The time it takes for a webpage to load on mobile devices, critical for rankings and UX.
Why Mobile Page Speed Matters
Mobile page speed matters because most of today’s search traffic comes from mobile devices. Google’s algorithms now use mobile-first indexing, which means that they primarily use the mobile version of a website for indexing and ranking. A slow-loading mobile page is a direct signal that a website is a low-quality resource, which can lead to a lower ranking and a loss of organic traffic. A fast-loading mobile page, on the other hand, is a clear signal that your website is a high-quality resource, which can lead to a higher ranking and a better user experience. It’s a key part of your technical SEO and a crucial element for your Core Web Vitals.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of mobile page speed is a technical SEO strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can improve their mobile page speed by using a variety of plugins. A good plugin can help you optimize your images, minify your CSS and JavaScript, and use a content delivery network (CDN) to serve your content from a server closest to the user.
Shopify
On Shopify, mobile page speed is essential for a fast and seamless user experience. You can improve your mobile page speed by optimizing your product images, using a CDN, and by using a theme that is optimized for performance.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still optimize for mobile page speed. The platform’s built-in SEO tools make it easy to manage your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated mobile page speed strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword or set of keywords.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a system that automatically tracks and analyzes your mobile page speed performance and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you optimize for mobile page speed will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites rely heavily on high-quality product images. A slow-loading product image can lead to a high bounce rate and a loss of sales. Optimizing your images is crucial for a low LCP.
Local Businesses
Local businesses need their key pages, like their homepage and contact page, to load as quickly as possible. A slow-loading page can lead to a high bounce rate and a loss of customers.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies often use a lot of images or videos in their marketing materials. Optimizing these images and videos is crucial for a low LCP, which can improve their conversion rate.
Blogs
Blogs are often heavy with images and videos. Optimizing these images and videos is crucial for a low LCP, which can lead to a lower bounce rate and a higher time on site.
Do’s and Don’ts of Mobile Page Speed
Do’s
- Do optimize your images. This is the most effective way to improve your mobile page speed.
- Do use a CDN. A CDN can help deliver your content from a server closest to the user, which can reduce the download time.
- Do use a tool to check for rendering issues. The URL Inspection tool in Google Search Console will show you how Google sees your pages.
- Do check your Core Web Vitals report. This report provides a clear picture of your website’s performance.
Don’ts
- Don’t use a large image as the largest contentful paint element. This can cause a significant delay in the time it takes to render your page.
- Don’t use a lot of CSS or JavaScript. This can block the rendering of your page and cause a significant delay.
- Don’t ignore the importance of a brand. The Knowledge Graph is a key part of your brand’s reputation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- A lack of server-side rendering (SSR) or pre-rendering: This is the most common and devastating mistake.
- Having a slow rendering speed: A slow rendering speed can lead to a limited rendering budget.
- Failing to check for JavaScript errors: A single JavaScript error can prevent a search engine from rendering your page.
FAQs
How does mobile page speed affect my SEO?
This is a direct ranking factor. A website with a slow mobile page speed can lead to a lower ranking, a higher bounce rate, and a lower click-through rate.
What is a good mobile page speed?
A good mobile page speed is a page that loads in 2.5 seconds or less. Anything above that is considered a poor user experience and can harm your website’s rankings.
How is mobile page speed different from desktop page speed?
Mobile page speed is the time it takes for a website to load on a mobile device. Desktop page speed is the time it takes for a website to load on a desktop device. A website can have a fast desktop page speed but a slow mobile page speed.
What is the difference between mobile page speed and a Core Web Vital?
Mobile page speed is a general term. A Core Web Vital is a set of three specific metrics that measure a website’s user experience. They include Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).
How can I test my mobile page speed?
You can test your mobile page speed by using a variety of tools, including Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix. These tools can provide a detailed report on your website’s performance.
