If you’ve been dragging your feet, or haven’t found the time to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly, then it might be time to readjust your priorities. Yesterday, Google announced a pretty big change to its ranking algorithm—a change that’s undoubtedly going to impact website rankings in mobile search results.
According to Google:
“Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.”
Needless to say, this is a pretty big deal. And it’s an even bigger deal if your website receives a lot of traffic, leads, or sales from mobile search. Here’s the big takeaway… if you want to hang on to your position in Google’s mobile search results (or perhaps even gain a few), then now’s the time to act.
What does being “mobile-friendly” mean?
Mobile-friendly websites are specifically designed for use on a smartphone. Basically, a mobile-friendly site needs to function on much smaller screens. It should load quickly, have a simple navigation, and should never require the use of scroll bars. Since mobile users don’t use a mouse, any buttons or links should be designed to allow users to easily tap them with a finger, the content should be easy to read and succinct. Remember, most mobile users are, well, mobile—and they almost always want answers and information quickly.
Is my site “mobile-friendly”?
If you’re not sure whether your website is mobile friendly, Google has provided this simple Mobile-Friendly Test. Simply enter your websites URL and your website will be quickly analyzed. You can also check website by searching for your website on your mobile device. You’re okay in Google’s eyes if your search results listing reads “Mobile-friendly” next to it.
TIP: If you’re not already, you should use Google Webmaster Tools (WMT). WMT offers a myriad of vital insight into SEO, like search queries, linking, crawl errors, keywords, sitemaps and more. It’s a great resource!
So don’t delay, Google has given their marching orders—make sure your website is optimized for mobile today!
