There’s been a lot of talk lately about Mobilegeddon, Google’s move towards a mobile friendly search algorithm. Normally, this talk is reserved to industry blogs that we, as web development gurus, frequent… but this update has drawn the attention of national media, from newspapers to “Today” and CNN.
So, what does this change mean to you as a business owner? Well, for one, it’s not the name of a winter storm.
The Basics
The change went into effect on April 21, and we’re beginning to see some results in Google searches.
While no one can exactly predict how or why Google ranks a website the way it does, there are many factors that are known. Google recently revealed that whether sites were mobile friendly, called responsive web design, was going to become a bigger factor.
Nearly 60% of all internet access is now done on mobile devices, according to a February study by ad network InMobi. In October, another study revealed a jump from 25% to 35% of users who shop on their mobile devices.
Why?
With all these changes in user habits, Google wanted to make sure websites that actually worked on mobile devices would rank above those that didn’t. We’ve all been there, sitting on our phones, trying to browse a website that’s not mobile friendly. Well, it can be a real pain, with lots of pinch-and-zooming and scrolling back and forth.
People trust Google to find the best answers, and Google wants to make sure your website can be properly experienced to find those answers.
So, What Next?
It’s time to find focus for your website and reach customers no matter their device.
Whether you’re a local plumber, a bank or a consultant, you need to ensure your website works everywhere, or your site will loose visitors because of this shift from Google.
Now, fear not. Google has released a tool to help you determine if your site is in need of an update to meet the new standards: you can check your site here. If you are like most of our clients, you’ll see “Awesome! This page is mobile-friendly,” and you’ll be all set.
If you see the “Not mobile friendly” result, be warned: your site may see less visitors from search and be downranked by Google.
This change is not about Google being a mean company, but about making the web easier to use, no matter the device.
If you’re site isn’t mobile friendly, you’re not alone.
At least 44% of Fortune 500 companies don’t have mobile friendly websites, according to TechCrunch. Sites like Redditt, NBC Sports, Vogue and Bloomberg Business have already seen a hit because of this update, according to Search Engine Land.
Curious to learn more about mobile web design? Read our free white paper on the topic here.
