Is your website fast on a phone?
Many people who search for a plumber, a roofer or a dentist do it on a phone. A page that loads slowly or shows tiny text loses some of them before they read a word.
Check it yourself
- Open your site on your phone on mobile data. Wifi at home hides a slow page. Count how long the first screen takes to appear.
- Tap your phone number. It should start a call.
- Read the text without zooming. If you have to pinch the screen, the page is not set up for phones.
- Run Google's free PageSpeed Insights on your home page. It scores a page on phones and lists what slows it.
What usually slows a page
- Large photos that were never made smaller.
- Many add-on scripts, such as chat widgets, sliders and pop-ups.
- A cheap or crowded hosting plan.
What to ask for
Ask your web builder for smaller images, fewer add-ons and a layout that fits a phone screen.
Questions
What score should I aim for?
Look at what PageSpeed Insights flags before looking at the number. A fast first screen and a working phone link matter most.
Does speed affect my ranking?
Google has said page experience is one of many signals. A slow page also loses visitors directly, whatever the ranking.