In today’s digital age, having an online presence is of utmost importance even to the smallest of startup businesses. However, although you may have considered how the content on your website should be optimized in order to be in accordance with what your target audience searches for, have you given any thought to the devices which these customers may be using to access search engines from? If not, then you should be. Research shows that more and more internet users are accessing search engines on the go from a smartphone or tablet rather than a laptop computer or PC, and figures are set to rise. Never before has it been so important for your business website to be mobile friendly.
Google’s Mobile Search Experience
In recognition of the trend which is rapidly growing, Google has adjusted their mobile search experience in order to better meet the needs of mobile and tablet users. The updates to the algorithm affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide, and mean that the mobile-friendliness of a site is now a huge ranking factor for where a site appears in Google search results. As a business you want your site to be as close to the top as possible, so being mobile-friendly has become a fundamental part of search engine optimization.
More User-Friendly
If you’ve ever tried to navigate a site on a mobile device which isn’t mobile-friendly, you’ll understand how frustrating it can be. Constantly having to zoom in in order to read texts and difficulty clicking on links and filling in search forms are just a few factors which could cause mobile users to exit a site quickly if it hasn’t been optimized for mobile use. With more and more customers using their mobile phones and tablets to both browse and shop online, ensuring that your site is pleasant and easy to view and use on a mobile device should be a top priority when it comes to making sure that you customers have the best experience. Not only that, but being mobile-friendly shows your customers that your business is modern and up-to-date.
Responsive Websites
Ensuring that your website is responsive is the best way to ensure that it looks good on any device. Responsive web designs will adapt to the device that they are being viewed on to ensure that the viewer has the best experience. If you are using a custom theme on your site, you should check that it is responsive – if not, you should consider using one that is. Good web design companies will always offer the option for responsive web design as they know the importance of ensuring that viewing the site is a pleasant experience no matter what device the user has. See wordpressdesignservices.com for more information.
Do you think that Google is right to include the mobile-friendliness of a site as a factor for search engine rankings? Would you be put off buying from a site which was not mobile friendly? We’d love to hear your opinions – let us know in the comments section below.