Google had announced lately that the page speed is definitely going to be a ranking signal for mobile search beginning in July. This is something which majority of the search engine optimization pros have doubted about for some time and they are indeed glad and happy that it is now confirmed and Google has already started rolling out the mobile index which puts mobile first.
For user experience, page speed is definitely one of the most vital factors. All those pages which take long time to load will usually see bounce rates which are higher. Pages which are slow-loading can also have an adverse impact on the conversion rates because the end users won’t keep waiting for the pages to load.
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Reasons to care about mobile page speed – How it affects user experience
Since the time Google launched mobile index and introduced the popular approach called mobile-first by dedicating the main index for mobile, page speed could become a single than a lightweight signal like HTTPs. Here are few things which you can go in order to get ready.
- Offers a content experience which is very fulfilling
You have to get ready for the mobile index by ensuring that you’re offering the best content experience and have good quality content which satiates the intention of the user. The path towards the purchase is fragmented and not linear. You should have content which satiates each and every stage of the journey of the user.
- Make your website super fast
One thing that you need to understand is that your pages should load as fast as possible, most probably within 1-2 seconds. Users will never sit and wait for the page to load as their attention span is extremely short. They will visit your page for finding a viable solution to their problem and if they have to wait for that, it is better they visit some other page. Always remember that there various other sites which are waiting to get a click apart from yours.
- Use AMP as it is here to stay in the future
Although AMP is not a ranking factor at present, it is definitely going to be one in the near future. In case you don’t wish to use AMP, there are many other ways in which you can alleviate the speed of your website. Nevertheless, you should use AMP since the pages load too fast and it could probably boost your conversions and find improved search engine ranks once AMP gets to hold the position of a ranking signal.
- The site has to be mobile-friendly
You can use the tools like Gtmetrix, Page Speed Insights to take a close look at the mobile page speed and ensure all the pages are pretty mobile-friendly. With the mobile-friendly approach of all search engines, it is vital to make your website mobile-friendly.
- CTAs should be strong enough
Although this might not be included in SEO but wouldn’t you wish to ensure that the users get a strong call-to-action as soon as they visit your website? In case your main intention for them is to download some brochure or perhaps some other action, make sure the user finds the CTA rather fast.
Now that the launch of mobile-first index has been brought into effect and Google has stated that page speed is one of those most vital factors for mobile, it is high time you take these points into consideration. By following them, you can not only boost user experience but also boost conversions, drive more traffic and keep users on the site for a longer time.
