Thanks to the new research there are products and concepts that are gaining relevance and acceptance. In this sense, you have probably heard PWA or have wondered what are the Progressive Web Apps. Relax, now all your doubts will be cleared.
Progressive web apps (PWA), or progressive web application, is a traditional web-based technological solution that makes a website look like a native app to improve the user experience.
In the field of Digital Marketing that websites are fast, usable, intuitive and updated is a necessity and directly affects the performance of the strategies that are carried out on the Network. For this reason it is necessary to know in depth what are Progressive Web Apps.
A website in app format
The easiest way to understand this concept is by imagining how a mobile app looks and works. Your organization, design, response time… everything counts and can be implemented on web pages.
In this case each project is independent and its level of adaptation with respect to the web is progressive. This way, when new formats are integrated you can see how an app or show a very advanced page idea.
Likewise, it is a responsive format, since it works in different browsers and improves the user experience when you are making use of mobile devices.
What are Web Applications
In the same way that there are applications for certain operating systems, such as Windows, Mac, Android or iOS, there are others whose operation depends solely on the Internet and do not need any operating system to work. They work just like a web page in the browser and are called web applications.
Based on this idea, the most relevant thing about a web application is that they do not require any installation and you can do the same as a native app. Does any example come to mind? Yes, Facebook or Twitter are two good examples of this concept.
Difference from native applications
The concept of native apps is widely heard in the digital world. These are nothing more than applications that have been designed for a specific operating system and you only may run on that system.
This is the main difference from the previous point, since a web application can work without relying on a system for which it has been designed. Now, these two concepts have a lot to do with what Progressive Web Apps are.
What are Progressive Web Apps
Precisely from the linking of the previous concepts are born Progressive Web Apps, which are a mixture of web and native applications. You could say that both are in the middle.
These use Service Workers to give an improved user experience. That is, they behave like native applications but on the web and are more advanced than web applications.
A main feature of PWAs is that they can run in the background without problems, so they also do not need or require life inside the browser. On the other hand, when using it on the mobile, it can perfectly be installed as another common app.
In short, to understand what the Progressive Web Apps are can be taken as an evolution typical of technology where the barrier that separates the web from apps is lost.
Usability in Windows
PWAs acquired greater relevance because Windows can support them. In this case they need to be used through Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
This will be effective in the next Windows update and will be available in the Microsoft store.
Features of PWAs
Following the same line it is important to know what are the main characteristics of PWAs to determine their differentiation from other similar technologies:
- They are not conditioned by connectivity. This technology enhances the user experience because it is even capable of running smoothly in the face of a connection failure.
- They save information to run. Unlike a normal website, the PWA may store the minimum information required to continue to be executed in the event of any eventuality. This means that it caches the minimum information of HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
- Immediate charge. Another common problem on web pages is loading time. This was completely resolved with the PWAs, as they perform the load instantly. Thus, they improve the user experience and eliminate the chances of abandonment.
- Automatic updates. Safety is another feature of PWAs. These do not require downloading anything, not even updates, since they do it automatically without your intervention.
- There are push notifications. In previous technologies only native apps could do this, it is now possible to interact directly with users from a PWA.
- They can anchor. These pages can be attached to the start menu and create easier access.
They are very present
You may find that the PWAs are just taking their first steps and reading the information they seem something new, but the truth is that this is not the case. Many websites you use every day are PWA and you haven’t even noticed them.
Examples of what Progressive Web Apps are
In the following list you will find the PWAs that you use daily and that meet all these features of the latest technology:
- Google Maps.
- Uber.
- Google Photos.
- X.
- Facebook.
- Instagram.
- Telegram.
- Pinterest.
- Google Duo.
How have they integrated with new uses?
Apart from these nine apps that have already been among users for some time, there are also other newer technologies, and with more specific users, who use a PWA.
Umbrella
This is a website about meteorology that determines the temperature according to the given location. It has a creative design and optimal performance. Your user experience is prominent despite all the resources you have.
AliExpress
In this case AliExpress has a native app, but can also be used as PWA. Likewise, it can be used in both ways and navigation becomes more effective. Its design is quite friendly and intuitive and this makes it stand out.
Spotify
This is a service known for providing your service to listen to music, podcasts, among others. It has a huge catalog of content that can be consumed.
As in the previous cases, Spotify is also a PWA. In this case it enjoys excellent performance, takes up much less space and can be used directly from the desktop.
Advantages of using a PWA
As with all technological innovation, it has its advantages and disadvantages that must be considered before implementing any resource. Normally, in the case of technological advances are always more the advantages, but it will depend on what has more weight for you or what you need for a website.
Here are some of the advantages of a PWA:
- Its responsive design adapts to any type of device, mobile or tablet.
- You don’t need to develop programming for every operating system.
- They use a secure protocol called TLS (Transport Layer Security).
- You don’t need to search the store, you can also rely on a QR.
- Links can be shared by any means or messaging as on normal websites.
- They do not take up space because they do not require downloading.
Disadvantages of a PWA
Now, there are few disadvantages of a Progressive Web Apps, but they exist and must be evaluated:
- Not all functionalities are available, especially advanced ones.
- In some cases, the camera or other applications of the phone cannot be accessed.
- Not all browsers are supported, not all operating systems.
- There is no widespread access to its limitations.
- They do not allow complex websites to be created.
- It is too much to develop yet.
Can they be optimized for SEO?
This is a common doubt, and yes, Progressive Web Apps can and should be optimized for SEO. You don’t have to do something different than what you do on a normal website. You can work SEO optimization, both offline and online.
In this case it is important to also work the search intentions, keywords and even make linked strategies to increase the authority of the site.
Best of all, search engines have the ability to find these pages. Google’s robots are already ready to evaluate these websites and position them. The only downside is that many devices still can’t process it or get access to them, but this will be updated.
Data to implement SEO
Do not forget that to achieve an optimal positioning you must take into account:
- The ALT attributes of the images.
- The keywords and search intentions.
- Use bold and link to high value page.
- Organizing information as a matter of priority.
The concept of user experience has a leading role in content creation, and clearly, in the reputation of the brand, so it is very important to think about it. Part of that implies that your website’s loading speed, navigation and interface should be optimal.
