Today, mobile internet access has without doubt overtaken fixed internet access. Research shows that a fast-growing number of people are accessing the internet from their mobile devices – instead of resorting to desktop computers.
A recent study carried out in the USA found that U.S. adults spend at least 34 hours a month using their smartphones to access the internet. In comparison, those same individuals are spending around 27 hours a month surfing the internet from a home computer. These same results have been reflected across the globe, with countless countries demonstrating a growing shift in internet-browsing habits.
To keep up with this shift in habits, Google is continually updating its algorithms to ensure that websites get a fair chance of being found from the relevant device. Previous changes that have been made to its algorithms included improving the rankings of modern, multi-design websites that are properly configured.
Google has also made it easier for mobile internet users to find responsive, properly optimised and mobile-friendly web pages. Finally, those websites that are featured in the Google App Index also enable businesses to drive traffic more easily to their apps through Google.
Latest Updates Designed to Help Users Access Responsive Content
Earlier this month, Google published an official announcement describing upcoming changes to its search engine policy. As of the 21st April, 2015, Google will be expanding its use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking indicator.
This change will influence mobile phone searches in all languages internationally and will have a major influence over its search results. As a result of the updates, internet users will now be able to more easily access specific, high-quality and relevant search results that are more accurately optimised for their mobile devices.
The second change, which has already come into effect, stipulates that Google will begin using information from indexed apps when ranking websites for signed-in users who have the app installed on their mobile device. As such, websites that have indexed apps now stand a better chance of being ranked more prominently in search engine results.
Rounding Up
If your website is not responsive or does not have a dedicated mobile site and indexed app, it will not rank as well in Google search results. Therefore, in light of the impending updates, it is critical that your website successfully passes these simple tests in order to ensure that it does not lose out on a huge percentage of its organic traffic.
8 Ways Media are experts in online marketing and web design and possess a wealth of knowledge and experience in search engine optimisation and responsive web design. To learn more, please visit contact.
Related articles.
