Google Offers Insight Into Improvements in Page Speeds for Mobile Searches
In 2018, in an ongoing effort to enhance user experiences and decrease user abandonment rates, Google made page loading speed a ranking factor. They recognized that today’s online consumers do not have the luxury of spending valuable time waiting for large image files, multiple plug-ins or site redirects to load.
In a recently published blog, Google summarizes the myriad web-wide improvements they witnessed since rolling out this new page ranking metric. Understanding this data is vital for startups looking to launch an optimized mobile-friendly site to attract new clients and minimize user abandonment.
The Role of Page Speed in User Satisfaction
Today’s netizens are not willing to stand idly by waiting for your site’s pages to display the information they need. This is especially true for searches initiated from mobile devices. Your customers face multiple demands on their time, and a slow loading page discourages them from allocating precious seconds to interacting with your small business. Conversely, sites optimized for access from a mobile device and with responsive and streamlined pages can build trust with prospective clients and boost interaction.
How Does Site Latency Affect User Abandonment?
Beyond decreased revenue, latent pages often force users to look elsewhere for the products and services they desire. This user abandonment can lead to extensive lost opportunities for a small business with a poorly designed site struggling with slow loading speeds. Site latency can occur for a variety of reasons such as:
- Launching a site with poor site architecture
- Using site plugins excessively
- Inefficient page coding
- Server issues and excessive server downtime
- Displaying large, high-resolution image files
- Incorporating too many advertisements and more
According to Google, thanks to ongoing, web-wide speed improvements, users are now 20 percent less likely to abandon high-speed navigations initiated from Google Search.
Making Page Speed a Priority for Your Small Business
To combat site latency, it is essential that web developers seek to optimize site development for mobile access. Obtaining optimal speeds often requires significant attention to detail and enhanced website analysis. Google even offers a Page Insights tool dedicated to recommending a wide range of potential improvements web developers can make to boost speeds.
Going Beyond Speed in Web Development
It is important to note that site speed is just one crucial component of a holistic approach to optimal website development. Full-scope web designs which strive for high customer satisfaction rates must incorporate additional features including:
- A professional, streamlined and modern design and feel
- High-quality, actionable content
- Unique, engaging ways for users to interact with your products and services
- An appropriate mix of articles, videos and infographics
- Information which offers value to the user and more