How important are accelerated mobile pages “AMP” for SEO and UX

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) refer to an initiative by Google, created to compete with Facebook’s instant Articles. Its main role is to design fast mobile pages. This online publishing format is optimized to for use on the mobile web. This project aims at enhancing the performance of the internet. It eases the creation of ads and websites that perform well across all distribution platforms at high speeds.

Technically, AMP refers to an HTML page designed to be light and load at fast speeds. It is a form of HTML that is stripped down to enhance super fast loading of pages on different platforms. HTML of this kind comes with some restrictions to enhance reliability. Google launched AMP-HTML officially in February 2016.

In most cases, the HTML pages are customized to make common patterns that ease their performance. There are three options of AMPS for you to choose. These include non-AMP version, a simple AMP version of an AMP version of your page.

Components of the Accelerated Mobile Pages

AMP has several elements that enable the system to perform better. The AMP JS (Java Script) library speeds up the rendering of MP HTML pages. It actualizes all of AMP’s excellent performance, manages the loading of resources and provides custom tags to enhance quick rendering of the client’s page. It asynchronies everything coming from external sources thereby ensuring smooth page rendering. This feature blocks all barriers that limit effective page rendering. It also sandboxes all iframes and pre-calculates the layout of all page elements before loading the resources. This technique also disables the slow CSS selectors that might hinder the overall page performance.

AMP Cache

AMP cache made by Google is used to serve the cached HTML pages. The Google AMP cache refers to a network that uses a proxy to deliver all valid AMP documents. It selects AMP pages, stores them and enhances their performance automatically. With Google AMP cache, all JS files, the document and the images load from one origin that uses HTTP 2.0 for enhanced efficiency. The cache has a validation system that confirms that validity of the page. The validation system proves that the page is made to work without depending on external resources. This system confirms this by running several assertions that confirm the page’s markup qualifies as per the AMP HTML specifications.

There is also another type of validation that comes with every AMP page. This validation system logs errors directly to the console of the browser during the rendering of the page. This feature allows you to understand the effect of complex code changes to the page performance and experience of the user.

What AMP Provides

Accelerated Mobile Pages make the loading speeds faster because they only include CSS and basic HTML. They, therefore, promote the higher performance of search pages and engagement. All web pages published in the AMP format load very fast thus affording the users an engaging and smooth online experience both on the desktop and mobile. It also provides advertisers and publishers with a choice of presenting their content online while enhancing key performance indicators.

Reasons for Using AMP

There are many reasons for using AMP for your website. Using AMP makes your site to be displayed differently on Google. You can notice the AMP level in your Google search results easily by looking at the carousel. The benefits of using AMP include;

Increased Speed:

AMP enabled pages load faster as compared to normal pages. This factor reduces the bounce rates when people try to access your website. A page that loads faster is most likely to increase conversions.

Improved S.E Ranking:

Google has developed a mobile-friendly ranking boost. Despite the fact that AMP works independently, the pages that load fast and are user-friendly thus very good for SEO, UX and as well as an opportunity to increase their ranking.

Increases Click through Rate:

The Content displayed in the AMP enabled pages has higher visibility as compared to that of normal pages. This factor encourages visitors to clock on your website thereby increasing the click-through rate.

Supports on-site Ads:

Pages that are AMP enabled support many types of ads including info-links, Ad-Sense, Media-Net and much more. This feature provides a sure way of monetizing your pages.

Assured Quality:

Many big companies such as LinkedIn, Pinterest, Chartbeat, WordPress among others use AMP. Major media companies including Times Inc, CNN, The Washington, ABC and Fox news use AMP. This factor is a clear assurance of AMP’s role and value.

It is worth-noting that the entry of AMP into the market defines the order of things with Search engines. It promotes faster web experience thereby promoting online business. Most companies and individuals are yet to understand the role of AMPs. However, the few who have adopted them are smiling all the way. AMP is one of Google’s latest open-source developments that has revolutionized life on the net and Internet marketing.