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AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) and Page Experience

Abby Sorensen · April 26, 2021 ·

AMP-ready content will score highest after the coming Page Experience update and will be the easiest way to prepare for it, but what is it?

The Birth of AMP: The Desktop/Mobile Divide

The current phase of web evolution creates a divide between desktop and mobile. On one side, the technology is present (on the server-side as well as on home computers/laptops) to serve complicated web pages containing multiple heavy loading functions without extreme long loading times or other issues.

But at the same time, the use of the internet via mobile (smaller) devices has increased significantly over the last several years. More than 80% of your website’s visitors access your website by phone or tablet. Translating desktop sites to mobile devices often creates what we refer to as a ‘bad user experience,’ which can mean longer loading times and loss of functions. Improving User Experience is–in a nutshell–what the current Page Experience update is all about.

The Lighthouse Test

To create a standardized metric to test your website’s Page Experience, Google created Lighthouse. And it makes sense that Lighthouse tests desktop and mobile versions separately. It is likely that little is needed to bring your desktop site where it needs to be, but it’s possible that your mobile representation needs more attention. This often means making adjustments to the desktop version and implementing AMP.

What’s AMP?

Since 2016, Google has been developing AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) which allows websites to serve a separate and ‘slimmed down’ version on mobile. When properly implemented, they will be fully in line with the requirements of the new update.

Pro’s of AMP

The advantages that AMP will provide are amazing:

– Loading times below 1 second (with help of Google’s cache)
– An incredible bump up in rankings
– Accelerated Mobile Pages will be specifically visible in search results in the form of a lightning bolt symbol. (This will allow the user to choose a better page experience upfront.)

Downsides of AMP

Of course, no solution is without its challenges. AMP requires very strict rules, meaning even the slightest deviation in protocol will prevent it. A narrow path to follow, but one that is completely incorporated in our maintenance plans, which means removing the stress from our clients.

The biggest challenge for your website might lie in the limitations AMP puts on more complicated code and functions. At this early junction of the shift, not all plugins/functions will be AMP ready. This could mean that some functions on your pages will not be eligible for AMP, making the entire page not eligible for AMP. Some restructuring in your website might be necessary to make a healthy compromise between function and ranking. A certain function now presented in most pages might be better off limited to certain pages. This might reduce User Experience on desktop, but increase your rankings significantly. In some cases, a (secondary) function may be better left out completely to gain the advantages that AMP accommodates.

At this time, to create an optimal situation, it is likely that part of your website will be presented as AMP and partly as regular pages. In any case, SND Agency will analyze the best solutions for our clients and come up with a 100% custom plan.

Interested in what Google’s new Page Experience algorithm will mean for your website? Feel free to send us a message and we will send you a free assessment!

Google Page Experience Algorithm Update 2021

Abby Sorensen · April 13, 2021 ·

A big shift in the way your website will be indexed is coming. Make sure you benefit from the coming Google Page Experience update!

Update Summary

The WWW is in a constant state of development, which means it is always expanding and evolving. Search engines like Google need to keep up with this to remain relevant and keep providing the best match between user and content. Ever adjusting algorithms make sure the most appropriate websites pop up when we are surfing the Web.

Google plans to update its algorithm in 2021 to include a factor called Page Experience. This update will include:

Existing Google Search signals such as mobile-friendliness, safe-browsing, HTTPS, and intrusive interstitial guidelines.
Metrics in Google’s Web Vitals, which have to do with a site’s loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
Optimizing for mobile, improving page speeds, CTAs, and alt text for images.

Google has indicated that AMP ready content will score highest after the update, and for site owners and others, understanding these signals and making the necessary changes should be a priority.

Page Experience Update: What is it?

Changes to these algorithms happen all the time and are generally there to keep the most important rule intact: ‘content is king’. If you provide desirable information, services, or products, you should rank accordingly. The factor that has become increasingly important over the years is the manner in which the content is provided. How pleasant is the experience of your website? Loading speed–for example–has been a part of Googles algorithms for a while now, as has proper access to smaller devices and the security your site provides (by means of a SSL certificate).

Here at SND Agency, we take Web development very seriously and use the best hosting, software, and SEO services available in order to give our clients the edge they need to stand out and thrive. We know that most algorithm updates come and go without notice, without affecting your website(s). However, chances are the Page Experience update will demand some attention. While deliberately avoiding getting too deep into the technical side, the new update means that Google will put a lot more weight on UX (User Experience), which involves loading speed, Mobile Friendliness, safe browsing, Intrusive Interstitials (like pop-ups) and something called Core Web Vitals, which covers in detail just HOW your pages are loaded. For an extensive explanation please read this great article by Rachel Costello from builtvisible.com.

Lighthouse Testing

So, what do we do with all this information? How do we keep up and even benefit from these changes? The first thing is to assess your website to see how it currently measures up to the new Page Experience algorithm. Thankfully, Google has developed a tool called Lighthouse that will do just that. By evaluating your particular website and the results of its lighthouse score, we can create a plan that will best meet the update’s new demands.

If you run a basic website with good hosting, chances are a that just a few minor adjustments will get you up to speed (pun intended). Larger, older and/or more complex websites might be looking at more comprehensive action to stay up to date. The benefits will of course reflect the extra work, as ignoring the update will without a doubt result in a drastic drop in ranking. Upgrading your website will not only preserve your ranking but most likely increase it, as not all competitors are willing to put in the work.

All clients of SND Agency receive an assessment of their websites and a plan to profit from the latest changes in SEO.

If you own a website and wonder what the Page Experience algorithm update means for your business, feel free to send us a message, and we would be happy to send you a free assessment.

HTTP/2, what is it and how does it benefit my website?

Abby Sorensen · November 23, 2020 ·

In 2015, HTTP/2 became publicly available, nearly 20 years after the initial version of HTTP. Today (in 2020) about 33% of all websites are making use of it, compared to 22% last year. Find out what the buzz is about and why we have decided to implement it in our hosting network, free to use for our clients. Hint: IT’S FAST!!!

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

Let’s dive right in by looking at a modern URL (‘Universal Resource Locator’, or the ‘address’), taking a recent post from our blog:

https://socialnicole.com/targeting-the-right-customers-during-covid-19/

It’s clear that ‘socialnicole.com’ refers to the website domain and ‘targeting-the-right-customers-during-covid-19’ to the exact location of the information, in this case, an article.

https:// stands for ‘HyperText Transfer Protocol’, and the ‘S’ indicates that the communication over the network is secured. HTTP is the underlying protocol for the world wide web: the rules of the functioning of the internet. When you enter a URL in your browser it sends an HTTP command to the web server and it will direct to load the requested web page. It also controls HTML which covers how web pages are formatted and displayed, as well as how way web pages are loaded.

The internet depends heavily on the use of hyperlinks (links), for example, in the form of an address or a button. To realize this function became possible after the implementation of HTTP in 1996 provides some perspective on the vast influence of it!

The Big Difference Between HTTP and HTTP/2

Short answer: HTTP/2 can handle more things at once and is therefore much faster. This does not only mean a better user experience for your visitors but also a boost for your site’s SEO, as loading speed has been a ranking factor for years. While HTTP needs a single connection to be opened and closed for every file to build the site, HTTP/2 is able to multitask.

Silent Internet Revolution

We depend on the internet for information, shopping, communication with daily services, to express ourselves as individuals and to maintain our social contacts; and indeed, to represent our businesses and generate income. Loading speed is a huge factor, and a protocol that enhances loading speed this radically is truly invaluable, especially when you realize that the use of mobile devices–a medium obviously challenged by it’s size–already accounts for more than 50% of web traffic worldwide.

HTTP/2: Some Context

We’ll have to agree that since the internet officially became available for public on August 6 of 1991, it has slowly but surely started to change daily life at its very core. To think that the first image was not uploaded until a year later in 1992, and to compare this to the way we are using the internet nowadays, I’d say that’s pretty radical.

A huge step towards expanding the use of the internet to what it is now was the roll out of HTTP version 1.0 in 1996. This allowed (among other things) the use of hyperlinks–a wildly used function across all segments of the web. In short, HTTP provided the foundation of data communication over the internet. After the update to version 1.1 in 1997, it was not until 2015 that it released its second update: HTTP/2.

Following the release of HTTP/2 in 2015. its safe to say the world has caught up to its possibilities. The growing adaption across the WWW over the last several years definitely supports this. Good hosting providers and Content Management Systems (like WordPress) have made its use widely available: are you ready to take advantage of it?

You’ll find more information on our our hosting network and WordPress development services on this page, or feel free to contact us by phone or form.

First uploaded image to the internet: Les Horribles Cernettes 1992 — The very first image uploaded to the internet: Les Horribles Cernettes 1992

Resizing Images for WordPress: A How-To Guide

Abby Sorensen · November 12, 2018 ·

If you’ve been blogging for a while, you know that adding images to your blog posts can be a great way to drive traffic to your blog. Photos make your blog posts colorful and eye-catching, aid in how-to guides, and give your readers a clear picture of what you’re writing about. No matter what you’re blogging about, images can add a lot of depth to your posts – after all, a picture is worth a thousand words. What you may not know is that there is more to adding images to your blog posts than just choosing the most aesthetically pleasing photos. The file size of the image you upload can literally make or break your website.

We’re not talking about simply shrinking the image or using the crop feature, but actually changing the image’s digital file size. Decreasing the file size of the image allows it to take up less server space and load faster, which will help keep readers on your page by holding their attention. Server space and speed affect your bottom line (read on to learn why). For internet viewing, you do not need to have high resolution images that you would want for print, therefore reducing both the actual dimensions of the image as well as the quality of image can help reduce your file size and have big benefits.

Luckily, you do not need any advanced knowledge of coding to resize your images. In this step-by-step how-to guide, we will tell you what you need to know to successfully resize images for your WordPress site, and help you take your blog to the next level!

Why Resize Images for WordPress

WordPress Server Space: Saving Money Makes Sense

The first reason to resize your images is to conserve server space. Server space is the storage space on a server where your website is hosted (in the case of our example, WordPress) that you purchase for a fee. Server space is not cheap and you pay for it each month of the life of your website, so reducing the amount of server space used is important for keeping your long-term overhead costs down. When you decrease the file size of an image – not just simply cropping the image (which reduces image size but not necessarily digital file size) – you decrease the amount of server space you use.

WordPress Loading Time: SEO and Visitor Bounce

Another reason you will want to resize your images is the amount of time it takes for larger image files to load. Consumers have a short attention span, and the extra few moments it takes for a large image to load might be enough time to make your readers scroll on by or leave your site altogether. On average 30% of users will bounce off a webpage that takes more than 3 seconds to load.

Slow load time also affects the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) value of your post – SEO is how well your post shows up in search. Slow-loading websites perform poorly in Google searches. Users are turned off by slow loading websites, and having too many large photo files on your blog can actually slow down your website altogether. Simply put, decreasing your image files down to an appropriate size will keep both your readers and the Google algorithm satisfied.

WordPress Efficiency: Keeping Your Site Lean and Mean

Finally, large photo files can eventually bog down a website and cause it to break. Keeping your WordPress website lean and mean is important for overall performance and avoiding issues that can arise in the long term. Remember, WordPress websites are dynamic websites and have many moving parts. They are not static pages that require little to no maintenance or upkeep. You want to do everything you can to keep the website running efficiently and this includes not bogging the website down with big image files.

How to Resize Images for WordPress Websites

Now that you know why you need to resize images for your WordPress site, let’s dive into a step-by-step guide to show you how to do this. First you will need a photo editing software. There are many options to choose from, but our favorite is Pixlr.com because it is free and easy-to-use. We will be using Pixlr to guide you in resizing images for WordPress will be using, but the process will be similar with most photo editing software you choose to use.

To start, you will need to know the goal of resizing your images. Your goal is to decrease the file size of your image to around 100 kilobytes (KB), and you can do so by decreasing the dimensions to 1000 pixels in width or less and then if necessary saving the image at a lower quality.

Steps To Resize An Image For WordPress Websites:

Go to Pixlr.com.
Click “Open Pixlr editor.”
Click “Open Image from Computer” to browse your computer for the image you want to edit. Select the image you want to open.
Once you have the image opened in Pixlr that you want to edit, select “Image” from the edit menu – the main navigation bar at the top of the screen.
From the “Image” dropdown, select “Image size.” A pop up box will appear with both the width and the height of the image in pixels, which you can then adjust. Start by decreasing the width to 1000 pixels (for blog posts and website uploads 1000 pixels should be more than enough). Make sure to check the box labeled “Constrain proportions,” and the height of the image will automatically adjust when you change the width, so the proportions of the image remain the same. Then click “OK.”
Next, click “File” from the edit menu and from the dropdown select “save.”
The save screen will have a line labeled “Name” where you can enter a custom name for the image. You want to name your image with SEO in mind. Use the keyword phrase for the blog post you are adding this image to.
Under the name, there will be a dropdown labeled “Format.” Click this dropdown and you will see the options for the image format (JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, PXD). Select to save it as a JPEG file. JPEG files work well online, and will also allow you to adjust the quality of the image.
There will be a handy bar indicating quality underneath the “Format” dropdown. At the bottom of the save screen, the image size in KB will be displayed. If your image size is not around 100 KB, you can further decrease the size to be around 100KB by reducing the image’s quality.Drag the “Quality” bar to increase or decrease the quality. As you drag it, you will see the KB image file size adjusting with the quality. Slowly lower the quality until you reach the approximate 100 KB goal.
To save the image, click “OK” at the bottom of the save screen.
You now have the option to save the image to any location on your computer. Select the location where you want the image, and you will also have the option to change the name and format again – but that has already been taken care of in the previous step, so you can leave this as is. Then save the image, and you’ll have it ready to use when you need it!

Now that you have a JPEG image that is resized and named correctly, you are ready to upload it to your WordPress blog post! Login to your WordPress site, go to the post where you will add the image, and upload it to your media file. Double check at this point that the image name is correct, that the dimensions are correct (1000 pixels at width or less), and that the file size is beneath 100 KB. If so, you are good to go! You now have an image that will aid your blog post in SEO, keep your readers’ attention, and make your post colorful and interesting!

Resizing images is an important part of keeping your blog running smoothly and quickly and keeping a captive audience. We hope this how-to guide will be helpful to you as you create awesome content for your website!

In the meantime, if you need some extra social media guidance, sign up for our free updates and feel free to contact us with questions so we can help you maximize your business presence online.

Number of Websites Using WordPress In 2017

Nicole Harrison · April 26, 2017 ·

Back in 2009 when I began my first blog, titled SocialNicole (yes it was this blog!), I built it on WordPress. Why? Because I had been directing the digital strategy of a successful major gubernatorial campaign and when it came time to rebuild the website I turned to a trusted friend and developer for help. They introduced me to WordPress, a CMS, that was powerful enough to run a gubernatorial campaign and more!

I was hooked! And so SocialNicole.com was launched, as a simple blog that was peeking into the world for the first time. At the time I didn’t realize what I was starting. My blog turned into my company and my company has turned into one of the leading boutique social media agencies in the Twin Cities.

I have since coined our website development on WordPress as “social websites” because WordPress really is a social CMS. I have always seen the entire web as part of social media. Our approach is that social is always first when considering an entire marketing approach for a client, both online and offline.

In 2009 only 5% of websites were published on WordPress. I remember it was considered a blogging platform, but I already knew the secret. It was so much more than just a blogging platform. And it has grown. Today over 27% of all websites are run on WordPress.

That’s right! WordPress runs 27% of the Internet!

Websites like TED, Time, CNN, UPS, Dow jones, USA Today, Fortune, CBS Local and many others are powered by WordPress.

As WordPress has grown, so has my own company and our use with clients. We have designed and developed WordPress e-commerce websites, WordPress membership sites, WordPress nonprofit websites and many others. The technology has grown and today WordPress can handle even the most complex tasks when you have talented and qualified developers on your team.

I am especially proud of the number of small startup nonprofits and businesses we have helped get to the starting line of their venture. We have been able to do this because we were able to create simple, inexpensive WordPress websites using some StudioPress Templates. These are some of my favorite projects, being able to empower individuals to step out and change the world with their talent is something I am passionate about.

We have done everything from tiny one-page websites to fully functioning e-commerce websites that manage thousands of products with WordPress.

It really is amazing to see this social website content management platform continue to grow and to see our business grow with it.

Interested in our WordPress design and development services? Contact Us Today.

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