Google is about to make a change, on April 21st to be specific, that is going to seriously change how it’s search displays it’s results. And our very own window industry could stand to lose out, that is if you haven’t got a mobile-friendly website. Here’s what you need to know…
More mobile-ready websites in results
Google is about to make changes to it’s search algorithm which will promote mobile and tablet friendly sites in searches made on those devices. So, if you’re browsing online on your phone and Google something, it’s highly likely that you will be shown only websites that are optimized for viewing on your mobile. For websites like this one, this won’t be a problem, it’s been mobile and tablet ready for ages.
But when you look at a lot of the websites in the window industry right now, there are plenty which still aren’t mobile optimized. So come April 21st, these non-optimized sites are going to quickly disappear from search results, to be replaced by sites that are going to look great on your phone and tablet.
Here’s how Google is explaining the changes:
Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.
Click to read full explainer from Google
6 out of 10
Think about it, when you’re laid in bed, sat on the sofa or at your desk at work, browsing the internet, you’re probably doing it on some sort of mobile device rather than a laptop or desktop PC. Google understands this and is the reason why it wants to start promoting more and more websites designed to suit these new browsing devices.
A massive six out of ten searches on Google are done using a mobile device. Consider that scale for a moment. Out of all the searches on Google, 60% are done from a mobile device. Now consider your own non-optimized website. 60% of people searching on Google from April 21st may now not find you because you never bothered to update your website properly.
So what can you do? Well, you have two options. The first is if you have a good knowledge of website building, perhaps you work on WordPress, the website building platform already, then you need to get your head down and start to update your site to become mobile ready in the two weeks you have left. If you don’t have website knowledge, then it’s time to get your hand in your pocket and pay a company to get it done for you.
I can’t possibly underestimate the importance of this change coming up. Each year more searches are done on mobile devices. More websites, information and data are consumed on mobile devices. If you’re site isn’t built to work well on tablets and mobiles then I’m afraid that this update is going to badly affect it, should you choose to ignore the warnings.
Hi DGB, I couldn’t agree more with this post urging people and companies within the glass and glazing industry to get their website optimised for mobile search and mobile devices. The Ultraframe website has been fully optimised with a responsive design for around 2 years now and the benefits are very apparent. If we look back on our Analytics to March 2013 we can see that around 18% of visitors to our website were on mobile devices (phones or tablet PCs), now just 2 years later we see it averaging at around 50%. This is a huge amount of visitors… Read more »
Horses for courses if you ask me, and half of all this sort of “you’ll disappear of the face of the earth” stuff is just more scaremongering from hungry website and SEO pests who plague you night and day. The ‘algorithm’ (like anyone understands what it really all about!) is always being changed. I don’t care what anyone of these experts tell you or I, people search for what and who they already know locally half the time, especially on big ticket stuff, and that’s what the DG trade recommends after all! You’ll be found a lot if not most… Read more »
It’s all too easy to get bogged down in the everyday and think you’re busy though, ive seen a few over the years who forgot about tomorrow and woke up one day with a business on its knees.
I’ve lost count of how many times my website has gotten me behind some big electric gates where nothing else could have done….
Silver surfers and their tablets……..
It’s not to do with thinking you are busy enough. A good, mobile website is very sensible if you are public facing. Not every company is, nor needs to be. Those with sites that are maybe not quite totally mobile friendly are not going to disappear not the abyss with these changes, nor is how they are found and visited in an absolute way. It’s over-reaction again, like all the other changes to browsing and site construction ‘rules’ over the years. I’m disputing the one cap fits all approach, and how much this is a ‘disaster’ for firms with half… Read more »