What you should know if you are panicking about Google's mobile search changes

With Google announcing that around the 21st april, your site’s “mobile friendlliness” will affect your search results, a lot of people are worried. This is because to create your site again, to make it responsive or to make a mobile version, takes time and money, and that may not be something your business has budgeted for.
We get it. As a small business, unexpected costs are the WORST!
Anytime you have to upgrade your PCs, invest in new software, replace a team member, or pay some regulatory body, there are costs which don’t necessarily align with your business’s income and profit. Annoying!

There is a mobile version of Google search results

So, if someone is Googling on their phone, they will be given results that are working on mobile phones. On their PC browser, they will be given a different set of results. So, the point of making a mobile friendly and ideally responsive version of your website is so that when people search for your site on their mobile phones – not only does your site show up as it would in it’s usual search rank position, but also when people look at your site, it displays properly on their mobile device.

Test your site

Is it mobile friendly? There is a free test on Google you can do – just follow this link and paste your website URL into the box. Some people don’t realise they already have a mobile friendly or responsive site, and worry about the 21st April change unnecessarily!

It’s worth checking your search results

Look at your Google Analytics. Search for yourself on Google and check the results. If you would like help with analyzing this, our SEO guy Tom is excellent, so we can put you in touch (mention our names so he knows you came via TLD)

The 46% statistic

Nowadays, stats show that 46% of browsing is now done on a mobile device (smartphone or tablet). So, if you think there is a smidgen of a chance that your target audience for your website might be using smartphones, of course it’s relevant to you.

Sideways surfing

It’s common for people to arrive at different pages within your site from what is called “sideways surfing”. This means they arent coming to your homepage but probably to a page within your website, or, more likely, your blog. If you use social media to share your blog posts, then many people get to your website this way, completely bypassing your homepage, and bypassing Google entirely.
Does this mean you don’t need to worry about the Google rule – as long as you are active on social media? Well – not really. Having your website pages – including your blog – created responsively – means you know that people who look at your site through their mobile devices see it in a way that’s easy to read and designed to be viewed on that device.

What’s your website for anyway?

I have heard people say “oh, it’s not relevant to us, we don’t have people coming to us via our website” – this may be true – we know many ultra successful companies who have amazing businesses but it’s just not evident on their websites. It’s a decision every business owner needs to make. Just think about it. I have planted a seed in there, haven’t I? Read on!

Imagine the utopia

So, what if you did have your site upgraded? An up to date website (which can mean a new design, content marketing strategy, and new code in all respects), if done properly, will mean more everything! More clients, more opportunities, more knowledge, more chances to share the gift your business gives to the world!
How exciting is that?
See also these other posts:

Get in touch to find out more: Simply email us at team [at] topleftdesign.com and we can discuss how we can help.