Want faster, mobile-friendly web pages? AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) can help. And Google Search Console is your go-to tool for monitoring and improving your AMP performance.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide:
- Fix AMP Issues: Use the AMP status report to find and resolve errors affecting your pages.
- Boost Page Speed: Check Core Web Vitals for metrics like load time and interactivity.
- Improve Search Rankings: Track AMP-specific performance in search results.
- Verify AMP Setup: Ensure proper AMP and canonical page linking for SEO.
Quick Tip: Regularly review AMP reports and fix critical errors fast to avoid hurting your mobile search rankings.
Let’s dive into how to set up, monitor, and optimize AMP pages using Google Search Console.
AMP status report in Search Console – Google Search Console Training
Getting Started with AMP in Search Console
Setting up AMP tracking in Google Search Console requires careful configuration to ensure accurate monitoring.
AMP Page Verification Steps
Here’s how to verify your AMP pages:
- Add a Property
Choose between a URL-prefix property (for specific sections) or a Domain property (for the entire site). Then, verify ownership using one of the following methods:- Uploading an HTML file
- Adding a meta tag
- Connecting Google Analytics
- Linking Google Tag Manager
- Configure AMP Settings
Navigate to "Enhancements" > "AMP" in the left-hand menu. Once your property is verified, Search Console will automatically begin scanning for AMP pages.
| Verification Stage | Required Action | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Property Setup | Select property type | Enables site-wide or section-specific tracking |
| Ownership Confirmation | Choose a verification method | Grants access to AMP reports |
| AMP Detection | Automatic scanning enabled | Identifies AMP pages |
Checking Canonical Tags
Google Search Console can also verify the connection between your AMP pages and their corresponding non-AMP versions.
Steps to Verify Canonical Tags:
- Open the URL Inspection tool in Search Console.
- Enter the URL of your AMP page.
- Look for the AMP tab in the results.
- Confirm that the canonical tag correctly links to the non-AMP version.
Common Canonical Tag Problems:
- Missing canonical references
- Incorrectly formatted URLs
- Content mismatches between AMP and non-AMP pages
- Multiple canonical tags on the same page
If there are issues, they’ll appear under "Items with errors" in Search Console. Address these warnings quickly to keep your pages indexed properly.
Here’s the recommended structure for canonical tags:
<!-- On the non-AMP page --> <link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/article.html"> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://example.com/article.amp.html"> <!-- On the AMP page --> <link rel="canonical" href="https://example.com/article.html"> Use the Enhancement Status report in Search Console to ensure your AMP setup complies with best practices. Keep monitoring and fixing AMP issues as needed to maintain a seamless experience for users and search engines alike.
Finding and Fixing AMP Issues
After verifying your AMP setup, the AMP status report becomes your go-to tool for identifying and resolving issues. By addressing these problems, you can fine-tune your AMP pages, ensuring they deliver better results for mobile SEO.
Reading the AMP Status Report
The AMP status report organizes issues into three levels of severity:
| Severity Level | Description | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Errors | Blocks AMP features entirely | Fix immediately |
| Warnings | May reduce performance | Include in regular updates |
| Informational | Suggestions for optimization | Optional improvements |
To access the report, navigate to "Enhancements" > "AMP" in Search Console. You’ll find a breakdown of affected URLs sorted by issue type.
Fixing Structured Data Errors
Structured data errors often arise when AMP pages and their canonical counterparts aren’t aligned. Here’s how to address common problems:
- Missing Required Properties: Ensure all mandatory fields are included and validate your structured data using Google’s Rich Results Test.
- Property Type Mismatches: Double-check that values match the expected formats and maintain consistency between AMP and canonical pages.
- Implementation Errors:
- Place JSON-LD scripts correctly within the AMP HTML structure.
- Test your setup with Google’s structured data tools to confirm proper formatting.
Resolving Mobile Display Issues
Mobile display issues can hurt usability. Address these areas to improve the experience:
- Viewport Configuration: Use responsive design principles, including flexible grids and the
<amp-img>element, to ensure images scale properly on mobile devices. - Text Readability: Set a minimum font size of 16px for body text and leave at least 8mm of space between interactive elements to avoid accidental taps.
- Image Optimization: Take advantage of the
srcsetattribute in<amp-img>to serve images optimized for different screen sizes. For example:
<amp-img alt="responsive image" width="600" height="400" layout="responsive" srcset="image-600.jpg 600w, image-900.jpg 900w"> </amp-img> Once fixes are applied, use the "Validate Fix" button in Search Console to start the verification process. The system will initially test a sample of affected pages before crawling all URLs to confirm the issues are resolved.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on Core Web Vitals metrics. These will help you measure the impact of your changes and ensure that your mobile experience remains top-notch. Next, explore how performance tracking can help you assess the success of your efforts.
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Tracking AMP Results
Once AMP issues are resolved, the next step is to dive into performance metrics to fine-tune your strategy. Regularly monitor AMP performance using the detailed metrics provided by Google Search Console.
Core Web Vitals Analysis
Core Web Vitals are a critical indicator of your AMP pages’ performance. You can access these metrics in the "Core Web Vitals" report under the Experience section in Search Console. Pay close attention to these benchmarks:
| Metric | Target | Relevance to AMP |
|---|---|---|
| LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) | Under 2.5 seconds | Affects how quickly the page feels like it’s loading |
| FID (First Input Delay) | Under 100 milliseconds | Measures interactivity and responsiveness |
| CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) | Under 0.1 | Ensures visual stability during page load |
Since AMP is primarily focused on mobile users, it’s essential to evaluate these metrics specifically for mobile devices. Applying the "Mobile" filter in the Performance report helps you zero in on mobile-specific data.
Search Results and Click Rates
Google Search Console’s Performance report provides valuable insights into how your AMP pages are performing in search results. To analyze AMP-specific metrics, go to the Search Results tab and apply the "Search Appearance: AMP non-rich results" filter. Key areas to monitor include:
- Ranking and Click-Through Rate (CTR): Assess how well your AMP pages are performing in search rankings and how often users are clicking through.
- Impressions: Track visibility trends over time to understand how often your content appears in search results.
For a clearer picture of progress, compare data across different time periods to identify trends or changes in performance.
Mobile vs Desktop Results
Understanding how AMP pages perform on mobile versus desktop devices can highlight areas for improvement. In the Performance report, use the "Compare" tab to analyze metrics across the two platforms. Focus on key differences such as:
- Page Load Times: Mobile users expect faster load speeds, so pinpoint delays specific to mobile.
- Conversion Rates: If you’ve set up conversion tracking, compare how mobile and desktop audiences interact with your pages.
To dig deeper, apply filters for specific devices or page templates. This detailed comparison helps you identify device-specific issues and refine your AMP pages accordingly.
Expert AMP Settings and Tools
Tracking user engagement and performance is critical, and AMP analytics helps you do just that. By integrating AMP analytics, you can gain detailed insights straight from user interactions, helping you make data-driven decisions.
AMP Analytics Configuration
Setting up AMP analytics involves a few key steps:
- Basic Analytics Setup Start by configuring the
amp-analyticscomponent with your Google Analytics account ID. Here’s an example setup:
<amp-analytics type="googleanalytics"> <script type="application/json"> { "vars": { "account": "UA-XXXXX-Y" }, "triggers": { "trackPageview": { "on": "visible", "request": "pageview" } } } </script> </amp-analytics> - Custom Dimension Tracking To better understand AMP traffic and user behavior, you can add AMP-specific dimensions. Here’s how these dimensions can be used:
Dimension Purpose Implementation Page Type Distinguishes AMP from non-AMP pages Custom Dimension 1 Load Time Tracks page speed metrics Custom Dimension 2 Cache Status Identifies whether content is served via cache Custom Dimension 3 - Event Tracking Capture user interactions, such as link clicks, by configuring event tracking. For example:
<amp-analytics type="googleanalytics"> <script type="application/json"> { "triggers": { "trackAnchorClicks": { "on": "click", "selector": "a", "request": "event", "vars": { "eventCategory": "AMP Link", "eventAction": "click" } } } } </script> </amp-analytics> These configurations work seamlessly with Search Console’s Performance report, allowing for continuous monitoring of your AMP pages. By regularly reviewing and refining your analytics settings, you can ensure precise data collection and optimize your AMP performance effectively.
Conclusion: Best Practices for AMP in Search Console
To keep your AMP pages running smoothly and performing well, it’s essential to stay proactive. Regular monitoring through Google Search Console and quick problem-solving are key. Here’s where to focus your efforts:
Technical Implementation
- Make sure AMP and canonical pages are properly linked.
- Match structured data across both AMP and canonical pages.
- Check that your robots.txt file is configured to allow AMP access.
- Validate your pages using the AMP Test Tool to catch errors early.
Performance Monitoring
- Separate mobile and desktop performance metrics for better analysis.
- Keep an eye on Core Web Vitals specifically for AMP pages.
- Review the AMP status report on a weekly basis.
- Track trends in click-through rates and search visibility for AMP content.
By weaving these checks into your ongoing Search Console routine, you’ll strengthen your AMP strategy and catch issues before they escalate.
Content Synchronization
- Ensure content remains consistent between AMP and canonical versions.
- Use proper canonical tags so search engines index the right pages.
- Set up analytics to accurately track user engagement on AMP pages.
For more detailed tracking and quicker troubleshooting, consider creating a dedicated AMP property in Search Console. Filtering the Performance report by "Search Appearance" can give you targeted insights, helping you fine-tune your AMP content for maximum impact.
FAQs
How do I properly link AMP pages to their non-AMP versions using canonical tags?
To make sure your AMP pages are properly connected to their non-AMP versions, you need to use canonical tags the right way. On each AMP page, include this tag in the <head> section: <link rel="canonical" href="URL-of-non-AMP-page">. This points to the original non-AMP version of the page. Likewise, on the non-AMP page, add a <link rel="amphtml" href="URL-of-AMP-page"> tag in the <head> section to link back to the AMP version.
This two-way linking helps search engines recognize the relationship between the two versions, ensuring accurate indexing and preventing duplicate content problems. To stay on top of things, regularly review these links using Google Search Console under the AMP report. This will help you catch and fix any errors or inconsistencies.
What are common AMP errors that can hurt mobile search rankings, and how can I fix them with Google Search Console?
Common AMP errors that could hurt your mobile search rankings include missing or incorrect structured data, CSS size violations, and AMP validation errors. These problems can stop your AMP pages from being properly indexed or showing up in search results.
Here’s how you can spot and fix these issues using Google Search Console:
- Go to the ‘AMP’ report under the ‘Experience’ section in the left-hand menu.
- Check for any errors or warnings listed and click on them to see which pages are affected.
- Review the detailed error messages and use the validation tools provided to figure out what needs fixing. After making corrections, click ‘Validate Fix’ to let Google know your pages are ready for rechecking.
Keeping an eye on your AMP performance in Google Search Console helps ensure your pages stay mobile-friendly and competitive in search rankings. If you’re looking for expert help with SEO and AMP optimization, agencies like SearchX offer strategies tailored to improve your online visibility.
How can I use Core Web Vitals to analyze and optimize AMP page performance for mobile users?
To check and enhance the performance of your AMP pages for mobile users, you can use Core Web Vitals metrics in Google Search Console. These metrics – Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – are essential for evaluating page speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
In Google Search Console, head to the Core Web Vitals report found in the ‘Experience’ section. This report identifies AMP pages that might require optimization and classifies them as ‘Good,’ ‘Needs Improvement,’ or ‘Poor’ based on their performance. Pay close attention to pages labeled as ‘Poor’ and address issues such as slow server response times, unoptimized images, or significant layout shifts.
By keeping a close eye on these metrics, you can ensure your AMP pages provide a smooth and fast experience for mobile users, which plays an important role in improving your SEO.
