The time people spend on mobile devices is constantly increasing, and mobile searches already compose more than half of all Google queries. A digital environment is shifting towards mobile, and no wonder that the Google’s big SEO change has been named Mobilegeddon. It is upon us, and it has given rise to quite a bit of panic, speculation and turmoil. However, armed with facts, you can make the big monster much less scary.
Writings on the wall
So, pay no heed to false prophecies. The point is simple: From now on, Google will include mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor for mobile searches. This means that those websites still living in a desktop-oriented world might have to change their ways in order to stay relevant. Getting knocked down on Google rankings is, in fact, a matter of survival for many online-focus businesses.
Despite legitimate concerns, Mobilegeddon is not an unprecedented change that will obliterate millions of small businesses, as some would have you to believe. First of all, Google has not only provided a plenty of advance warning, but also some great instruments for evaluation and improvement. Also, handy tools like SEO site checker help you get a clear picture of how your website holds up in terms of search engine optimization.
Furthermore, Google still uses a variety of other signals to rank search results and it is not like you are expelled from the online community for good. But, that being said, it is better to tweak your pages sooner rather than later. Even those who are not receiving significant internet traffic from smartphones and tablets should know that mobile market is only going to get bigger.
A proper response
The main goal is to develop a design that adjusts the pages to the appropriate screen sizes and features fast loading times. This will make it easy for users to find, consume and share your content, wherever they are. And, like it or not, Google’s bots will be able to crawl and index your pages more efficiently. Mobile SEO is all about functionality, so keep it simple when it comes to content layout and structure.
Note that a proper mobile optimization starts with a solid regular SEO. With good content and strong backlinks as a foundation, the former involves some site tweaks. With CMS systems like WordPress you already have a built-in mobile theme to treat your visitors with, but it is a good idea to make good use of additional plugins to nail a responsive design.
If you are running a site without a CMS, you can separate the URLs for the two versions of the each page using either the HTML or the site map. As an alternative, some developers choose to code the websites so that their fixed HTML works for all types of users. CSS is used to create a visual appeal, and round up the responsive design. Just pay attention that the code does not prevent engines from crawling your JavaScript or CSS, and that there is no unplayable or blocked content.
Where is the market at?
Chasing Google standards is not something SEO experts always look forward too, but there is no other way to solidify your online presence. There is no need for panic, but you still need to act to prevent your search rankings from plummeting. Present users with a simple, functional design that responds well to the type of gadget they are using. You need to go where the market would be heading anyway, even without the arrival of the Mobilegeddon.
James D. Burbank has worked for years in traditional as well as online marketing. He has worked in Central Asia, Europe and Australasia in recent years.