Google to Boost Mobile-Friendly Sites In Search Results

Does your brand still have an outdated website that requires users to pinch and zoom in order to view your content? Today, this is merely a nuisance for your digital audience, but in several weeks, this will be a much bigger problem for your business.

Google recently announced on its Webmaster Central Blog that it will show more mobile-friendly websites in its search engine results. The company acknowledges the widespread adoption of smartphones and tablets among internet users as the reason for making mobile usability a more important factor in its search results.

Here’s a key excerpt from Google’s announcement:

“Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.”

Since Google is responsible for 75% of all U.S. search engine referrals, this announcement should serve as a clear signal that a mobile content strategy is a necessity for all brands.

How can you find out if your website is mobile friendly? Google offers this tool that will analyze a URL of your choice.

Here are some common fixes that will improve your website’s mobile usability:

  • Increase your pages’ font size.
  • Add more space around your links.
  • Set a mobile viewport.
  • Make sure your content is not wider than the screen.
  • Stop using Adobe Flash and other incompatible plugins.

If you are looking for a simple approach to creating a mobile-friendly site, popular content management tools, including WordPress, may be your best bet. WordPress provides numerous responsive layouts that will adapt to any screen size.

Google also announced that it will include more relevant app content in search engine results.

If your brand continues to ignore its mobile usability issues, it is doing so at its own peril. Conversely, an aggressive mobile-first content strategy will help you compete for new website users and new customers.

MyMobileLyfe creates high-quality, mobile-friendly content that will further your brand’s marketing goals. Contact us to schedule a free consultation!