Deadline: 21st April 2015
What: Google will prioritise websites accessible on mobile devices in the search results and demote websites that aren’t
Source: http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/finding-more-mobile-friendly-search.html
We are not far off now when it comes to a significant changes that is coming up on Google. Over recent years we have been recommending responsive websites which are accessible on all devices (mobile, tablet and desktop) which is why all our websites are responsive and built with a mobile first approach to suit the needs of the ‘always-on’ customer. While current website design clients have had mobile websites delivered, there are many websites and business owners who simply aren’t ready for this change and could face penalties from Google by not keeping up with the market.
As of 21st April 2015, Google will be increasing the importance of mobile friendly websites when ranking websites in the search results. This is a global change and Google is stating that this is going to have a significant impact in the search results. Is your website ready for this change? If you are unsure, then the first thing you need to do is visit these pages;
- https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/
- https://developers.google.com/webmasters/mobile-sites/get-started/
Once you have tested several pages on your website, then you will have a better idea about how mobile friendly your website actually is. Unless you have recently implemented a responsive website, then the likely chances are that you aren’t ready and you need to look at reskinning your website so that it is responsive. Depending on the technology you are using will depend on how easy or difficult this process actually is.
There are many differences when it comes to mobile websites and many nuances related to search engine optimisation which can impact the success (or failure) rate of the project. Simply having a website that works on multiple devices often isn’t enough and can actually harm the traffic to your website if you get this wrong.
You will be glad to know that we have been through this process many times before so understand the pitfalls, technical challenges and important areas to focus on. If you are serious about your business online, then it is essential that your website is updated before this time to avoid losing traffic and ultimately sales through your website.
Would you like to find out more about how this change impacts your website? Then get in touch and we will happily review your website to see what changes need to be made before this deadline. Make sure your website is suitable for the current and future needs of your customers to avoid losing sales.