A long time ago, Google announced they were rolling out several changes to address misconfigured sites for smartphone users, and soon they will be switching to a mobile-first index.
If you did not update your website yet, chances are that your site hasn’t ranked as highly in the mobile search results as it used to. Wondering why you got fewer enquiries in the last year? And what will happen when the mobile-first index rolls in? Chances are that your website will decrease in mobile ranking even further.
Most people only view the first page of search results on a mobile, unlike on desktops, where they may go to the second page. So it’s more important than ever to offer your customers a great mobile experience.
In this post, we’ll look at why you must have a mobile-friendly website and how you should adapt your website to fit the mobile-first ranking system.
Why do you need a mobile-friendly site?
Mobile web usage overtakes desktop, think about your everyday life – which device do you use most when searching for a restaurant, buying a new pair of shoes or arranging a holiday?
It’s imperative, then, that you offer the best experience possible when users visit your website. You want them to keep returning, but if they keep hitting incorrect pages or small text that they have to zoom in and out to read continually, they’ll leave very quickly. By creating a site that satisfies your customers, you can help to show Google that your site answers users’ queries and encourages them to revisit time and time. This will lead to a higher ranking in Google searches.
How to prepare if you’re not currently mobile-friendly?
Take these steps to prepare if your current website is not mobile-friendly:
Use responsive web design
Responsive web design is useful because it keeps your site consistent, no matter what device someone uses to view it. In a previous blog, we show you the advantages of having a responsive web design.
Get your pages to load faster
Research shows that pages that rank higher in mobile searches have faster loading speeds and smaller file sizes. So make sure you use a good professional hosting service, optimise image sizes and implement all the necessary technical measures to ensure your site is loading at optimal speeds on mobile devices.
Prioritise the user experience
Aside from the obvious user experience issues such as text being too small or too big and clickable elements being too close together, some of the main issues that Google is now concerned about include sites with app download banners, ads that cover the screen and any elements that contribute to a negative user experience. If you don’t fix it, Google will penalise your website, and you’ll decrease in mobile ranking.
All businesses should seriously consider a mobile-friendly website. It’s what users expect. When creating a new website at INMEDIA, we ensure that responsive design or mobile sites are at the forefront of what we offer.
