Google's Mobile-Friendly Update is Here!

How Will Your Site Survive?

[caption id="attachment_3420" align="aligncenter" width="300"] To survive Mobilegeddon, you don't need one of these...[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_3422" align="aligncenter" width="300"] You need one of these! A site that works on desktops, tablets and smartphones.[/caption] At last it's here: Mobilegeddon, the arrival of Google's long-awaited algorithm update that will leave sites that aren't mobile-friendly in the dust. But before you go sprinting for your fallout shelter with an armload of canned peaches, here are a few things you should know:

• The update only affects mobile searches. A mobile-friendly site will rank better in mobile searches than a site that isn't mobile-friendly. However, in searches performed on desktops or laptops, the rankings will remain unchanged. In other words, if you do not have a mobile-friendly site, it may get buried in the results of mobile searches, but still show up in the top results in desktop searches. Mobilegeddon isn't exactly the end of the world -- that is, as long as you don't mind losing ground to competitors who do have mobile-friendly sites.
• You won't see the impact right away. For site that are mobile-friendly, the affects of this algorithm update won't be apparent right away. It may be about a week before you notice any tangible changes.
• It's not too late! Just because people are calling it 'Mobilegeddon' doesn't mean it's all over and done with. You still have plenty of time to make your site responsive and reap be the benefits of this algorithm update.

Is Your Site Mobile-Friendly?

Are you unsure whether your site is mobile-friendly or not? The mobile-friendly test from Google will tell you whether or not your site needs and upgrade. Another way to determine how mobile-friendly your site is is to visit your site using a mobile phone. Do you spend a lot of time pinch-zooming? Are forms tiny and hard to fill out? Is it hard to read? If you answer 'yes' to any of these, your site is mobile-hostile, not mobile-friendly, and it will lose traction in mobile searches from here on out. You see, the thing about mobile-hostile sites is that they are hard to use on mobile devices, and Google is committed to rewarding sites that are easy to use.

Questions?

If you have more questions about this algorithm update, visit the FAQ page that Google has put together. You can also contact us to speak with our digital marketing experts.