5 Steps to a Mobile-Friendly Site

Mobile devices are multiplying faster than people. There are over 2 billion smartphone users worldwide. This number is expected to tip the 5 billion mark by 2019.  Due to the growing use of mobile devices, there has been an increase across platforms to provide fast, convenient, on-the-go options. Policies set by Google and other companies have been pushing companies to adopt mobile-friendly designs. If your website is not mobile-friendly now is the time to make the switch, with the majority of Google searches being performed on mobile devices.

Search Ranking within Google

In 2015, Google released their new search algorithm that provided a significant ranking boost to mobile-friendly websites. Google has continued to announce updates to keep pushing mobile-friendly websites including, mobile-first indexing. Google began indexing the mobile site first during searches and only the desktop site when necessary. This includes content that is optimized for mobile and responsive websites. However, this does not include websites that strip down mobile versions to only contain a limited amount of information. Google does not boost these sites due to their sparse mobile content.
Thanks to these policies set by Google, companies need to shift the way they think about websites and how to build them. Companies need to be designing their websites with the focus being the mobile experience of their website. This mindset will ensure that your company is findable and is on trend with the market.

5 Steps to Help Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

1. 1. Make your website responsive
      Responsive designs are great because they allow a mobile-friendly version that includes all of your website’s content across all devices without having to build a whole separate website. A responsive site maintains a well-designed user experience whether they are on a desktop or mobile device. This option is great financially since you are getting a well-designed desktop and mobile site.
   2. Keep mobile and desktop content the same
      With the emphasis on mobile-friendly websites and Google’s current indexing method, all of your content must be present on your mobile site. It is important to note that this also includes back-end information like alt tags, metadata, and structured data.
   3. Make clear call-to-actions
      Any call-to-action/button on your mobile site should be large and easy to see and click. Make sure that the link is properly spaced on the mobile site so that the user does not accidentally click on the wrong one. With responsive designs, it is also important to make sure that when it is in a mobile format that the call to actions does not fall too far to the bottom of the page. Keep them in the prime sections of your content. This includes your contact information. Not only should your contact information be easy to find, but people need to be able to directly click on all of the details. This prevents them from having to remember the number or address and toggle between apps.
   4. Fast page load times
      Google recently announced that starting in July 2018 the page speed for websites will be added as a ranking factor. This means that pages that are slow to load are going to affect your website’s ranking for both your mobile and desktop searches. Slow loading pages can also lead to a higher bounce rate. Remember, a mobile phone is not always connected to wifi and cellular service can be of poor quality, leading to slower load times.  A good way to increase your page speed is to create simple and efficient code.
   5. Make navigation easy to use
      Whether users are on desktop or mobile it should be easy to find a website’s navigation menu. Mobile users tend to look for a hamburger style menu button at the top or bottom of their screen. Simple and clear navigation will keep users on their desired path. Too many options or a poorly designed navigation bar can confuse and frustrate users, creating more reason for them to exit your site.

Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly?

Not sure? Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to find out.

Need a Mobile-Friendly Site? I-ology can help!

Additional Information: developers.google.com/mobile-sites