Above the Fold Content and How to Use It Properly to Attract Attention
In the world of web design, “above the fold” refers to the part of a website the users see at first sight without scrolling. Though the concept has expanded over the years, many still believe the information you display at the top of your webpage can impact user experience, bounce rates, and SEO.
WHAT DOES “ABOVE THE FOLD” MEAN?
In the publishing world, above the fold once referred to the stories featured above the fold of a newspaper. Publishers placed important and attention-grabbing stories at the top of the page so readers wouldn’t have to unfold their newspapers to read more.
With web content, the principle remains the same. When someone lands on your website, above-the-fold content is what they see when they first land on the page, without having to scroll down.
As a general rule of thumb, good above-the-fold content should include internal links to other pages on your site and should be SEO optimized. Inform users about the page’s content with bold images and a solid H1 header. (Refer to the title of this article)
Why Is Above the Fold Content Important?
Above-the-fold content is the first thing your users see when a web page loads. If you can show the user they’re on a page that matches their search intent, they’re less likely to bounce back to the SERP and click on your competition’s links.
If you’re running banner ads for a campaign, above the fold is a prime location for views. Users are less likely to notice ads as they scroll down.
Considerations for Mobile and Desktop
With the rise in mobile device use, the “above the fold” standards have changed. Devices these days vary in size and resolution, so there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” fold for any website.
It’s still a good idea to use best practices when working with above-the-fold content so that you can maintain a good page load speed on every device. Mobile load speed is an essential factor for ranking, thanks to Google’s Core Web Vitals Update.
Tip: Use responsive design when building out your web pages. Ensure that your content, layouts, and images fit most device screens, and design your above-the-fold content with mobile in mind.
How does above-the-fold content affect SEO?
Above the fold content is arguably the area of the webpage with the most visibility. Users and crawl bots use this area to understand the webpage and the rest of its content. Poor above-the-fold content can lead to an increase in bounce rate, which negatively impacts your SEO.
REMEMBER – Strong copy, formatting, and CTAs work well above the fold, but don’t overcrowd the is space. Google penalizes websites that stuff ads or keywords in this area.
Above the Fold Content & Core Web Vitals
The Core Web Vitals update to Google’s algorithm emphasized page load speed and user experience. Since it’s often the first thing to load on your website, above-the-fold content is a core web vitals metrics factor.
As you build out your above-the-fold content, it’s important to test your page load speed and core web vitals.
Closing Takeaways
Above-the-fold content is the first thing users see when they load your web page, so you’ll need to make your mark. Use H1 tags, brand visuals, and a call to action to engage your visitors. Too much content can overwhelm a user or slow down your page load speed. Instead, use images, shortened code, and simple language to communicate what the page is about.
With just a few tweaks to your above-the-fold content, you have a great chance of rising the ranks of Google!
If you need help or want a second opinion on your site does not hesitate to reach out to us. The sooner we get this fixed the sooner you’ll be ranked and ultimately gain more business.
