From April 21, Google will be expanding the way they present search results back to their mobile users
Mobile Search Results
The latest algorithm update will affect mobile searches across all languages worldwide. It will have a significant impact on the search results Google will return back to the user. The positive outcome with all of the update, will be in form of the supply of high quality search results that are properly optimized for mobile devices.
Aside from the “mobile-friendly” meta information, associated with the structure of a website, it has not been 100% clear how Google currently considers mobile rankings or how many websites will currently be affected. Because of this, the majority of business owners have avoided optimizing their sites for mobile devices, and have happily survived to hold a good search engine positioning in Googles results.
Mobile Friendly Search Result
Non Mobile Friendly Search Result
Mobile usage is a fast growing trend
With now more than over half of all Google searches performed on mobile devices, it makes sense that Google wants to capitalize on this ever growing market, to ensure it is providing the best possible experience to mobile users.
In addition to the new Google algorithm update, they are going to be rolling out search ranking changes based on indexed information from apps of google users, this could well have a large impact on how search results are returned as well as the particular type of results displayed. While natural organic search results mainly display websites, future search results could start to focus on apps and other mobile tools.
As always with Google, no one 100% can say what will happen, but as search results progress, one thing is clear, companies with websites that cater for mobile users will earn the most visibility from Google.
The update in nutshell
If you are not currently aware, Google already considers mobile usability as part of its ranking calculations, we are now aware, that the latest mobile-friendly algorithm update, will have a bigger impact on search rankings than either Penguin or Panda had, two of the latest and most impactful algorithm search updates Google has ever launched.
We do know that it will change the way Google evaluates the mobile-friendliness of websites, but we don’t know what new factors will be added or how dramatically these factors will be able to change a website’s search visibility.
How to be Prepared?
If you have website that is already mobile friendly, you can sit back as you will not have much to worry about, however, if you have not considered the impact on the search results or implemented a mobile strategy, its crucial you now consider getting it implement: Spike Design follow the best practice steps as detailed by Google:
Ensure your mobile version of your site is active and functional. Responsive websites and designs are the most popular, however, you can have a separate hosted mobile version of your site. Google doesn’t have a preference, as long as mobile users’ experience isn’t interrupted.
Ensure a Google’s spider can properly crawl and index your site. If Google cannot see it, it may as well not even be online.
Check every page of your website on a mobile device to ensure navigability. Just because you have a mobile-friendly home page, doesn’t mean the rest of your site is.
How to check your Website?
Google has a Mobile-Friendly tool you can use to check your website. Simply click the link below, enter your website name and Google will analyze your website and provide a detailed report regarding it mobile friendliness.
Use the Google Mobile Checker >>
We are here to Help
Contact us on 01536 560555 or complete the form below obtain a free estimation based on your current website.
