It cannot have escaped your notice that the use of smartphones has increased substantially in recent years. Today, more people access the Internet using a mobile device than do so using a desktop. From a small and medium business point of view, this means that concentrating on mobile optimisation is a must. If you run a business, you cannot afford to miss out on the audience that mobile web browsing can deliver.
Now, there is another reason why optimising your website for mobile use is important. Google’s mobile first indexing is finally set to become a reality, towards the end of 2017. The aim of this article is to explain the basics of mobile first indexing. We are also going to look at how it has an effect on your SEO, as a business.
What is mobile first indexing?
In 2016, Google first announced its intention to introduce mobile first indexing. The impetus for this decision was the increase in mobile web browsing. Google’s emphasis on the desktop version of a website, when determining search rankings, was noted to be out of touch. Google noted that it recognised the need to concentrate on the mobile experience first, with its algorithm.
This was the start of a process that is set to reach an important stage late in 2017. It’s at this point that mobile first indexing is expected to finally become a reality. If you have a mobile website you need to make sure that it’s optimised for mobile as soon as possible.
What impact will there be, on your SEO?
You have probably become used to Google using the experience of your desktop website, to determine your search engine rankings. For this reason, you will probably have concentrated your SEO work here. Many people, including those at Google, recognise that this is no longer a good idea. If most people use a mobile device to access the Internet, it makes sense to provide them with the best customer experience possible. Google’s mobile first indexing is a recognition of this.
When it’s introduced, Google will use the experience of your mobile web presence when it determines your search engine rankings. Here are some areas you need to think about, if you are reconsidering your SEO work, in the face of mobile first indexing.
- Page load time – if this is more than 2-3 seconds you should think about trying to improve it. People who are on the move tend to want a page to load quickly and Google has stated that page load time is a concern.
- Thinking mobile first – if mobile is going to come first for Google, then it should also come first for you. It’s important that you develop and design a website based on mobile first, and then amend it for desktop. Click here for more information.
- Easily accessible links – links are important, when it comes to SEO and customer experience. This is why you need to ensure that links can easily be accessed using a smartphone touch screen.
All if these are important factors, when it comes to mobile first indexing. Make sure you are prepared.
Leave a Reply