Mobile users are notoriously impatient when it comes to website loading times. A mere one-second delay can lead to an 11% drop in page views, a 16% decline in customer satisfaction, and a 7% loss in conversions. The stakes are even higher on mobile devices, where sluggish load times can drive users away for good.
In response to this challenge, a coalition of Internet companies – including Google and Facebook – has introduced innovative technologies designed to speed up the mobile web. Two key tools that have the potential to boost engagement and conversion rates for education programs include accelerated mobile pages (AMPs) and progressive web apps.
Accelerated Mobile Pages: Speeding Up the Mobile Web
AMPs are an open-source initiative comprising AMP HTML and AMP JS, which render pages faster on mobile devices. To further enhance speed, Google can cache AMPs on its servers and deliver these pages on your behalf. Early adopters of AMPs, such as media companies like Wired and The Washington Post, have seen significant improvements in load times – with The Washington Post reporting an 88% boost over traditional mobile content. This speed increase not only saves users time but also reduces the site's mobile bounce rate, keeping users engaged for longer.
Progressive Web Apps: A New Era of Mobile Experiences
Progressive web apps represent a significant leap forward in delivering high-quality mobile experiences over the web. By combining the best aspects of websites and traditional mobile apps, these innovative tools offer faster, more reliable, and installable hybrid experiences. Unlike traditional mobile apps that require app stores for installation, progressive web apps can be downloaded directly from a website.
For higher education institutions, progressive web apps can simplify complex, multi-step admission processes by streamlining tasks such as registering for campus visits and sending push notifications to remind users about upcoming events. By providing a straightforward, speedy way to complete these tasks, institutions can positively impact enrollment goals.
The Need for Speed: Unlocking Mobile Engagement
Data from Google suggests that users are five times more likely to leave your site if it loads slowly. AMPs and progressive web apps offer two powerful tools to help you provide a better mobile experience, increase conversion rates, and capitalize on the growing trend of students preferring their phones as their primary communication device.
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