Google’s New Search Will Prefer Mobile Friendly Websites
Maintaining a mobile friendly website was considered to be a competitive advantage a couple of months back. Today, it has become more of a necessity with Google’s announcement that mobile-friendliness will contribute to a website’s Google ranking. Hence, companies must design their websites to improve overall experience of mobile phone users or else they will have to say goodbye to their Google ranking.
Mobile phone users are a fast-growing segment of internet users. Google has tried to focus on this significant segment of internet users by pushing businesses to make their websites compatible for smartphone users. The change will affect mobile searches of all industries and languages. The course-of-action of companies to this change depends on the structure of their websites. Large websites can be modified to make them compatible for mobile users, while small websites will need a restructuring process to increase their mobile friendliness.
Common Features of Non-Mobile Sites
Google has introduced a quick Mobile-Friendly test where users can analyze their websites for mobile friendliness. Users are simply required to enter their website address into the search box and the test will provide them with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to whether the website is compatible for mobile users.
Google has also identified some problems common to all non-mobile sites, including:
- Page Size – Websites with a large page size that cannot be displayed completely without scrolling up and down or right and left.
- Incompatible Software – Websites with software and plugins that are not commonly installed on smart devices such as Flash.
- Text Size – Websites with too small text size that cannot be easily seen on a mobile device without zooming in.
- Link Locations – Websites with links located too close that cannot be easily selected by a finger.
How to Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly?
There are several ways through which you can make your website mobile-friendly and provide your mobile users with an improved website experience. We are listing three basic steps of create a mobile-friendly website.
Think With Your Finger
Most of the mobile internet users visit mobile websites using a touchscreen gadget. In order to design a mobile-friendly website, you should ensure that it is easily navigable with thumb or index finger. Make your icons large enough to be selected easily with the tip of a finger.
Keep it Simple!
You only have minutes to tell your visitor about your company and products or services. Too many high quality images or videos may increase your website loading time and may force your visitor to close the tab.
Be Clever With Java
JavaScript is unpredictable. It may behave differently on different mobile devices. Avoid excessive Java scripting as it could affect your website’s performance on a mobile device.