Mobile has become the universal medium for searching information online on search engines. Various search engines like Google are now looking at option on how they can make the entire search experience better for users on their mobile device. Google has already been making attempts on offering better search experience with AMP pages and now Google has announced the mobile-first indexing system. The thought behind this type of indexing is that Google algorithms will now index websites and apps and rank them based on the mobile version of the website. This could be a major shift in the way websites design and plan their content in the future to optimize their website and blog.
Here are 4 steps you can take to optimize your website and blog for Google’s mobile-first index.
Faster Website Performance
The attention span of the consumer has been decreasing and this means that website owners and bloggers need to boost the speed of their website performance. As per Google’s Site Performance for Webmasters, any e-commerce website must have a threshold acceptability of only two seconds. Fast loading websites are critical to ensuring that they rank higher in mobile indexing. It is, therefore, important that you optimize the images because large images can slow down the website. Similarly, you also need to unclutter the source code by removing unwanted characters from the code without changing the core functionality of the site. You can also make use of browser cache that stores resource files on the local computer when a user visits the web page.
On-Page Optimization
When it comes to SEO of the mobile version of the website you need to focus on on-page optimization. It is, therefore, you make use of the site titles and descriptions that would allow GoogleBot to understand the page in a better way and load it quickly. A higher click-through rate and improved rankings can make all the difference and ensure that you are able to optimize your site in a positive way.
Optimize the Site Design
SEO also known as search engine optimization has come a long way. Today, SEO is not just about keywords and how the words need to be used to improve the site ranking, but also about how a site design can make a difference. Hence, your SEO strategy must also include how to make use of various site design features to influence your site ranking. Choosing a responsive design is an ideal option, but that alone is not going to make a difference. The most important factor that you need to consider when you are designing your website is that it has to be finger-friendly. Your mobile version site should allow users to scroll conveniently and avoid accidental taps and consume content in a better way. It is also recommended to make use of HTML5 instead of Flash because most smartphones don’t support flash. Avoid pop-up pages and advertisements because that will drive away most of your readers and consumers.
Focus on Local SEO
Believe it or not, but local SEO is going to benefit from the mobile-first index. As per the Google study almost 50% of the mobile customers and 34% desktop users that do local search visit the store on the same day. This clearly indicates that local searchers are willing to take action once they do the search. With a mobile first index, businesses can make their site better and visible and gain from this.
Conclusion
While it certainly sounds like a scary situation for those who have businesses online, but the fact is that Google is doing this to ensure that consumers reach the right businesses. Consumers’ today search for information, products and services on their mobile devices and therefore it is important to keep your business mobile-friendly. With the above-mentioned optimization steps, you not only make your website indexing-friendly but also make it consumer-friendly. If you are planning to optimize your website for Google’s mobile-first index we can help you with it.
