SEO algorithms and trends have been continuously evolving through the years. The implementation of mobile-first indexing represented a huge shift in how search engine marketers had to consider their client’s businesses.
Simply, Google’s mobile-first indexing meant that Google would, on the whole, use a mobile version of a website to determine the site’s indexing and ranking in its SERP. This came as a response to the growth in mobile search, with more users browsing from their phones.
This has meant that optimising your sites for mobile has become a crucial part of SEO strategy. Read on to find some best practices to implement this in your strategy.
- Responsive web design
One of the key features of a mobile-first optimised website is a responsive design. This simply means that your site can adjust its layout and content based on the device being used, like mobile or desktop, ensuring a great user experience across all screens. Google also prefers a responsive website because it makes it easier to crawl and index the content, resulting in better search rankings.
- Mobile-friendly content
Crafting mobile-friendly content is also important when thinking about mobile-first indexing. You wouldn’t necessarily write the same for a mobile user as a laptop user. You might consider shorter paragraphs, concise sentences, and bullet points, as these all enhance readability on smaller screens. This makes your content easily digestible on mobile devices, keeping users engaged and reducing bounce rates.
- Optimised page speed
Since Google’s Speed Update in 2018, page speed has been a crucial ranking factor for both desktop and mobile searches, but mobile users in particular want fast loading times. There are several ways you can speed up your page, such as compressing images or considering using an Accelerated Mobile Page. Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool offers tips for improving in this area.
- Prioritise mobile user experience
User experience (UX) affects how visitors engage with your site, so you should prioritise a high-quality UX for mobile users. This can be achieved with features like intuitive navigation, touch-friendly buttons, and a logical content flow.
- Implement schema markup
Structured data markup, or Schema, is code that you can add to your website pages to help search engines better understand your content. It also improves the chance of your content appearing in featured snippets in SERPs, enhancing visibility and click-through rates.
- Mobile SEO audits
Conducting regular mobile SEO audits is essential for identifying and addressing any potential issues that may crop up and impact your site’s performance. Tools like Google Search Console and other mobile-friendly testing tools can help you to analyse how your website performs on mobile, allowing you to address any errors or warnings.
- Monitor mobile page indexing
Similarly, Google Search Console offers insights into how Google indexes your site, and whether it is indexing the desktop or mobile version of your pages. This shows how Google is reading your content, and lets you tweak your mobile version to suit.
With the rollout of mobile-first indexing, optimising your website for mobile is no longer a choice but a necessity. But through a few best practices, you can craft a successful mobile SEO strategy and enhance your site’s performance in search.
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