Is your site prepared for Google’s upcoming mobile algorithm update? Just because people can access your website on their smartphone does NOT mean it is a mobile optimized site! You now have a deadline of April 2015 to make your website mobile-friendly or you’ll have to suffer the ranking consequences from the Google Gods.
Why is having a Mobile-Friendly Website a Big Deal?
Google recently began nudging site owners by providing recommendations on how to deliver a positive mobile user experience. They even went as far as to display a “Mobile-friendly” label within search results so users can choose to visit a mobile-friendly site over a non-optimized website.
Towards the end of 2014 Google began rolling out a Mobile Usability metric for their Google Webmaster Tools users. In February of 2015 they announced that they would be incorporating a site’s mobile friendliness into their search ranking algorithms.
This change turns suggestions to requirements. Optimized button sizes, easy to read font sizes, and fast page speeds are no longer luxury features to offer site visitors. If your site isn’t mobile optimized they’ll return as errors when Google crawls it, resulting in lower organic rankings. To avoid such errors make sure the site meets the following criteria that the GoogleBot will be programmed to look for:
• Avoid software that is uncommon or doesn’t display well on mobile devices, like Flash
• Use text that is easy to read without the need to zoom
• Ensure that content is properly sized to the screen so users don’t have to scroll horizontally or zoom in
• Place links far enough apart so that the correct one can be easily tapped without mistake
Not sure if your website is optimized for a good mobile experience? You can test your site at Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test Tool to uncover Google’s analysis. Here is Google’s explination of what makes a site mobile friendly, what they look for, what are some common mistakes, ect. You should also check your Google Webmaster Tools account to see if your site has any alerts like this one:
As the digital landscape becomes more competitive and search engine algorithms continue to change, your SEO efforts become more imperative. Just like managing your social channels, or updating your newsletter content, search engine marketing requires the same ongoing upkeep and maintenance. If your website is not mobile optimized, don’t fret! Contact Mambo Media to ensure your website meets modern marketing standards.
Learn more about the Algorithm Rankings Update and how Google Helps Users Find Mobile Sites that are friendly. Avoid these common mobile site mistakes with Google’s guide.
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