How to Build a Fully Functional, Mobile-Optimized Website Using AMP Framework

James Will

June 24, 2025

Table of Content

In 2024, users expect websites to load in under 2 seconds—a benchmark that over 53% of mobile users consider critical before they abandon a site. According to Google, AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) technology improves page load times by up to 85%, significantly enhancing user experience and retention.

To stay ahead in today’s fast-paced web landscape, businesses are turning to high-performance frameworks. That’s why many choose to hire expert AMP developers to build sites that are fast, mobile-friendly, and compliant with SEO best practices. This guide provides a step-by-step, technical walkthrough of how to build a fully functional website using AMP, with real-world insights and best practices.

What is AMP?

AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) is an open-source framework created by Google. It is designed to improve the performance of web content, particularly on mobile devices.

Key Features of AMP:

Lightning-fast page loading
Mobile-first design
Streamlined HTML components
Restricted JavaScript usage for performance
Pre-rendering and caching via AMP Cache

By following strict standards, AMP enables content to load almost instantly, even on slow networks.

When Should You Use AMP?

AMP is best suited for:

News platforms and blog sites
eCommerce product pages
Travel, food, and event listings
Landing pages focused on conversions

While AMP is powerful, it is not ideal for web applications requiring extensive interactivity or third-party integrations.

Prerequisites Before Building with AMP

Before starting, make sure you have the following:

A responsive design plan for mobile and desktop
Access to your hosting environment or CMS
Understanding of HTML and AMP components
A content delivery strategy (static vs dynamic)

For more complex use cases, it is advisable to hire expert AMP developers who understand the nuances of AMP’s limitations and capabilities.

Core Components of an AMP Website

AMP imposes restrictions for a reason: to maintain speed. Here’s a breakdown of the essential components of an AMP webpage:

1. AMP HTML

AMP HTML is standard HTML with specific custom tags and restrictions.

Certain tags like <script> and <form> have limited use
Only asynchronous JavaScript is allowed
Images must use <amp-img> instead of <img>

2. AMP JS

This JavaScript library ensures efficient rendering of AMP components.

Handles resource loading
Maintains fast performance
Ensures elements are rendered only when visible

3. AMP Cache

This is a proxy-based content delivery network used to load AMP pages faster.

Automatically caches AMP content
Validates the AMP code for performance
Can serve content from Google’s cache

Step-by-Step Guide to Building an AMP Website

Here is a structured approach to building a complete AMP website:

Step 1: Plan Your Website Architecture

Decide on the number of pages, their structure, and navigation hierarchy.

Homepage
About and Contact pages
Service or product pages
Blog or news sections

Use simple, clear layouts with a mobile-first focus.

Step 2: Design With AMP UI Components

AMP provides pre-built UI components that eliminate the need for custom scripts.

Use these AMP elements:

<amp-carousel> – for image sliders
<amp-accordion> – for collapsible content
<amp-form> – for submitting user data
<amp-sidebar> – for responsive navigation

These components ensure better performance and maintain the AMP standard.

Step 3: Use AMP-Approved Layouts

AMP pages must define how each element will appear and behave.

Use layout=”responsive” for flexible elements
Avoid fixed widths unless necessary
Set height and width for media elements

Always validate layout configurations using the AMP validator.

Step 4: Host and Serve AMP Pages

After creating the pages, upload them to your server or integrate them into your CMS.

Ensure URLs follow best practices (e.g., /amp/ for AMP versions)
Use canonical tags to associate AMP pages with their regular versions
Implement AMP-specific sitemaps if needed

If you rely on WordPress or Drupal, AMP plugins can simplify deployment.

Step 5: Validate Your AMP Pages

Use the AMP Validator Tool to test your code. This is a must for Google Search inclusion.

Errors will appear directly in Chrome Developer Tools
Fix issues like missing attributes or disallowed tags
Ensure the page passes both syntax and performance checks

Only validated AMP pages are eligible for Google’s AMP Cache.

Step 6: Track Performance and User Behavior

Use AMP-compatible analytics to gather insights:

<amp-analytics> supports tools like Google Analytics and Adobe Analytics
Configure events such as page views, clicks, or form submissions
Set up A/B testing via <amp-experiment>

Monitoring helps refine user experience and maintain compliance with SEO.

AMP Real-World Examples

1. The Washington Post

They adopted AMP early to deliver news faster. They report an 88% improvement in load times and significant increase in returning mobile users.

2. AliExpress

After switching to AMP, their mobile conversion rate increased by 27%, and bounce rate reduced by 20%.

These examples show how businesses that hire expert AMP developers can transform performance into measurable gains.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in AMP Development

AMP comes with strict rules. Avoiding these common errors is crucial:

Not validating AMP pages before publishing
Using disallowed tags like external JavaScript or inline CSS
Ignoring canonical links, which affects SEO
Overlooking performance metrics post-deployment

Keep documentation handy and refer to the official AMP guidelines frequently.

AMP and SEO: What You Should Know

AMP influences SEO in several ways:

AMP pages are prioritized on mobile search results
They qualify for Top Stories carousels on Google
Load speed impacts core web vitals, an official ranking signal

To maintain strong SEO performance:

Always include structured data
Use meta tags and schema.org formats
Keep AMP and non-AMP content consistent

Maintaining and Scaling an AMP Website

AMP sites are often lighter and simpler, but updates still require caution:

Test changes on staging servers
Validate after each update
Monitor core metrics regularly

For dynamic features, consider AMP with server-side rendering or hybrid AMP-PWA approaches, though this may require technical expertise.

AMP vs. Alternatives

It’s essential to compare AMP to other modern technologies like:

Feature	AMP	PWA	Regular Mobile Site
Speed	Very High	High	Moderate
SEO Optimization	Strong	Moderate	Varies
Offline Capabilities	Limited	Full	None
Interactivity	Limited	High	Full
Setup Complexity	Medium	High	Low to Medium

Choose AMP when speed and SEO are your top priorities, especially for content-heavy or mobile-first experiences.

Future of AMP in 2025 and Beyond

Although AMP is no longer required for Google’s Top Stories, it still holds relevance for:

Faster content delivery
Core Web Vitals optimization
User engagement on mobile

With the growth of Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor, AMP remains a reliable option for lightweight websites.

Conclusion

Building a fully functional website using AMP requires thoughtful planning, technical adherence, and continuous validation. While it comes with constraints, the benefits—especially in speed and SEO—are undeniable.

For businesses looking to achieve optimal performance on mobile platforms, it’s wise to hire expert AMP developers who understand the framework’s architecture, limitations, and optimization techniques.

By following the outlined steps, using AMP’s components wisely, and staying aligned with best practices, you can build an AMP-powered website that is both efficient and future-ready.

Meta Title: How to Build a Fully Functional Website Using AMP | Guide by Expert AMP Developers
Meta Description: Learn how to build a fully functional, mobile-optimized website using AMP. This expert guide covers every step with real-world examples and best practices. Hire expert AMP developers to boost speed and SEO performance.
Meta Tags: AMP website development, how to build AMP site, AMP HTML, AMP JS, AMP Cache, mobile-optimized website, AMP SEO, fast loading websites, hire expert AMP developers, AMP framework, AMP for business, AMP components, AMP validation, AMP performance, AMP best practices