Can Google Webmaster Tools Fix Your Mobilegeddon Issue?

Mobilegeddon is a super intense term that is supposed to strike fear into the hearts of all those that don't have mobile friendly websites. It's the name given to Google's new algorithm update that rolled out April 21st, 2015. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact on search results. Websites that don't utilize mobile best practices will be penalized and will drop in the rankings. While "Mobilegeddon" is an intimidating word associated with the update and is a little fear mongering, it's still important for you to make sure your site is mobile ready.

There are many different tools on the web that you can use to test your site to make sure it's mobile-friendly, but listening to Google and using their free tools is probably your best bet. Google wants its users to have the best experience and receive the best results possible. It's in their best interest to give you tools that will help your website perform, so Google offers a host of tools and guidelines in their Webmaster Tools application to help website owners find their way to the mobile-friendly promise land.

Google considers a website "mobile-friendly" if it meets the following criteria:

• It avoids software that is not common to mobile devices, like Flash
• Uses text that is readable without zooming
• Sizes content to the screen, so users don't have to scroll horizontally or zoom
• Links placed far enough apart so that the correct one can be easily tapped

According to this blog post from Search Engine Land "The major change will be making huge waves for websites, and those who are unprepared will suffer the penalties. Many will already have their websites ready to go by the deadline, but for those who still need a little work, consider using these tips."

• Check your pages with the Mobile-Friendly Test
• Read documentation on the Webmasters Mobile Guide on how to create and improve your mobile site
• See the Mobile Usability Report in Google Webmaster Tools, it finds major mobile usability issues across your entire site
• Check the how-to guide for third-party software like WordPress or Joomla, in order to migrate your website hosted on a CMS (Content Management System) to use a mobile-friendly template

Mobile usage is growing rapidly every year. This means more and more people are using their mobile phones to find information, search for businesses, and purchase products. If your website is difficult to navigate and isn't responsive to the multitude of devices sizes, you will be missing out on not only website traffic but potential sales. If your business is unsure of its mobile capabilities, you should dive into the Google Webmaster Tools and make the necessary adjustments. If additional help is needed, click below for a free website assessment to better understand your site's current mobile state.

(lead image from Bloomua / Shutterstock.com)