How to Optimize Your Website for Mobile-First Indexing
Google has been slowly rolling out its approach to looking at mobile URLs for ranking purposes for several years now. However, there’s no way to know for sure if your site is being indexed this way yet—and you can’t opt out. It’s best to err on the side of caution and make sure your site is optimized for mobile-first indexing. Here’s some good advice on what you can do to accomplish this goal, offered by the experts from Saba SEO, a premier San Diego SEO company.
Design Your Site for Mobile Visitors
A good place to start with mobile-first prep is with your website’s design. A responsive design can make your site appealing to mobile visitors by adjusting to whatever screen is being used. There are two other web design options that can help with mobile-friendliness:
• Dynamic serving – Different versions of your site are presented based on which device is used.
• Mobile app – A separate mobile app is created just for mobile visitors. With this option, you would also maintain a desktop-accessible website.
Watch Your Images
Images that aren’t properly sized can look awkward and out of place on a mobile device. Optimize your site for mobile-first by making sure your images are properly sized. Also, watch how many images you’re using per page. If you have too many images, your site could be slower on mobile devices, which could boost bounce rates.
Streamline Your Content & How It’s Presented
Lastly, optimize your site for mobile-first indexing by making it as readable and user-friendly as possible for mobile visitors. For instance, shorter paragraphs and bullet or numeric lists make it easier for mobile visitors to skim and view content. It can also be helpful to streamline your content by:
• Leaving enough blank space so mobile users aren’t overwhelmed by content
• Shortening any forms that need to be filled out
• Avoiding Flash features that could make content load slowly
• Changing button size and location within your content to leave space for tapping
• Using a larger, more readable font
• Not using pop-ups, since they’re not as manageable on smaller screens
If you’ve already made some mobile updates to your site and you’re not sure where you stand, visit Google Search Console. There’s a mobile-first test tool that will show you how easy it is for visitors using mobile devices to access your site. This will give you a better idea of whether or not you need to consider any other adjustments.
Mobile-first indexing isn’t the only factor that matters when it comes to rank on Google. If you need help with PPC campaigns, website development, or mobile SEO, contact Saba SEO, the leading experts on SEO in San Diego. To speak with one of our digital marketing experts, give us a call today at 858-277-1717.