After Google’s announcement that they will begin to use a site’s mobile readiness as a ranking factor for mobile search results, now is the time to fine tune your mobile optimization. Google’s move is largely due to their earlier prediction that mobile searches will reach close to 85.9 billion in 2015 as 57 percent of adults in the United States own a Smartphone.
Mobile SEO Checklist Infographic
The Ignite Visibility Mobile SEO Checklist
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Choose Your Mobile Configuration
Although Google recommends, at the very least, your site is configured for Smartphones, you need to set your configurations to accommodate tablets, multimedia phones, and phone features to correctly render information. Since 80 percent of mobile searches originate from a Smartphone and 47 percent from a tablet, so you need to configure for all devices to avoid missing out on conversions and sales.
- Configure for either a responsive design (Google’s recommendation), dynamic serving, or separate URLs.
- Set your configuration to signal to search engines.
- Unblock JavaScript, CSS, and Image files.
- Ensure all content is playable.
- Fix poor redirects and mobile-only 404 errors.
- Resolve irrelevant cross-links.
- Fix site speed.
- Promote app downloads.
- Configure for all devices.
Test Your Site to Fix Common Mistakes
Google released the Mobile-Friendly Test tool to allow developers to quickly find and address issues that hurt the mobile user experience. By doing so, your site will earn the “mobile-friendly” label to alert users about the compatibility of your mobile site. You’ll be provided with the Mobile Usability Report to resolve:
- Incompatible mobile device software, such as Flash.
- Unreadable text that requires zooming.
- Content not configured to screen size causing horizontal scrolling.
- Links and buttons that are inadequately spaced resulting in poor navigation.
Provide Relevant App Content in Search Results
Google will promote the capabilities of indexing apps as 26 percent of internet users start their search from an app. Deep links within your apps will allow Google to index your apps just like a website to provide users with more relevant search results. With 89 percent of adults spending most of their time on media through mobile apps, make sure your apps are indexable by:
- Adding deep link support to specify content within the app.
- Verifying the app’s official website on Google Play Console.
- Providing each page’s deep links to the correct link on your website or site map.
- Check for errors.
If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re already losing a huge chunk of traffic and will suffer an even higher loss after April 21st. You must make the transition now if you want to remain on the same playing field as your competitors. The success of your ranking and sales is in your hands.
Sources:
- “7 Stats that Show Mobile Marketing is the New Leader” Business 2 Community
- “Google is Ranking for Mobile Optimization. Here’s What You Need to Know (and Do). Kapost
- “Helping Users Find Mobile-Friendly Pages” Webmaster Central Blog
- “Is your app in the Google index?” Google Developers
- “App Indexing for Google Search” Google Developers
- “Mobile SEO” Google Developers
- “Mobile Marketing Statistics 2015” Smart Insights
