributed to better search engine ranking possibilities, potentially bringing Accessible Japan’s valuable resources to a broader audience.
Conclusion
Accessible Japan’s story is a testament to the power of prioritizing user experience. By overcoming the hurdle of slow loading times, they’ve created a platform that empowers disabled travelers to explore Japan with confidence.
The improved website speed translates to a more engaged audience, allowing visitors to delve deeper into Accessible Japan’s resources and connect with a supportive travel community.
He was impressed with the performance after moving to Rapyd. “I could not be happier with everything and even moved my other site here soon after,” shared Barry.
Their story is an inspiration, demonstrating how dedication and the right tools can positively impact a global scale.
