Exploring 5 Alternatives to Compensate for the Absence of the Page Timings Report in GA4
Page load speed is a crucial factor when it comes to organic ranking on Google. In the past, webmasters relied on the Page Timings report in Universal Analytics to identify slow pages and optimize them accordingly. However, with the introduction of GA4, Google decided to remove the Page Timings report, leaving website owners wondering where they can find similar information now.
Fortunately, there are several alternative tools available that can help pinpoint problem pages and prioritize their optimization. In this article, we will explore five alternatives to compensate for the absence of the Page Timings report in GA4.
1. Google Search Console: This free tool provides a Core Web Vitals report and separates data by mobile and desktop. While it offers examples of affected URLs, it does not provide a full list. The data is also not easily downloadable for monitoring purposes.
2. Screaming Frog: A paid tool, Screaming Frog is a favorite among SEO professionals. It thoroughly indexes sites and provides page load times. It can be connected to the PageSpeed Insights tool using an API key, allowing for the import of Core Web Vitals data. However, as a desktop-based application, it requires the computer hosting it to be turned on and connected to the web when the report runs.
3. Ahrefs: Known for tracking backlinks, Ahrefs also has a robust site audit tool that tracks page load speed. Like Screaming Frog, it can be connected to PageSpeed Insights for specific core web vitals optimizations. However, exporting reports to Google Sheets is a manual process, and the API does not have an automatic export feature.
4. Semrush: Another popular SEO tool, Semrush has a site audit feature that reviews page load speed and lists pages with the longest load times. It does not require a personal API key to connect to PageSpeed Insights. However, like Ahrefs, exporting reports is a manual process, and the API is only available for higher-priced plans.
5. Add page speed into GA4 using custom dimensions: This option involves creating a custom dimension in Google Analytics to track page load speed. The data can be imported into other platforms for visualization and analysis. While it is free, it does not provide historical data and does not automatically connect with the PageSpeed Insights API.
Once you have identified the slowest pages on your site, it is important to optimize them. One aspect that can significantly improve page load speed is optimizing images. Tools like Zapier can be used to connect your list of slow URLs to the PageSpeed Insights API and pull in image details for optimization.
While these alternatives provide solutions for measuring page load speed and optimizing problem pages, each requires some setup and work. It is crucial to start implementing a solution immediately to quickly improve your site’s performance and enhance organic search optimization.
In conclusion, although the Page Timings report is no longer available in GA4, website owners have access to various tools that can help compensate for its absence. By utilizing tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, Semrush, and custom dimensions in GA4, webmasters can identify slow pages and optimize them for better performance and improved organic ranking on Google.
