In short, important. Back in April 2015, Google announced that
websites that weren't responsive, based on a device's screen
size, would be penalized in search results. In May of this year,
the changes in the algorithm were completed. If your site wasn't
mobile or responsive, mobile users would have a tough time a)
finding your site, and b) using it without having to scroll side
to side or zoom in to read the text. This is critical if you
have a business-to-consumer website like a restaurant,
entertainment venue, hair salon or coffee shop, since a
significant portion of that website traffic is on mobile
devices.
There are a few ways websites can meet these requirements.
Having a responsive site means that, no matter what screen size
a user has, the website will fit comfortably within that screen.
Phones, tablets and large desktops will see all the content on
your site without having to zoom in to read content or view
menus. In responsive design, as the screen size gets smaller
fonts get larger and photos are shuffled so they appear in an
easy to read column. Some websites have a separate mobile
version of their site, but this is less common than just having
one single responsive website.
So, what does the algorithm do, and how does it affect you?
Basically, if you have a mobile or responsive site already, you
don't need to worry. However, if you have a website that isn't
responsive to a user's screen size, your site likely won’t show
up on the first page of relevant search results, even with good
search engine optimization (SEO).
To test your site, go to
https://search.google.com/search-console/mobile-friendly and see
how Google rates your mobile responsiveness. If it rates poorly,
it will say it's not mobile friendly and give a list of reasons,
such as links being too close together or the text being too
small, making a user zoom in. It will also show how the screen
looks on a mobile phone.
Unfortunately, there is no workaround for the algorithm. Your
website must either be updated make it responsive, or you must
have a separate mobile site created. A separate mobile site may
save time and money on the front end, but going forward it
requires more effort to keep both versions updated with the same
content. Plus, anytime a new browser update is released, you
must make sure both sites can accommodate it. Having a separate
mobile site also can't guarantee the users are being sent to the
correct site for the device they are using. If you send the
mobile link to a desktop user, it wouldn't look as clean as it
should.
SkyeLine Studio is a full-service website design company located
in Connecticut. We build sites with responsive design so that
they are mobile friendly and optimized for every screen size. We
specialize in content management systems utilizing WordPress so
that clients may update their site on their own if they wish,
providing the ultimate in digital freedom and flexibility. We’re
a one-stop-shop and make the web design process easy, offering
photography services, logo design, writing, SEO, marketing
strategy and more. For more information or to get a quote, go to
www.skyeline.com/website-design/.
About the Author: Skyeline Studio LLC is a fastest growing
marketing company that focus on building a strategic foundation
for leveraging your competitive ranking and securing the highest
ROI for each unique client in their respective business sector.
Since 2003 we have worked on technology which includes website
development, graphic design, branding, writing & editing. Our
platform is also diversified to law, medicine, food and
beverage, interior design, media, manufacturing, luxury goods &
services. For more info visit our portal
http://www.skyeline.com/.
By : SkyeLine Studio
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