So it’s true. Websites that work well on mobile devices are highly favored. Not yet but with Google’s latest update on search algorithms, those sites that show nicely on phones and tablets will rank better. This means responsive websites will be given favor compared to other websites with older designs. This also means that many will fail the Mobile Friendly Test developer tool by Google.
Starting today, April 21, you might see changes in search engine rankings because of this mobile friendliness issue. Even big sites like Wikipedia, the BBC, and European Union-owned websites may not even pass the test. Elements that will be checked include the amount of space between links, text size, or if a content fits a mobile screen whether on a phone or tablet.
Searching on mobile devices is widely done now since more people own smartphones and tablets all over the world. More people turn to their device when they want to Google for something simply because it’s easier, convenient, and more accessible. It’s literally information at your fingertips. But you know Google, it regularly changes algorithms adapting to the changing usage patterns of the people. For one, the company launched App Indexing to include uninstalled and relevant apps on the search engine result pages.
The most importanct changes include showing of more mobile-friendly websites in search results and more relevant app content in search results. If you are a website developer or a webmaster, make sure you test your pages using the Mobile-Friendly Test tool.
If you have access to your Webmaster Tools, check the list of mobile usability issues of your website using the Mobile Usability Report. For app developers, you need to implement App Indexing first so others can see your app on the search results as we mentioned the other day.
When asked if the changes in the mobile search landscape is still on for today, April 21, Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google Gary Illyes said that “rollout may take weeks so you might not see an immediate effect”.
Let’s see how many websites will fail this one. As for Android Community, we’re proud to say we’re mobile-friendly!
VIA: BBC
SOURCE: Google, Gary Illyes
