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Google Algorithm Change Favors Mobile Friendly Sites
Posted on April 19, 2015 by Rich Foreman
Google announced that their algorithm will change on April 21, 2014 so that mobile friendliness will be a factor. What impact this has on a web site’s SEO is yet to be seen. However, if your business depends on being found through a Google search, you have to take this seriously. (I have seen businesses get devastated by a change in Google’s algorithm).
So, what does it mean to be mobile friendly? Here are some factors that determine your mobile friendliness rating:
Software not commonly used on mobile devices like Adobe Flash.
Use text that is readable without having to zoom in.
Web page adapts so that the user doesn’t have to zoom in or scroll horizontally.
Links are far enough apart so that the correct one can be tapped.
Still not sure if your site is mobile friendly? Google offers this easy test.
So what do you do if your site isn’t mobile friendly? A quick fix is to create a mobile site using a service like DudaMobile. You can then have your webmaster add a script so that traffic to your website from a mobile device re-directs to your mobile site. In my opinion, this is just a band-aid solution. Long term, if your site isn’t mobile friendly, you should consider re-creating your site using responsive design. With responsive design, the web site adapts to the user’s device; be it desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
Aside from Google’s change in algorithm, having a mobile friendly site is just smart business. Mobile exceeds PC Internet Usage. Having a good user experience is crucial if you want to have repeat visits. In this study, 44% of shoppers won’t return to a site that isn’t mobile friendly. If your site isn’t mobile friendly, now is the time to make the change. Otherwise, you may lose a lot of your business to your competitors that made the jump.
By Rich Foreman, CEO / Apptology and Director of Startup Grind Sacramento. Rich co-authored the book Tap into the Mobile Economy and his blog has been listed in the Top 20 Mobile Marketing Blogs of 2014. Follow Rich on Twitter at @ApptologyCEO or attend a Startup Grind Sacramento Event.
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