This translation has not been editorially reviewed yet. The German version is authoritative. Deutsche Fassung →
The first screen: how much text is visible with no scrolling
The check measures how much readable text is visible with no scrolling. A page whose first screen shows only a large image and a logo doesn't answer the question "am I in the right place" — not for visitors, and not for a system evaluating the page.
- On a phone, the first screen is small. A hero image that takes up a third of the height on desktop fills it completely there — the first sentence only starts after scrolling.
- It's not about avoiding images, it's about making sure some substance is visible along with the image: a heading, one or two sentences, the call to action.
- The measurement counts visible text, not source code. Text behind a closed expandable element doesn't count — it can't be read when the page loads.
FAQ
Is a large hero image inherently wrong?
No. What matters is whether there's enough substance next to or above it. An image with a heading and an intro serves the purpose; an image alone doesn't.
Why doesn't text behind an expandable element count?
Because it's not visible when the page loads. What's measured is what a visitor sees with no further action — anything else would be a statement about the source code, not the page.