Google’s Page Speed Update: Things To Ask Your Fort Collins Web Developer
Answer: Your site needs to be fast!
As of July 2018, Google will reduce your ranking in organic results if your website suffers from slow page speed. In particular, Google is concerned with mobile web page speed as they continue their emphasis on mobile first design.
Haven’t We Been Warned About Slow Sites Before?
Due to this, web developers should be aware that the new Google speed update isn’t a gimmick. Google is undoubtedly favoring fast sites; just look at their preference of AMP pages in search results. Ignoring the warnings about Google’s speed update could result in significantly lower rankings.
In this article, you will learn about the things you need to know about Google’s page speed update.
Slowness Is No Longer Tolerated
In the past, there have typically been three things that website developers are concerned with when creating a new website: functionality, aesthetics, and effectively presenting authoritative content. These three core elements can determine the course of the website design process.
For example, if you were looking for a Fort Collins website designer to build a website for your business, you may only be interested in an enticing, single-page site. Considering this, a web developer may sacrifice 1-2 seconds of load time in favor of higher resolution graphics or animations.
With the introduction of Google’s page speed update, developers will have to ask themselves, “How can I make a website faster AND easier to navigate?”
Why Does Navigation Matter?
You may be asking, “Why does navigation matter?” You may have heard it before, but website users do not like to wait. Google is concerned with user experience, and slow sites ultimately result in frustration.
To illustrate this point, Kissmetrics conducted a survey and found that 34% of mobile users would abandon a page if it took longer than 5 seconds to load. Shocking, right? What may be even more jaw-dropping is that this number increases to 64% if a site takes longer than 6 seconds to load.
Clearly, there’s a correlation between how fast your website loads and site users sticking around.
Eliminating User Experience Friction
For example, a website that goes on and on about how many products or services you carry may not only deter users from committing to an action, but it could severely reduce your page speed. To effectively minimize friction, web designers and developers alike should consider what’s really necessary on a web page.
To further enhance the user experience, web designers should have a single call to action on each page. As a Fort Collins web design agency, we’re always asking, “What action should people take on this page?”
If there’s more than one call to action, this can result in user confusion and friction.
Interested in learning how your website speed stacks up? Google provides a tool to help diagnose issues that may be slowing your site down. Click here to use the Google’s Page Speed Insight Tool
Google Listens to Search Queries
One of the reasons behind Google’s new page speed update is to satisfy user intent more quickly and effectively. To understand what user intent is, try asking your phone or smart speaker a simple question (for those too impatient to grab their phone, you can also do this using your computer by going to Google and allowing microphone access).
Next, try asking some simple questions, such as “Best Web Designers Fort Collins.” You’re sure to see results based on your geographic location (whether you’re in Colorado or out of state).
This is user intent.
You’re essentially asking Google to look for “web designers” in a specific location. Google has become quite skilled at understanding the relationship between the questions you ask and relevant search results.