Mobile users take up a good percentage of Internet browsers as of late. Is your business website still able to keep up?
If not, it may be because a lot of older web pages have been designed to showcase your services and products on the much larger screen of a desktop or laptop.
This means that your website has more detail, bigger pictures, and a wider display—all of which are form factors that aren’t helpful to a mobile user, as it causes your website to take too long to load. With that kind of scenario, your prospects will have already clicked away before a full minute has even concluded.
Is there anything you can do about it? Certainly. As time passes, your business website will have to adapt to a new game plan in order to stay relevant. Why not consider AMP to start a positive change?
What is it?
An AMP, or specifically speaking, an Accelerated Mobile Page, is a type of open-sourced platform. It was designed by Google for web publishers with the purpose of optimizing their pages.
You see, when an AMP is implemented, it will allow websites to load almost instantaneously not just on smartphones and tablets, but even on desktops as well. You could say it’s a “hitting two birds with one stone” kind of thing.
Google has rolled out this update in order to give more focus to mobile users. Just think about it. Better user experience comes from faster loading speeds and quality content. With more users pleased, sites will be able to gain more advertisers, and voila—instant revenue! Certainly, this has gotten your attention!
How does it work?
Essentially, AMP is an HTML copy of an original web page that has been stripped down in order to offer faster loading times. Aside from that, it also diminishes the need for additional CSS requests and on page elements (which include, but are not limited to, bulky images, call to actions, and other backend codes).
Does it come with limitations?
All good things come with a price. AMP is no exception to the rule. Since the main focus of an Accelerated Mobile Page is to hasten loading times, it also gives rise to the loss of some functionality on the site.
For one, it can lead to poor page tracking, cached pages, slow-loading videos, and even a loss of internal links. Still, don’t let that faze you from considering AMP at it still comes with a whole lot of benefits.
How far has it gone?
Google’s AMP Project is still in the works, so you might have not noticed it much, being an Internet user yourself. However, it has been in the making for almost three years now (since Google has launched it in 2016). Over time, AMP has been implemented into search results and, just last year, the official WordPress plugin for AMP has been released.
Despite AMP being far from completion, it has already become quite popular all over the world as thousands of publishers have adopted its use. Do you want to know why? Worry not, to keep you updated, Proweaver has created a list of things you should know about Google AMP this 2019:
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It can increase loading speeds.
On average, how long do you think you would wait for a page to load? Would you stay on a page for a minute until it’s done booting up? Well, most people don’t have that kind of patience. No matter how good your custom web design is, if your business website isn’t able to load quickly, others will simply click away and find other service providers.
If you don’t want to lose more business opportunities, then you might want to give AMP a try. As we have discussed above, its greatest feature is that it can boost your page’s loading time to a matter of seconds.
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It can improve browser visibility.
As an entrepreneur, what you want is for your business to be out in the open, showcased to the public. The more exposure your services and products get, the more chances you will have in converting your prospects. Still, browser visibility remains a feat that isn’t easily achieved when you have a regular website.
However, when you’re on board with AMP, you will notice that things will start to turn up for the better. Why is that? Well, Google has begun to prioritize results whose pages make use of AMP in organic listings. All you will need to do is make engaging content and you’ll have an easier time earning clicks.
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It can enhance search engine rankings.
Is your current website currently off of the top list when it comes to search engine rankings? Don’t lose hope just yet. You can still turn things around with AMP.
Although Google has yet to consider AMP as a ranking factor, the speed brought by this plugin has been able to give a positive influence. As you may already know, loading speed and mobile adaptability are among the many factors behind search engine ranking. With AMP allowing your site to excel in both parameters, you can expect better search engine rankings from then on.
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It can offer flexible support with ads.
What’s the purpose of establishing your website? For most people, they keep a site or blog with the intention of earning money. If you have the same idea in mind, then AMP might just be for you.
On a regular website, ads tend to be displayed in a haphazard fashion, which acts as a distraction from the actual content. In the end, this leads to a lower conversion rate for your business.
However, if you are thinking of implementing AMP, the ads on your website will be arranged in a more user-friendly manner. This means that you will not only be able to monetize your web content, but you will be able to earn money off of ads, too!
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It can make user tracking simpler.
Are you aware of how your web visitors are able to come across your website? If you don’t already, you should. This will help you identify which marketing strategies work more effectively in improving your conversion rates.
If you aren’t familiar with user tracking yet, then implementing an AMP plugin will make the task a lot easier for you. How? Well, AMP comes with tag manager analytics. With it, you will be able to easily track essential data (such as clicks, conversions, link tracking, visitor counts, videos, etc.) and formulate a better marketing strategy in the long run.
On top of that, a good number of tech solution companies (including Pinterest, Twitter, WordPress, etc.) also support AMP.
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It can benefit the business.
Obviously, business websites have one goal in mind, and that is to promote business. Well, you would be pleased to know that AMP will be able to help you do just that and more.
Aside from providing your website with the speed advantage, it can also make web page building a lot easier for you. In fact, you should be able to convert your whole archive in a matter of days. This is even truer if your website is based on a popular CMS platform like WordPress or Drupal.
Furthermore, AMP can also be applied to a good number of web touch points. This means that if web users from Twitter, Google, or Bing click on a link for your website, they will be able to enjoy an unparalleled user experience on your website.
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It can boost e-commerce.
How well have your conversion rates been as of late? A lot of users tend to bail when making a purchase if their shopping cart takes too long to be processed into the checkout. You probably would feel the same, especially when you’re only visiting the site to buy one item or book an appointment.
Well, if you have been on the lookout to optimize that section of your website, AMP is one way you can make it happen. After all, it’s not something that is just geared to make curated content shine, but it can better e-commerce as well. With faster loading speeds and a more efficient checkout process, clients are sure to flock to your website to enjoy this convenient experience.
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It can help developers.
If you’re a web designer, AMP also has a few treats you might enjoy.
For one, it is able to help keep your code simpler and more flexible. With it, you will be able to make use of CSS to keep your styling customized. You can also use it to obtain dynamic data which will help you create a better web experience for your clients.
Aside from that, AMP components can also improve your website’s performance as it is already optimized straight from the box. Last and definitely not the least, since the AMP project has been led by Google with the future in mind, you can rest assured that the website you create now will be able to keep up with the challenges tomorrow has to bring.
As time goes by, these will not be the only things that AMP can do for your website. Thanks to Google constantly updating it, who knows what other surprises it may bring along in the future? If you would like to make your business website and custom web design foolproof in the years to come, then considering AMP might just be a good option for you.
How do you switch to AMP?
If your website is running on WordPress, all you will need to do is simply install an AMP plugin and you should be good to go.
On the other hand, if you are making use of another platform or theme which is not compatible with the plugin, you will need to make some changes with your site manually.
Sounds complicated? Well, don’t worry, as there is a multitude of resources available on Google which will allow you to:
- Create your own AMP HTML extension.
- Add your desired images to the site.
- Preview your files.
- Validate your page.
- Prepare your website for distribution.
Once you finally have all that taken care of, you will need to check on certain metrics such as your site’s click-through rate, bounce rate, and search engine traffic.
Don’t worry if the gains seem a bit too small in the beginning. In time, the enhanced loading speeds of your website should positively influence those parameters.
Is AMP worth making the switch?
Still, it’s important for you to consider all important factors before making the switch to AMP. Will it be worth trading in the old custom web design you have been using in exchange for better loading speeds? Do a little test run and see how it goes for your business. If you like the results, then keep it. In the end, the decision will be entirely up to you.
If you do decide to implement AMP, tell us how it goes by commenting below! We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions about the topic. Why not start a discussion in comments? Oh, and don’t forget to share this post if you’ve found it helpful!
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