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Google Search Algorithm Update: Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly?

Written by Remington Begg | February 27, 2015 at 4:45 PM
It's official: Google has announced that starting April 21st, the mobile friendliness of a website will be a ranking factor in mobile search results. When you think about it, this update really shouldn't be much of a surprise. We all knew this day would come at some point, especially because more and more people are accessing the Internet through their mobile device.

In an official statement on February 26, 2015, Google announced two major changes. First is that more mobile-friendly sites will rank in search results and the second is that there will be more relevant app content in search results. We'll break down each of the changes below and what they mean for your business.

Mobile-friendly site will rank better in mobile search results

The biggest update to Google's search algorithm is that they will be expanding their use of mobile friendliness as a ranking signal throughout mobile search results. Google states that the change will affect worldwide mobile search results in all languages and will have a significant impact on their search results. The update will make it easier for users to get relevant, high-quality results that are optimized for their device. The changes won't go into effect until April 21st, meaning you still have some time to make sure your business' website is mobile-friendly.

More relevant app content in search results

Google also announced that as of yesterday, February 26th, apps that are indexed through App Indexing will begin to show more prominently in mobile search results. This will only work for signed-in users who have the app installed on their mobile device.

What does this mean for your business?

It's no secret that having a mobile-friendly site is important for your business, especially since mobile devices are part of everyday life. Whether you're at the bar or on a boat, smartphones are everywhere. In fact, studies have shown that the average smartphone user checks their phone up to 150 times per day. If your business' site isn't mobile-friendly, you're missing out on some serious opportunities.

There's a difference between having a mobile version of your site and having a responsive site. A responsive website design requires that you only have one website that is coded to adapt all screen sizes. This means that regardless of whether someone is on a tablet or a desktop computer, your website will be easy to read and navigate.

On the other hand, a mobile version of a site is a completely separate site that requires you to have a second, mobile-only website. Mobile sites are not built for different screen sizes, and this often causes issues with readability, loading times, display, and navigation.

Responsive design is by far the most popular and widely used method for designing a mobile-friendly website. One of the biggest benefits of responsive sites is that the size of the template is designed based on screen size, not device. This means that a responsive site will adapt to future devices (TVs, watches, glasses, etc.), meaning your website will look beautiful regardless of the screen size. Additionally, having a single URL makes it easier for Google to crawl your site and reduces the chance of on-page SEO errors. Responsive sites typically perform better and are easier maintain than a separate mobile site.

If your website isn't already responsive and mobile-friendly, it's essential that you make this change before the new Google update takes effect on April 21st. Need help creating a beautiful, mobile-friendly site? We're here for you. At Impulse Creative, we understand the importance of creating a mobile-friendly website, and all of the websites we design are responsive.

Editorial Credit: Bloomua / Shutterstock.com
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