Starting on April 21, Google will use ”mobile-friendly design” as a ranking signal in search results, rewarding websites that are fully optimized for mobile platforms and punishing websites that are not.

Is your website responsive yet?

Most modifications to the Google Search Algorithm have only a low-weight impact on search results, however this change will be profound according to Google themselves. It is very important for any business owner with a website to respond accordingly.

Google will also factor content from mobile apps (a feature called App Indexing) when rendering mobile search results. Android users who are logged into their Google account will begin to see apps more prominent in search listings.

These changes will make it easier for mobile users to find relevant, high-quality search results that are optimized for their devices, creating a better search experience. Google provides very clear recommendations on what you can do to make your website mobile-friendly. If your website has not yet adopted responsive design, here is where to start:

1. Check out Google’s guide to mobile-friendly websites.
2. Take the Mobile-Friendly Test to see how your website stacks up. You can test a single page or all to see exactly what Google’s search algorithm is looking for.
3. Your web developer can generate a Mobile Usability Report to help identify any issues with your website when viewed on a mobile device.

Google recommends responsive web design as the industry best practice for websites. A responsive website easily adapts itself to whichever device it is being viewed from.

And although responsive design should be standard for websites today, there are many companies – even big players who ignore this fact.
It can be especially difficult for companies who are stuck in older systems or platforms without the ability to make simple changes. In that case, there is really only two options. To optimize the website as much as possible according to Google’s guidelines or change platform / site builder.

With Miss Site (Site Builder) you get a complete mobile friendly website with responsive design suited for all devices. You can choose from a limited free version, or two different premium packages, fitting for both private individuals and sole proprietors, to larger companies and organizations. Order your site-builder today!