The world of the internet is ever-evolving, and so is SEO. Best practices in SEO gets impacted mainly by the way its users consume the internet. The increased popularity of mobile devices like tablets and smartphones and better internet connectivity has changed the way individuals are searching on the net. Digital marketing companies have geared up to the challenge and adapted to new SEO best practices.
Estimates suggest that close to 58 per cent of the searches happen on mobile devices, and only 42 per cent of searches occur on desktops. Google studies indicate that google searches have a higher intent of buying than desktop users. Also, google had acknowledged the increasing trend of mobile searches and launched the feature of mobile-first indexing in 2019; since most of the searches happen on Google, it is best to align with their search engines.
Table of Contents
What is Google’s “Mobile First Index”?
Google’s feature, “Mobile-first Index, ” prioritises websites on the page’s mobile version irrespective of the device from which you are searching. Earlier, Google would segregate sites based on the device used for searching and show the results, so mobile users got results of mobile-friendly sites and desktop users got desktop-friendly sites
What are the Advantages of Making the Site Mobile-Friendly?
A mobile-friendly site is useful not just for ranking better on search results but also for sales. Forty per cent people prefer using mobiles for their shopping, which means that mobile work better at the funnel’s conversion stage. It enables brands to be there at the right time at the right place by Mobile SEO helps in voice searches which is the future of SEO.
What Makes the Site Mobile-Friendly?
There are four elements of a mobile-friendly site: First, it is responsive and can effectively adjust to the device’s screen size; second, the user does not have to scroll horizontally to see the contents of the website; third, links placement should be away from each other; fourth, all software used on the website should be compatible with mobile and text should be readable without having to zoom.
What to Optimize Sites for Mobiles?
User experience is an essential feature of a mobile-friendly site. The user should search and browse through the site conveniently; the content should be easily readable on mobile devices. All links should be easy to click on the mobile screen. For indexing purpose, however, the scope for both mobile and desktop versions should be the same.
Do’s and Don’ts of a Mobile-Friendly Site
Do’s:
- Create consistent content for desktop as well as the mobile version.
- Make navigation easy for the user.
- Design links and icons for browsing conveniently using fingers.
- Ensure font size is compatible with all devices.
- All Call to Action (CTAs) should be clear.
- Improve site load times as the mobile user expects to get results faster.
- Optimise content for local SEO.
Don’ts:
- Avoid using Flash as it is not used in Mobile devices.
- Avoid using pop-ups; they interfere with the browsing experience and may drive the user away.
- Don’t write lengthy meta descriptions as the mobile screen is small
Conclusion
While Google has already updated to mobile-first indexing, many websites have yet not upgraded. If search results matter to businesses, they must update their websites or miss out big time on their revenues. It is vital to keep the user experience in mind because the customer is doing a mobile search with high purchasing intent more often than not. SEO is dynamic and will continue that way; it is up to the brands to adapt to the changes from time to time to avoid missing out on the opportunities to generate revenue.
