What does it mean to be “mobile-ready” and how does that affect you? This used to apply to just a handful of users but today it appears we have more incentive than ever to make sure our websites can be seen on all devices.
Google is going to be changing their search algorithm–meaning their calculations about what sites rank highest with a particular keyword–to favor those website choices that are mobile-ready!! So your business AAATires.com that is a good old-fashioned, well-made website of many years could be eclipsed in search rankings by AardvarkWheels.com that has been only recently launched their business nearby but have a mobile-ready website. Longstanding, high-ranking websites that are not mobile-ready risk being severely demoted in the new rankings to come.
Of course this is purely theoretical by way of example. However, since one recent estimate is that 60% of people looking at websites now use a smartphone or a tablet to browse the web, Google is taking the next logical step. This is revolutionizing the way we need to think about websites and how they are built. Any business that depends on being searchable locally could be affected in a devastating way, finding that they have lost many potential website viewers.
What are things that make your website mobile-ready?
- Get rid of flash openings, flash videos and flash-based animations. Are you using a flash opening on your website or a “flash-based” anything on your website? Do you realize that it will not show up on the majority of mobile devices, (in particular Apple devices) and that just a blank screen would come up? Most of these applications can be re-tooled in basic html and css coding.
- Make sure that your text is not too small.
- Make sure that your links are clearly marked. You know what I mean–have you tried to “click” on a tiny word link on a smartphone screen?
- Be sure that your images will resize to any given screen size
Take some time to experience your website on different devices and see what you might discover. If the results are inconsistent or inconclusive–or even downright awful–contact your webmaster and discuss what steps need to be taken.