Google has an agenda to push and it is very clear what it is. For years now, Google has been pushing for a more mobile friendly internet experience. In 2015, Google announced “Mobilegeddon,” the first algorithm to prioritize sites that are responsive or mobile friendly. In 2016, Google revealed to webmasters that they will be moving towards mobile-first indexing and in 2017, mobile-first indexing began rolling out. On February 26, Google offers a new easy-to-use tool, the Speed Scorecard, that uses the Chrome User Experience Report to help you compare your site against competitors in page load time.
The Speed Scorecard and Potential Revenue Impact Calculator
The Speed Scorecard has thousands of sites across 12 different countries in its database. The tool is easy to use and you’re able to compare up to 4 domains. You’re also able to compare your page load speed across both 3g connections and 4g connections. Google recommended that sites become usable within 5 seconds of 3g connections and within 3 seconds of 4g connections. See the image below to see how the tool looks.
We know that slow page speed leads to page bounces and a drop in conversions, but how much are we really losing out on? Google included a calculator to help you estimate the amount of potential revenue you may be losing due to slow page speed. To find out how much you’re losing, simply fill out the blank boxes in the calculator. The calculator will ask for your domain, current speed, average monthly visitors, average order value, and conversion rate. The latter 3 can be found in your Google Analytics dashboard.
Here is an example of what the calculator looks like:
Why is Google Concentrating So Much on Mobile?
Google understands that the best internet device is the one that you have on you. Laptops are becoming thinner but are still a hassle to take with you, and desktop computers aren’t even an option. However, your phone is always with you. For businesses, that means more opportunities and time to market a product or drive a sale. In the last year, we’ve seen AMP pages become more popular, a rise in voice search technology, and even the release of Google Lens, which is designed to help with visual search. Google knows that the future is mobile.
As mobile search continues to rise, it’s important that you’re also concentrating on mobile. Your website should be responsive or designed for mobile-first indexing. In your design, do not neglect page speed. Remember that a slow page speed generally leads to a lower conversion rate.
Do you think you can see more conversions if you had a more mobile friendly website or a site with faster page speed? Talk to the Creative Momentum today to see how we can design a new website for your business.
