As technology and the internet have evolved hand in hand over the last 20 years we’ve seen a broad range of internet ready devices hit the market, all with varying screen sizes and browsers. Its estimated that by 2016 there will be over 2 billion smart phone consumers. Put desktops, laptops, tablets and now watches in the mix and its clear that, a successful website has to stay on its toes to remain relevant. As of April 2015 this means having a mobile website.
On April 21st this year, search giants Google announced an update to their algorithm that will see mobile-friendly sites rank higher than those that aren’t designed for mobile. Its estimated initially that this could cost businesses between 30 and 50% of their traffic.
Previous Google search updates, targeted SEO techniques such as “black hat SEO” and have led to penalties for companies using underhand methods of getting a high Google rank.
“Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimised for their devices,” said Google.
In short a site that isn’t mobile-friendly will sit below one that is mobile-friendly.
This has the potential to negatively impact the performance of any site more than a few years old. Google has over 200 ranking signals it uses to determine page ranks and being mobile-friendly will be now be a major one. In short a site that isn’t mobile-friendly will sit below one that is mobile-friendly.
What does this mean for Perth businesses looking to stand out from the crowd? If some or all of your business is captured through people discovering you online then its important you consider updating your website as quickly as possible to one that is compatible across a range of devices. From Joondalup to Fremantle your future audience have their heads buried in their phones – you don’t want to miss out!
Not sure if your existing website is mobile friendly? Why not check here : Online Mobile Checker