Mobile search usability continues to incline at a steady pace. As it stands, for the majority of clients that I work with it accounts for somewhere between 60-70% of all website traffic activity. The growth and accessibility of mobile devices has made it much easier for consumers to gain web access. On February 26, 2015 Google made an announcement that as of April 21, 2015 it will be turning mobile-friendliness a ranking signal for SEO.
This comes by no surprise considering the public announcement of mobile-friendly labels introduction in the mobile SERPs. Considering that search is driven by changing consumer trends and behavior, the arrival of mobile-friendly labels and mobile-friendliness as an SEO ranking signal were only a matter of time before fully seeing the light of day. Gaining a full comprehension of the ever changing algorithms is a challenging task. The solution to that is the continuous education on how search works and its evolution.
Your Existing Mobile-Search Friendly Website
Responsive design has gained significant amount of popularity over the last couple of years. Majority of brands comprehend the need for a mobile-search friendly website but there’s also a good portion of those who refuse to adapt to the shifting trend (something that keeps in business perhaps). Having a mobile-responsive website is one thing but providing a succinct mobile experience is a whole new ball game. The Google mobile-friendly test tool allows website owners to test against their platform and technology in ensuring that it complies with specific standards. With Google dominating nearly 70% of the search marketing it’s imperative to provide your mobile audience with an adequate brand representation in search.
Here’s a few things you can do to test your site for optimal mobile-search visibility:
- Run your website domain through the Google mobile-friendly test tool to check against potential issues
- Make a list of any known issues that you’ll need to attend to
- Check Google Analytics for user perception and existing interaction
- Perform cross-browser compliance testing for all major browsers such as Google Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Internet Explorer on iOS and Android platforms. Those are the most popular in usage these days that majority of your audience will utilize when accessing the website
- Cross-reference the Google Webmaster’s mobile guide in ensuring your site meets the remaining criteria for optimal mobile-search visibility
Your Non-Mobile Search Friendly Website
If you’ve not made the leap yet into a mobile-search friendly website then it’s definitely time to take the necessary steps. 93% of all online experiences start with search and majority of those occur on Google. They’re the 500 pound gorilla you can’t ignore as they’ve set the industry standard. Planning for the next steps in the evolution of your brand will ensure progression and competitive positioning in today’s modern digital marketplace. In order to do that, consider following these steps to get you moving on the right path:
- Find a reputable digital marketing provider that can assist with the planning and strategy process
- Start to brainstorm on the goals and objectives behind your new mobile-search friendly website. How will you portray your brand across? What will be the main objectives to focus on?
- Behind the sketch of a new mobile-search friendly sitemap that will adhere to the mobile visitors
- Brainstorm on a mobile design, factor in UX/UI (User Experience/User Interaction)
- Get on the way to redefining your brand!
Struggling with your mobile presence? Need advice on how to adapt to the mobile-search friendliness ranking factor? Get in touch today for a Free consultation and discover new potential behind your brand.