In the digital marketing world, things are always changing and evolving, especially when it comes to SEO. Google, the most-used search engine and biggest influencer on SEO, is constantly changing the way it accesses websites for rankings and this year will be no exception. Google is rolling out its mobile-first index, which could impact your businessโ SEO rankings.
Mobile Is Taking the Lead
To understand the new changes coming from Google with its mobile-first index, it is important to understand why it is necessary. In the last few years, mobile use has surpassed desktop use, which can impact the information that people see when they do a Google search. The ranking index has always been based on the desktop versions of the websites available, not the mobile version. But now, with mobile searches and use surpassing desktop, it is time to make a change in how mobile sites are incorporated into the search index.
Looking at Mobile Site Content First
This year Google is slowly rolling out the mobile-first index to start moving toward a ranking process that will incorporate both desktop and mobile site content. During this first phase, Googleโs ranking will examine mobile content first, then desktop versions. The goal is eventually to have one ranking system for both versions of websites, tandemly evaluating content. However, during this rollout phase, mobile sites will take precedence.
What This Means for Your SEO Strategy
For companies that have dynamic or responsive websites with identical content on both desktop and mobile versions, there will be no difference in what Google will see with mobile-first indexing. However, if you do not have a mobile version of your website or your mobile version is subpar compared to your desktop version, you could lose ranking. The websites with the best mobile versions will likely rank higher while mobile is rated first.
This rollout of the new indexing formula is a wake-up call for those who have limited or no mobile website formats. Now is the time to begin ramping up your mobile availability, not just for Google, but because it is the version that more of your customers will see and use. The Google mobile-first index is just the beginning of an industry-wide change to blend mobile into the mainstream, so you do not want to get left behind in the digital dust.
If you are ready to begin updating your SEO strategy to incorporate higher mobile visibility for your business, let our team at Skol Marketing help get you ready for the changes ahead. Contact us to begin exploring options to improve your SEO and mobile rankings.
