Mobile-first indexing. What does it mean for local businesses?

You’ve likely heard about (or received an email) about Google’s mobile first indexing efforts. Google is continually making adjustments to their search technology with the hopes of making it more user friendly and effective.

In fact, we just received notice just like this one that our centerstreetdigital.com site is now “mobile-first indexing” enabled.

What this means

At it’s core it means that the mobile version of your site will become the starting point for your search rankings. It means that a lack of a mobile friendly experience on your website could ding your rankings and a site that is mobile-friendly would perform better in search rankings vs. it’s non-mobile friendly competitors. Keep in mind however that it doesn’t mean that your site will be mobile-only ranking…Google will still take into account your desktop version. However if you’re deep in an SEO battle with a competitor, this is something to be mindful of.

Google is continually moving us toward an online experience that values mobile readiness. Your business needs to be ready to show up at the right time, at the right place and on the right device. If you need help with Search Engine Optimization, don’t hesitate to contact us.

What should I do?

If you have an older non-responsive site and your business depends on organic search, it may be time to upgrade. If you have a separate mobile version there are some technical steps you’ll need to take to make sure Google is indexing your site.

For the rest of us who have a solid mobile experience, you can expect to see little difference, however, even with a responsive theme there are a few things you should check like content view, page load speed and how dynamic elements are positioned to make sure your site is optimized for mobile use.

Great mobile experience for your customers is key to building trust and generating leads at the right time.

 

 

 

 

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