Google recently updated their 'Test My Site' website speed test tool, giving it a new look and additional features.

The original tool was released back in June, but the new version is more user-friendly, which should make it a much more valuable and accessible tool for DIY SEO operator.

The service has also been getting updated every few months - so for those who have used it, it's always worth checking back every now and then to see how things are going.

To use the tool, all you need to do is enter your website address/page URL and hit 'TEST NOW'.

It will query the URL and ask how you want your results - always get them emailed to you, just for future reference. You can scroll through the results on the site.

The results are broken down into three sections - 'Mobile Friendliness', 'Mobile Speed' and 'Desktop Speed'. And with reminders like this displayed on screen during the data gathering process:

It's worth paying attention.

It's also worth noting that what's working great today won't necessarily be best practice in a few months time, so you should make a note to come back and re-check your results on a regular basis, as the standards and requirements change often.

The results and recommendations provided clearly represent what Google considers best practice for its search results, and for it's users, so it's definitely worth taking note of highlighted key points.

With more and more people accessing the web via mobile, load times are becoming an ever-more important consideration. Make sure you remain informed and are utilizing best practices to maximize your results.