How To Implement AMP on WordPress

Do you know that people now search more from their phones than they do from the desktop?

It’s one reason why slow mobile search can be frustrating – especially when it’s for information you need right now.

That’s why Google is ramping up its mobile search functions – and it’s why you, as a digital marketer or website owner need to be ready.

Enter AMP – Accelerated Mobile Pages. Google’s pushing hard to roll it out, and once it’s in its final form, mobile search is going to be much faster.

It’s a major plus for mobile users. But as marketers and website owners, you may be feeling anxious.

Not to worry. AMP hasn’t been incorporated into an Algorithm change (yet), and you have until the end of the year to make your website AMP-friendly. Plus, implementation should be easy – especially with this guide.

WordPress users, take note. This post on how to implement AMP on WordPress is for you.

Requirements for Accelerated Mobile Pages

Getting AMP implemented on your wordpress site requires adding a few plugins to your WordPress arsenal. Luckily, these are pretty easy to implement, and they’re super user-friendly.

You’ll also want to keep an eye on your search console, in case things don’t run as smoothly as you expect.

If something does come up, you may have to log into your web hosting platform. Don’t worry. This next section has you covered:

How To Implement AMP in WordPress:

Step one: Download and enable the automattic AMP plugin

This is the plugin that Yoast recommends.

After trying a few, this is clearly the best of the bunch.

After enabling the automatic plugin, it will automatically add a tag to the header of your page. This tag allows Google to easily detect any automatic plugins you have installed.

Want to check out how your AMP site looks? Add the /amp/suffix to the end of any url on your site.

Step two: Download the Yoast-Glue Plugin for styling purposes

So, you’ve checked out how your AMP site looks, and to be honest, it’s kind of…. basic.

No worries. You can style it to be more appealing. That’s where the Yoast-Glue Plugin comes in. Its custom styling options will let you take that basic site and turn it into what you want your users to see.

Here’s how to do it:

• Check the under the following setting: SEO>AMP>DESIGN
• Set the colours and fonts that you want
• Upload your desired logo (as well as adding your gold standard CSS)

Now that your site’s looking fresh, you’ll want to make sure Google’s indexing it correctly. Not to worry – that’s what step three is for:

Step three: Check Google Search Console

Open up your Search Console (formerly Webmaster Tools) and navigate to: Search>Appearance> Accelerated Mobile Pages.

Don’t have search console? It’s still not time to fret – you can sign up immediately, or get permission from your webmaster.

If you do encounter errors when you visit the search console, remember that Google can specify the source of these errors.

Step Four: Running the AMP validation tool

You may run into some errors here as well (such as a “user authored JavaScript”) that keeps Google from indexing your pages.

This doesn’t mean your work has been lost. You can check the cause of the errors, and have everything ready in a few days.

Here’s what to do:

• Select the issue you want to address, and click on it.
• A string of web pages that consists of a series of problems will be shown. All those pages will be error-filled. Are you starting to panic? Don’t!
• Click on the first web page, and a two-step tool will appear. It will help you find errors.
• The first step “remove any JavaScript from your page” will be helpful. It will take you to the HTML page that contains your AMP references.
• The second step “Verify your fixes” will help you to validate the source of the errors. When you click on this option, it will pinpoint exactly the points of weakness on the HTML references.

If there are JavaScript errors, finding and fixing them can be a little tricky, and you may have to log into your host and make manual changes.

How long does it take for Google to index AMP pages?

It can take up to a week for Google to start indexing your pages, so be patient!

Of course, the errors won’t be eliminated at once, but you should see progress within a short period.

Conclusion

Once your AMP hits the organic searches, it’s time to pop the bubbly – and to see the sweet traffic those mobile search users bring in.

My takeaway? While the process could be somewhat tedious, it was also pretty simple.

Bottom line, the results are more than worth it. It’s time to take advantage, especially when it can be another tool to bring more business to your site.

Google AMP is coming, and it’s time to hope on the train and reap the benefits. Remember – track this, and all your other SEO efforts. It’s important to see how far you’ve come (and the best places to spend your money). Good luck!