As many successful and smart front-end web developers know, mobile is not something you can avoid. Making sure your client’s has a mobile friendly site is important. It’s something that should be a given these days — included in the project scope.
A mobile friendly site is mandatory and here's another reason you should listen to Google... Click To TweetMore Mobile Friendly Sites in Search
On February 26th, 2015, Google announced on their Webmaster Central Blog that they realize search on mobile devices should get relevant and timely searches. This is more along the lines of local business. It makes sense.
During the last year, Google has made changes to their algorithms to ensure, and inform the user on SERPs, that a listed site is or is not mobile friendly. It’s pretty convenient. Visiting a non-mobile friendly site is a horrible experience.
Starting on April 21st, Google’s algorithm is going to change to incorporate two things:
- Search engine results pages will have more mobile-friendly websites. It is clear that this will be a ranking factor (finally!). If your site is not mobile friendly, you will be lower on the list.
- Google has put together a mobile website guide to help make sure that you understand, and can put together, a mobile site.
- In your Google Webmaster Tools account, you can see a list of mobile device issues with your website. It’s a feature they’ve included in Webmaster Tools for quite some time.
- Along with more mobile friendly sites showing up in search results, Google is going to start using information from apps that have been indexed into their system as a ranking factor for users who are signed into their Google account. This is probably 99% of people on a mobile device.
- If you’re an app developer, look at their guide on App Indexing for Google Search.
Mobile Friendly Website and Google Algorithm Change Takeaway
Get in touch with me or your friendly, local developer to help you get the most of making your website mobile friendly. Want to understand why a mobile friendly website is important? Check out this one pager from Google. They do a terrific job on explaining the subject.
Do your website and yourself a favor. The online leads you don’t have yet are counting on it.