Not very long ago website owners and operators got a message from Google essentially telling them that the mobile version of their site was now considered the “real” version. This signaled the end of the transition from a company’s laptop or desktop site being considered more important to the mobile one being the primary focal point for visitors and search engines.
This has been coming for some time. It was an inevitability since the moment that more visitors started going to mobile sites rather than desktop and laptop ones. Google was paying attention, so this news could hardly come as a shock to business owners. But what does it mean for them?
Well, what it means is that if you have hired an SEO company in Irvine to optimize your website, they must do so with your mobile site now first in their minds. This sounds complicated, but it’s relatively simple. Here are the steps they must take to make sure that your mobile site is ready for any visitors that come your way.
Consistency
First, you’ll want your SEO company to make your content consistent regardless of whether someone is looking at the mobile version of your website or the desktop or laptop versions.
Some website designers like to hide content on the mobile versions of their pages. This isn’t smart under Google’s new rules.
If someone has to look for a drop-down menu to find content on your mobile site, but that isn’t the case with your desktop site, then you’re going to be indirectly penalized for that. That’s because the hidden content is going to be ignored, and it therefore won’t be indexed. The way to avoid this issue is to make sure that no material is obscured by buttons, expandable sections, or menus.
UX
The other aspect of what Google is going to be looking for is how easily navigated the “real” version, which is to say your mobile site, actually is by visitors. Some companies have mobile sites that technically work, but they’re a struggle to use. If Google sees that’s happening for your mobile site, then it’s going to judge you harshly.
What you’re going to want is for your SEO company in Irvine to use the Mobile-Friendly Test tool from Google to test your site and get a score for it.
Google will rate your mobile site, and it will also give you actionable suggestions as to how you can improve. That’s going to be useful for your SEO company going forward as they work on your site speed, graphics, and other points of interest.
It might seem like Google is being hard on website designers, but they’re only trying to help. If a user is having an unsatisfactory experience on your site, then they’re likely to leave without buying anything. Google’s suggestions can help prevent that from happening.