Google’s New Mobile Friendly Algorithm

April 21st is fast approaching, and as many already know, on that day Google will be implementing their brand new algorithm, which will give mobile friendly website’s a better ranking signals. This mobile friendly update is big news in the industry, and can have major effects on a business’s page ranking, therefore having impactful changes on many websites traffic and ecommerce figures.

Details about the New Algorithm

Google is always evolving and rolling out new updates to improve user experience. The details of this latest update are not yet crystal clear, but information released thus far indicates it will be mobile user focused and can have serious repercussions for any business’s who have yet to integrate a mobile friendly interface into their websites. It is believed Google will be introducing a new mobile web crawler that will do better at crawling various apps.

What this Means for Users

These new changes will have a big impact on users and the results they will get when running a search query. Not only will users see mobile friendly results displayed first, but indexed app content will be more dominant in results. This will give users more relevant results that are viewed properly on any device, as the Internet is accessed in so many different ways nowadays. Google always aim to provide the most relevant search results, and optimising sites for mobile viewing gives businesses a better chance of moving up the rankings for this reason.

What this Means for Webmasters

Webmasters will need to pay close attention to these updates, and be sure their sites are prepared for the transition. Start by being fully aware of any mobile usability issues by using the Mobile Usability Report that Google has provided and use the information provided in the guide to mobile friendly sites to feel confident that your sites are ready and won’t lose ranking when the changes occur.
Pages can also be tested in advance using the Google Mobility Friendly Test to determine how you site performs. To test whether your website is deemed to be mobile friendly by Google, visit https://www.google.co.uk/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/ and run the test. You may also use other tools such as the one on http://seoguy.co.uk/responsive/ to see what your website looks like on various devices.

Just What Makes a Site Mobile Friendly?

A mobile friendly website is a site that can be viewed correctly from a mobile device. Many changes must be made to content for it to be readable for mobile users. Factors must be considered including being optimal for navigation using fingers, adopting simple designs, minimising content to what’s relevant, providing fast speeds, minimising Java content, and implementing useful icons and buttons to organise menus and information. Mobile content needs to be optimised for use on a variety of operating systems, and should be routinely tested after changes are made.

Is Responsive Web Design the Ideal Solution?

The easiest and most cost effective way for a company to go mobile friendly is by using responsive website design. Responsive web design is easy to use and serves as an excellent format for creating websites that translate well across many platforms, including mobile, desktop, different screen sizes and more. Responsive web design is cost effective because only one site is required, whereas hosting a separate mobile site is more time consuming and expensive. With responsive design only one set of updates is required, and when adding new content there is no need for reconfiguration of the old, making responsive design preferable for a plethora of reasons.