A Simple Guide to Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

Here in the UK, people are glued to their smartphones, and if your website isn’t optimised for mobile, you’re losing out on a massive chunk of potential customers. Enter Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), an open-source initiative that’s revolutionising the way mobile websites load.

What is AMP?

Developed by Google, AMP is a web component framework that allows you to create lightning-fast mobile web pages.AMP pages are stripped-down versions of your standard web pages, focusing on delivering core content and functionality as quickly as possible. This is achieved through a combination of streamlined coding practices and the use of AMP HTML, a subset of standard HTML with specific tags.

Why is AMP Important for UK Businesses?

Here in the UK, mobile phone usage continues to soar. Mobile browsing now accounts for a significant portion of all web traffic. If your website is slow to load on mobile devices, you’re frustrating potential customers and losing valuable conversions. AMP can help you address this challenge by delivering a significantly faster mobile experience.

Here are some of the key benefits of AMP for UK businesses:

  • Improved User Experience: AMP pages load almost instantly on mobile devices, providing a significantly better user experience for your visitors. With faster loading times, users are more likely to engage with your content and convert into leads or customers.
  • Enhanced SEO: Google prioritises mobile-friendly websites in search results. By implementing AMP, you’re sending a strong signal to Google that your website is mobile-first, which can lead to higher search rankings and increased organic traffic.
  • Boosted Engagement: Faster loading times lead to increased engagement. AMP pages are more likely to be shared and bookmarked, which can help you reach a wider audience and build brand loyalty.
  • Reduced Bounce Rate: Slow loading times are a major reason for bounce rates (users leaving a website before viewing any content). AMP can help you reduce your bounce rate and keep visitors engaged on your website for longer.
  • Increased Conversions: A faster, more streamlined mobile experience can lead to higher conversion rates.Whether you’re looking to generate leads, sales, or sign-ups, AMP can help you achieve your goals.

How to Implement AMP on Your Website

Implementing AMP on your website can seem daunting, but it’s not as difficult as you might think. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

  1. Familiarise Yourself with AMP HTML: The first step is to understand the basics of AMP HTML. AMP HTML is a subset of standard HTML with specific tags that ensure fast loading times. You can find a comprehensive guide to AMP HTML on the AMP Project website.
  2. Create AMP Pages: There are two main ways to create AMP pages for your website. You can either manually code your AMP pages using AMP HTML, or you can use a plugin or extension for your content management system (CMS). If you’re not comfortable coding, using a plugin is the easiest option.
  3. Validate Your AMP Pages: Once you’ve created your AMP pages, it’s important to validate them to ensure they meet AMP’s specifications. You can use the AMP Validator tool on the AMP Project website to check your pages for errors.
  4. Test Your AMP Pages: After you’ve validated your AMP pages, it’s important to test them on a variety of mobile devices to ensure they’re rendering correctly.

Additional Tips for AMP Success

Here are some additional tips to help you achieve success with AMP:

  • Focus on Core Content: AMP pages are designed to deliver content quickly and efficiently. When creating AMP pages, focus on your core content and avoid using any non-essential elements that could slow down loading times.
  • Optimise Images: Images can be a major bottleneck for mobile websites. Be sure to optimise your images for AMP by using efficient image formats and resizing them appropriately.
  • Use AMP Analytics: AMP provides its own analytics platform that allows you to track user engagement on your AMP pages. Use AMP Analytics to gain insights into how users are interacting with your content and identify