Learning Hub | Google Analytics
Google Implements Mobile-Friendly Label
November 24, 2014 | Jon Teodoro
At the beginning of last week, Google announced that they would be adding a “mobile-friendly” label to the search results. This year, mobile searches are on track to exceed desktop searches, therefore, catering to the mobile demographic is important for providing a great user experience. Google recognizes this, and I believe that the implementation of the mobile-friendly label is just one of the first steps Google is taking to cater to mobile searchers.
So what exactly is a mobile-friendly website? According to Google, the website should:
- Avoid software that is not common on mobile devices, like Flash
- Use text that is readable without zooming
- Size content to the screen so users don’t have to scroll horizontally or zoom
- Have links far enough apart so that the correct one can be easily tapped
Furthermore, Google has a few resources for website administrators, developers and designers to help them get started on optimizing their site for mobile devices, just in case they haven’t taken the initiative yet.
- Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test – Google’s free tool where you can get feedback if your website is considered mobile-friendly or not based on Google’s criteria
- Google Webmaster Tools Mobile Usability Report – Tool within Google Webmaster Tools that helps you pinpoint mobile usability issues across your entire website
- Google’s Webmasters Mobile Guide – A deeper drive into how to create and optimize your site to be more mobile-friendly.
Another topic that has remaining under constant speculation is whether Google will be using mobile-friendly website design as a ranking signal. Based on the blog post that Google posted last week, they have said this:
We see these labels as a first step in helping mobile users to have a better mobile web experience. We are also experimenting with using the mobile-friendly criteria as a ranking signal.
If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, now is a good time to get started. I believe that the addition of the mobile-friendly label to the search engine results will have a positive impact on click through rates for mobile-friendly websites. With Google’s experimentation of mobile-friendly website design as a ranking signal, now the implications could extend past only the user experience and onto impacting the bottom line of your business.