Is your website responsive? That is, its layout changes according to the screen size of the device where it is viewed. If it is not yet mobile-friendly, you might want to make it adaptable to the ever ever-changing usage patterns of online users, which now includes tablets and smartphones. This is because come April 21, 2015, mobile-friendliness will now become one of Google’s ranking signals.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering that Google has already made changes to its algorithm with the increase in the number of people using mobile devices to access the internet. They have also introduced App Indexing that allows them to index apps the same way they would a website. So, it was just a matter of time that a mobile-friendly responsive web design will become a ranking factor.
When the changes are rolled out, mobile searches in all languages worldwide will be affected. They would also have a significant impact on search results, which will likely cause an increase or drop in rankings for many sites. While webmasters, site owners and online marketers wait with bated breath for the impact to hit them, users will have plenty of reasons to celebrate. This is because when search results are optimized for their mobile devices, its easier for them to get relevant high quality search results.
Anyone who has implemented App Indexing, on the other hand, will not only benefit from a ranking factor for signed-in users, but also an increase in app engagement. This is because a deep link of an app will appear in search results, enabling a quick and easy access to a native mobile experience.
Suffice to say that combining mobile-friendly webpages with App Indexing would be like hitting two birds with one stone. Not only will a website rank through mobile-friendliness, but also through indexed apps.
To ensure that everyone can benefit from the changes that will happen in April 21, Google has rolled out guidelines on how to make a website mobile-friendly, and a Mobile-Friendly Test and Mobile Usability Report that webmasters can use. A step-by-step guide on App Indexing is also available on its developer’s site.
So, don’t you think it’s time to make your website mobile-friendly? We’ve made the switch already.
Link to the Google Article
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/finding-more-mobile-friendly-search.html
