In recent years, Google went from being a noun to being a verb when it became the top search engine in the world. Because it has become everyone’s default search engine, understanding its algorithms are key to improving your SEO. Google is ever changing, and not just in its logo images that rotate daily. In fact, Google’s team alters its algorithms nearly twice per day.
Recently, Google introduced a new mobile-friendly update algorithm that alters the nature of mobile searching and ultimately alters your SEO overall. Essentially, now Google actually promotes mobile friendly sites over non-mobile friendly ones. This means that website equipped to handle mobile devices will appear higher in mobile search results.
It may not seem like a huge change, but mobile searches make up nearly 25% of all online searches, so don’t forget about mobile-optimization when you’re working to improve your SEO. If you have not yet invested in making your website mobile friendly, take advantage of the opportunity and give yourself an edge against your competitors before everyone else gets on board. Be in the 41% of small businesses who are mobile phone accessible, and later you will be glad you did.
So how do you go about becoming mobile friendly? For starters, test it! You may already be half way there. Google has its own mobile-friendly test that tells you whether or not your website is compatible with a mobile layout. If your website receives a veto, it’s likely because it does not fit the main criteria Google has for being considered mobile-friendly. These includes:
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Easy, readable text without needing to zoom
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No programs that mobile devices typically are not equipped with
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Optimal link placement; spaces link far enough apart that the user can select the right one without having to zoom
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Photos and content to scale
If it is, in fact, mobile friendly, you’re already doing better than most, but there’s always room for improvement, right?
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Use standard fonts. Fancy custom fonts are great for your desktop layout, but they may prevent your mobile site from loading quickly.
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Keep your text simple and to the point. Especially for the generations where 20/20 vision is a luxury they no longer possess, reading long bodies of text is a whole different ballgame on a screen two and a half inches wide.
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Focus on images. As long as they fit on the screen correctly, nice, affective images will speak much louder than even the most compelling body of text.
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Avoid the use of programs that are not compatible with mobile devices. If the videos on your website require Flash, they will not play for anyone trying to view them on a mobile device.
But keep in mind that just because the system is altered does not mean your mobile SEO is doomed. In fact, you are being given the rare opportunity to get ahead of your competition by going mobile friendly while it still gives you an edge. Take advantage of it.
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