What Is Google Page Insights And Should You Care?
Having a fast and optimized website, especially for mobile is something a lot of site owners do not check and overlook. Slow-loading websites not only frustrate users but also have a negative impact on your search engine rankings. This is where Google Page Insights comes in.
Google Page Insights is a free tool provided by Google that analyzes the performance of a website and provides recommendations for improvement. It measures various metrics related to website speed and user experience, such as page load time, time to interactive, and first contentful paint. The tool uses a scoring system from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better performance.
Google Page Insights works by analyzing the content of a webpage and simulating how it would load on different devices and network conditions. It then provides a detailed report with recommendations on how to improve the website's performance. The tool takes into account factors such as server response time, render-blocking resources, and image optimization.
Why Google Page Insights Matter for Your Website's Success
Website speed and performance have a significant impact on user experience and search engine optimization (SEO). Studies have shown that users are more likely to abandon a website if it takes too long to load. In fact, a one-second delay in page load time can result in a 7% reduction in conversions.
In addition to user experience, website speed is also an important ranking factor for search engines. Google has stated that page speed is one of the 200+ signals used by its algorithm to rank websites. Websites that load quickly and provide a smooth browsing experience are more likely to rank higher in search engine results.
Google Page Insights can help improve website performance and search engine rankings by identifying areas for improvement. The tool provides recommendations on how to optimize various aspects of a website, such as reducing server response time, minimizing render-blocking resources, and optimizing images. By implementing these recommendations, you can improve your website's speed and performance, leading to better user experience and higher search engine rankings.
Now I will say it is very hard to get 100 on each metric, Google even punishes you in your score for running Google Analytics! Before we begin, I would say you do not need to obsess over being in the green (90+) however you should run all your pages through the tool and make sure you are not in the red on any, especially the performance metric, as this will have a negative impact on your rankings more then any. But if you can implement the changes the tool suggests, then by all means do it.
It is also worth noting that when Google runs the mobile test, it is a simulated 3G phone connection which is throttled, it's basically thinking worse case scenario. So even if you score poorly, it does not mean your website is slow.
The Metrics to Track on Google Page Insights
These are the main metrics to look at when running the test. But again, do not worry too much if you score poorly on any of these, as long as your overall score is decent.
First Contentful Paint (FCP):
This metric measures the time it takes for the first piece of content to be rendered on the screen. A fast FCP is important for providing users with a quick visual indication that the website is loading.
Time to Interactive (TTI):
TTI measures the time it takes for a webpage to become fully interactive. This includes the time it takes for all scripts to load and execute, allowing users to interact with the page. A fast TTI is crucial for providing a smooth browsing experience.
Total Blocking Time (TBT):
TBT measures the amount of time during which the main thread of a webpage is blocked and unable to respond to user input. A high TBT can result in a sluggish browsing experience and should be minimized.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS):
CLS measures the amount of unexpected layout shifts that occur during the loading of a webpage. Layout shifts can be disruptive to users, especially if they cause buttons or links to move while the user is trying to interact with them.
How to Analyze Your Website's Performance with Google Page Insights
1 - Go to the Google Page Insights website and enter the URL of the webpage you want to analyze.
2 - Click on the "Analyze" button and wait for the tool to analyze your webpage.
3 - Once the analysis is complete, you will be presented with a report that includes a performance score, as well as recommendations for improvement.
4 - Review the performance score and the recommendations provided by Google Page Insights. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better performance.
5 - Pay attention to the opportunities and diagnostics sections of the report, which provide specific recommendations for improvement.
6 - Implement as many as the recommendations provided by Google Page Insights to improve your website's performance.
It's important to note that Google Page Insights provides separate reports for mobile and desktop versions of a webpage. It's recommended to analyze both versions and make optimizations accordingly.
Mobile optimization in particular has become increasingly important in recent years with Googles mobile first indexing. Mobile devices account for more than half of all web traffic worldwide and chances are on your site you will have 60%+ mobile users.
Google recognizes the importance of mobile optimization and has made it a ranking factor in its search algorithm. Websites that are not optimized for mobile devices may experience lower search engine rankings and reduced visibility in mobile search results.
Google Page Insights can help identify mobile optimization issues and provide recommendations for improvement. The tool analyzes various aspects of a website's mobile performance, such as mobile-friendliness, font sizes, and tap targets.
Tips for Improving Your Website's Speed with Google Page Insights
Optimize images:
Large images can significantly slow down a website. Use image compression tools to reduce the file size of your images without sacrificing quality. Additionally, consider using lazy loading techniques to only load images when they are visible on the screen.
Minimize render-blocking resources:
Render-blocking resources, such as CSS and JavaScript files, can delay the rendering of a webpage. Minimize the use of render-blocking resources and optimize their delivery by using techniques such as asynchronous loading and deferred loading.
Enable browser caching:
Browser caching allows web browsers to store static files, such as images and CSS files, on the user's device. This reduces the need to download these files every time a user visits your website, resulting in faster page load times. Configure your server to set appropriate caching headers for static files.
Minify CSS and JavaScript:
Minifying CSS and JavaScript files involves removing unnecessary characters, such as white spaces and comments, to reduce file size. This can significantly improve website speed. Use minification tools or plugins to automatically minify your CSS and JavaScript files.
Optimize server response time:
Server response time is the time it takes for a server to respond to a request from a user's browser. A slow server response time can significantly impact website speed. Optimize your server configuration and consider using a content delivery network (CDN) to improve server response time.
Best Practices for Optimizing Images on Google Page Insights
Images play a crucial role in website design and user experience. However, they can also significantly impact website performance if not optimized properly.
Use the right image format:
You should either use compressed JPG files or convert them into WebP files. Avoid using BMP or TIFF formats, as they tend to have larger file sizes.
Compress images:
Use image compression tools to reduce the file size of your images without sacrificing quality. There are many online tools and plugins available that can automatically compress images for you.
Resize images:
Resize your images to the dimensions required by your website. Uploading large images and then resizing them using HTML or CSS can significantly slow down your website. Use image editing software or online tools to resize your images before uploading them.
Use responsive images:
Responsive images automatically adjust their size and resolution based on the user's device and screen size. This ensures that users are served the most appropriate image for their device, resulting in faster page load times.
Use lazy loading:
Lazy loading is a technique that delays the loading of images until they are visible on the screen. This can significantly improve website speed, especially for pages with a large number of images. There are many plugins and libraries available that can implement lazy loading for you.
How to Leverage Browser Caching for Better Google Page Insights Scores
Browser caching is a technique that allows web browsers to store static files, such as images, CSS files, and JavaScript files, on the user's device. This reduces the need to download these files every time a user visits your website, resulting in faster page load times.
Set appropriate caching headers:
Configure your server to set appropriate caching headers for static files. These headers instruct the user's browser on how long to cache the files. For example, you can set the "Cache-Control" header to specify the maximum amount of time a file should be cached.
Use versioning or fingerprinting:
When you make changes to your static files, such as CSS or JavaScript files, give them a new version number or fingerprint. This ensures that when you make updates to your website, users will download the latest version of the files instead of using the cached version.
Utilize a content delivery network (CDN):
A CDN is a network of servers located around the world that cache static files and deliver them to users from the server closest to their location. This reduces the distance between the user and the server, resulting in faster page load times. Consider using a CDN to leverage browser caching and improve website performance.
The Role of Content in Google Page Insights and How to Optimize It
Large amounts of text, videos, and other media can significantly slow down a website if not optimized properly. Here are some tips and best practices for optimizing content for better Google Page Insights scores:
Minimize the use of external resources:
External resources, such as embedded videos or social media widgets, can significantly impact website performance. Minimize the use of these resources or use lazy loading techniques to defer their loading until they are visible on the screen.
Optimize text content:
Minimize the use of unnecessary HTML tags and white spaces in your text content. Use CSS to style your text instead of using inline styles. Additionally, consider using server-side compression techniques, such as Gzip, to compress your text content before sending it to the user's browser.
Optimize video content:
Videos can be a major source of slow page load times. Consider using video hosting platforms, such as YouTube or Vimeo, to host your videos instead of hosting them on your own server. These platforms have optimized video delivery systems that can significantly improve website performance.
Use lazy loading for images:
As mentioned earlier, lazy loading is a technique that delays the loading of images until they are visible on the screen. This can significantly improve website speed, especially for pages with a large number of images.
Minimize the use of custom fonts:
Custom fonts can significantly impact website performance, especially if they are large in size. Minimize the use of custom fonts or consider using system fonts instead.
Remember not to obsess over it, as long as you aren't in the red then the speed factor is just one of 200+ things Google considers, I would say 70+ is fine but run tests on your pages and make sure no metrics are in the red!
READ THIS TO LEARN HOW GOOGLE PAGE INSIGHTS HELP CAN FIX YOUR CRAWLED BUT NOT INDEXED ISSUES!