According to the newest information on Google’s blog, from the 21st of April adaptation of pages to display properly on mobile devices will be one of the major factors influencing the ranking of a website:
“As more people use mobile devices to access the internet, our algorithms have to adapt to these usage patterns (…) Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal,” Google.
What does algorithm do?
Algorithms help you find the answer, not trillions of webpages. They are computer programs that look for clues to help you find exactly what you want. And as Google explained– for a typical query, there are thousands, if not millions, of webpages with helpful information. The trick is to determine which ones are you really interested in? Which of those web pages contain information that are relevant to you.
And that’s in essence what Algorithms do- the computer processes and formulas that take your questions and turn them into answers. They look at things like terms on the website, relevance and the freshness of content, your region, page rank and as of the 21st of April- whether or not your webpage is mobile friendly.
As more people access the internet using mobile devices, the algorithm had to change and adapt to this usage patterns.
We found an interesting infographics on the smart insight website. It shows the percentage of people using mobile as the main device for getting on the web.
(Smart Insight)
What’s changing?
The two main changes in the newest algorithm will include more mobile- friendly websites and more relevant app content in a search result.
This means we are going to find it easier to get relevant, high quality results already optimised for devices we use!
TOP TIP:
From marketers, web developers or web owners point of view it means that their websites need to be checked by the Googlebot to see how Google view their page. This can be done either way:
– If you want to test a few pages, you can use the Mobile-Friendly Test.
– If you have a site, you can use your Webmaster Tools account to get a full list of mobile usability issues across your site using the Mobile Usability Report.
Please go to guide to mobile-friendly sites for more information.
For app developers, app indexing would be an important issue to get a head around…This will allow the information from indexed apps become a factor in ranking for those who have the app installed e.g. if you are looking for a next-day delivery dress, ASOS app may be ranked quite high in search results, provided you’ve already installed their app on your smart phone.
Please follow the link for more info and Google’ step-by-step guide on the developer site.
What should you do?
Follow our top tips and ensure your website is optimised for mobile devices. The technological development is surely unstoppable so there is no other option but to join in. Even though Google’s tactics are changing, the means remain the same- the intersection of SEO and content marketing is still the sweet spot for marketers to focus on. So, Keep producing high quality, measurable and relevant content!
TOP TIP:
Think of user intent, not just the keywords- think of it as talking to audience rather than to search engine!
If you need help with your on or off-line marketing do not hesitate to contact us!
Image: Searchengineland.com
