How to leverage Google's mobile-first index

So, you just got used to SEO for desktop, well the bad news is things are changing! 

The good news is that if you're one of the first to embrace change then you usually thrive:

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Charles Darwin

Did you know? 50% of all website visits are now from mobile devices rather than desktops!

In response to this increasing usage of mobile driven internet searches, apps etc, Google began experimenting with mobile-first indexing in 2016.

What is mobile-first indexing?

This means that instead of crawling, indexing and ranking content from a desktop version of your pages, which may cause issues for mobile searches when that version differs greatly from the mobile version, Google will eventually be primarily using the mobile version of your content.

This doesn't mean that it will ignore your desktop site entirely, just that it will be considered after the mobile version.

Here are some tips to help you optimise your sites in preparation:

1. Ensure you correctly implement dynamic serving which responds to the user's device.

2. Make sure that your mobile site version has the important high quality content with images and video.

3. Ensure your mobile site is user-friendly and not a frustrating experience for the user.

Here's a quick basic checklist:

*Check that buttons are usable with 44 pixels of whitespace around elements.

*Avoid landscape images and check all images are complete and clear and that text is readable.

*Check the load times and page speeds.

*Avoid using software like Flash which isn't common on mobile devices. Instead use Java or HTML5.

*Avoid pop ups other than one for new visitors to collect email addresses.

*Ensure phone numbers are tappable.

*As mentioned in earlier blogs, large images slow down loading speeds and you may find parts are missing from the screen which isn't a good look.

Ideally, if your site builder needs to be able to detect which device your viewers are using and adjust automatically.

To help you Google have prepared a test to gauge the quality of your mobile site. Just enter your URL and follow the instructions. Google will provide you with feedback and actionable tips.

For more help and information, check out the Google webmaster blog.