Mastering Google Search Console for Optimizing AMP Implementation
Introduction to AMP
Before diving into the Search Console reports, let's quickly go over what AMP is and why it's essential for website owners.
What is AMP?
AMP, or Accelerated Mobile Pages, is an open-source HTML framework that simplifies the creation of web pages that load quickly, provide a smooth user experience, and prioritize the user experience. It can be used to build websites, stories, ads, and more.
Benefits of AMP
There are several compelling reasons to use the AMP framework:
Improved Web Page Speed
Web page speed is a crucial factor for enhancing the user experience and improving core business metrics. AMP pages load almost instantly, providing a seamless browsing experience for users.
Simple Development
Building AMP pages is relatively straightforward, reducing developer overhead and making it easier to create fast-loading web pages.
Optimized Components
AMP comes with a wide range of pre-built components that serve as building blocks for websites. These components are already optimized for best performance, saving developers time and effort.
Additional Benefits for AMP on Google Search
Aside from the general benefits of the AMP framework, there are additional advantages for AMP pages on Google Search, such as:
If you want to learn more about how AMP pages appear in Google Search results, check out the developer documentation linked in the video description.
Finding AMP Issues in Search Console
When Google detects AMP implementation on your website, you'll see a dedicated report in Search Console detailing any AMP issues found on your pages. This report can be incredibly helpful when reviewing and optimizing your AMP implementation, allowing you to focus your efforts on the most critical tasks.
Accessing the AMP Report
In Search Console, navigate to the "AMP" report under the "Enhancements" section to access the AMP report for your website.
Interpreting the Report Overview
The top-level view shows the number of crawled AMP pages with any issues found by Google. The default chart displays trends for AMP errors, but you can also view trends for valid pages (with or without warnings) by clicking the respective checkboxes.
Additionally, you'll find an option to include impression data for your AMP pages on Google Search. This can be valuable in understanding how issues might affect your search visibility.
Error, Warning, and Valid Status
Impression Data
By enabling the "Impressions" checkbox, you can view the number of impressions your AMP pages received on Google Search. This data can help you understand the potential impact of AMP issues on your search visibility.
Analyzing the Issue Table
Below the chart, you'll find a table listing the specific AMP issues grouped by type. By default, issues are sorted by a combination of severity, validation state, and the number of affected pages.
Issue Grouping and Sorting
Issues are grouped by type, making it easier to identify and address similar problems together. The sorting order prioritizes more severe issues and those affecting a larger number of pages.
Template vs. Page-Specific Issues
If you notice an error that seems to be the result of a bad template, it's recommended to fix that issue first before addressing page-specific errors. Resolving template-level issues can often resolve multiple page-level issues simultaneously.
Investigating Specific AMP Issues
To dive deeper into a specific AMP issue, click on the issue in the table to access more details.
Viewing Issue Details
The issue details page provides a link to learn more about how to fix the issue, as well as a process to notify Google about your fixes (which we'll cover later).
Checking Example URLs
You'll also find a list of example URLs affected by the selected issue. Clicking on a specific URL will reveal the offending HTML code and its exact location on the page.
Using URL Inspection Tool
If you want a comprehensive view of all errors for a particular URL, click the "Inspect" icon next to the URL. This opens the URL Inspection tool, which pinpoints all errors (not just the current issue) and provides a code explorer highlighting the errors and offering more information.
It's possible that an error has been fixed on the live page but is still listed as an error because it hasn't been re-crawled. You can check this by testing the live version of the page in the URL Inspection tool. If the issue has been resolved, you can request validation through the AMP issue page.
Addressing AMP Issues
Once you've identified the issues that need to be fixed, you have two main options:
Making Code Changes
If you're familiar with coding and website development, you can make the required code changes yourself to resolve the AMP issues.
Sharing Details with Developers
If you're not a developer, you can share the details of the AMP issues with a developer who can perform the necessary code changes on your website. Search Console provides a "Share" button on each issue page, allowing you to generate a shareable link with the issue details.
Note: The shared link grants access only to the current issue page and any validation history pages for that issue. It does not grant access to other parts of your property or enable the shared user to perform any actions on your account. You can revoke the shared link at any time.
Using the AMP Test Tool
In addition to the Search Console reports, you can also use the AMP Test Tool to debug AMP issues. This tool allows you to test a specific page or upload a code snippet to check for AMP implementation issues. However, keep in mind that the tool checks your general AMP implementation without specific information about Google's indexing process.
Validating Fixes
After addressing the AMP issues on your website, it's crucial to confirm the fixes and request Google to validate the changes.
Confirming Fixes
Before requesting validation, inspect the live version of the fixed page to ensure the issues have been resolved.
Requesting Validation
Once you've confirmed the fixes, go back to the AMP issue page in Search Console and click the "Validate Fix" button. Google will then initiate the validation process for your changes.
Monitoring Validation Progress
The validation process can take several days, and you'll receive progress notifications via email.
Validation States
Validation Details
You can click the "Validation Details" link on the issue details page to monitor the progress of a validation request. This will provide information about the AMP issues on your pages, missing pages, troubleshooting validation stages, and other relevant details.
Additional Resources
For more in-depth information about the AMP report in Search Console, including missing pages, troubleshooting validation stages, and other details, visit the Search Console Help Center.
Conclusion
Optimizing your website's AMP implementation is crucial for delivering a fast and seamless user experience, especially on mobile devices. By leveraging the powerful tools and reports in Google Search Console, you can effectively identify and address AMP issues, ensuring that your pages are eligible for AMP-related features and optimized for search visibility. Regular monitoring, investigation of specific issues, and timely validation of fixes will help you maintain a high-quality AMP implementation, benefiting both your users and your website's performance on Google Search.
FAQs
Q1. Is it mandatory to implement AMP on my website?
No, implementing AMP is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended, especially for websites that receive a significant amount of mobile traffic. AMP pages offer faster load times, smoother user experiences, and additional benefits on Google Search, such as being eligible for AMP-related features and carousels.
Q2. Can I use AMP and non-AMP versions of the same page?
Yes, you can implement both AMP and non-AMP versions of your website's pages. However, it's essential to follow Google's guidelines for proper implementation and avoid any issues that could prevent your AMP pages from being properly indexed and displayed.
Q3. How long does it take for Google to validate my AMP fixes?
The validation process for AMP fixes can take several days. Google will send progress notifications via email, and you can monitor the validation status in the Search Console's AMP issue details page.
Q4. What happens if I don't address AMP errors or warnings?
If you don't address AMP errors, your affected pages won't be shown in search results or eligible for AMP-related features on Google Search. While warnings might still allow your pages to appear in search results, they could lead to a degraded user experience or prevent your pages from being included in certain AMP-related features.
Q5. Can I use the AMP Test Tool instead of the Search Console reports?
While the AMP Test Tool is helpful for general AMP implementation testing, it's recommended to primarily rely on the Search Console reports for monitoring and addressing AMP issues specific to your website's indexing and appearance on Google Search. The Search Console provides more comprehensive and tailored information about your AMP implementation's performance.
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