Definition: Mobile-first indexing refers to Google’s approach of indexing and ranking websites primarily based on their mobile versions compared to their desktop versions. You can evaluate a website’s mobile-friendliness using tools such as SEO Checker or Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.Did you know that over 50% of internet traffic originates from mobile devices? This is one of the reasons Google employs mobile-first indexing, focusing on a website’s mobile version for indexing and ranking purposes.Curious to delve deeper into the concept of mobile-first indexing?Continue reading to explore:
What is Google Indexing?
What is Mobile-First Indexing?
How Does Mobile-First Indexing Function?
Why is Mobile-First Indexing Significant?
How Can You Optimize for Mobile-First Indexing?
Considering a partnership with WebFX, a firm with over 1,100 client testimonials, for our comprehensive search engine optimization (SEO) services? Simply call 888-601-5359 or contact us online to embark on your optimization journey today!Before we delve into the meaning of mobile-first indexing, it’s crucial to understand Google indexing as a whole. What is indexing, and how does it operate? Google’s search index is essentially its comprehensive catalog of websites.Google does not have access to every website on the internet; it only indexes those it adds to its index. The process of indexing involves Google’s web crawlers scanning the internet and “crawling” new websites they encounter. When they find a crawlable website that seems valuable to users, Google adds it to its index. Subsequently, when a user searches for something on Google, the search engine retrieves results from its index, ranking them based on their relevance and user-friendliness for that specific search.Mobile-first indexing essentially means that when Google indexes websites, it gives precedence to their mobile formats over their desktop versions. Historically, the opposite was true, but as mobile usage has surged to account for the majority of search traffic, Google has decided to adapt.Understanding the definition of mobile-first indexing, but how does Google’s mobile-first index actually work?Consider this: Most websites have two versions, mobile and desktop.Formerly, when Google indexed a site, it would index the desktop version as the “main” version and use that format to determine how the page ranked. Now, it indexes the mobile format as the “main” one instead.Be clear about the meaning of mobile-first indexing: this does not mean Google is creating a separate mobile-first index. It is still using the original index, but this index now prioritizes mobile sites over desktop ones.What does this mean?Let’s say your website looks great on desktop but isn’t very mobile-friendly. With mobile-first indexing, the quality of your desktop version doesn’t matter. The low-quality mobile version is the one Google will index, resulting in lower rankings.In other words, if you want to rank highly in search results, you need to ensure your site is as mobile-friendly as possible.There are several ways to create a more mobile-friendly website that is better optimized for Google’s mobile ranking update.Specific tactics can help Google view your site more favorably and achieve higher rankings. Here are four mobile indexing optimization tips for your website!1. Utilize responsive designThe first and most critical step you should take is to implement responsive design on your website. Responsive design refers to a form of web design where site elements automatically adjust to the screen they’re on, whether desktop or mobile.For instance, the CVS website displays a series of boxes on the homepage with product categories inside. The boxes are arranged differently on a desktop device than on a mobile one, despite being located on the same URL.While you can address mobile-friendliness by creating two separate sites—a desktop one and a mobile one—it’s much easier to create a single site and make it responsive. This helps you avoid issues with different URLs and duplicate content.2. Optimize page speedsAnother critical element on a mobile site is page speed. Even on desktop sites, your page speeds should be as fast as possible—83% of users expect pages to load in three seconds or less. But with mobile speeds typically being slower, it’s extra important.To see how fast your website’s pages are currently loading, you can use Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool, which will give you a score out of 100. Then, to optimize your page speeds, you can do the following:
Caching web pages
Minifying code
Limiting redirects
Compressing images
With fast-loading pages, not only will you be able to keep users happy, but you’ll also send a positive message to Google and attain higher rankings.3. Prioritize mobile parityJust because you have a mobile site doesn’t mean you’ve made it a priority. Some businesses create a website on desktop and then make a mobile version, but the mobile version only has a portion of the desktop version’s content.Don’t be one of those businesses. When your mobile site doesn’t contain all the content that’s on your desktop site, Google will still only index your mobile site, meaning as far as Google is concerned, all that extra content on your desktop site doesn’t exist.In that scenario, you’ll end up with a lot of content that will never rank.Make sure all the content on your desktop site is also on your mobile site—in other words, practice mobile parity.4. Conduct mobile-friendliness testsHaving a mobile-friendly website is essential, but how do you know if your site is mobile-friendly enough? The answer is, you run some mobile-friendliness tests.Google offers a test that will let you plug in a URL and receive feedback on how mobile-friendly your site is. WebFX also has our own mobile-friendliness checker, which will give you a series of tips on what you can do to improve your score.By using test results to see where the issues are in your site’s mobile makeup, you can reoptimize it to drive better results and gain a higher spot in rankings.Ready to start optimizing for mobile rankings?WebFX can help! With over 28 years of SEO experience, we know what it takes to drive results through Google, and we’d love to show you firsthand.With our SEO services, you’ll not only get help with your mobile optimization but also with everything from keyword integration to Google Business Profile. We’ll even assign you a dedicated account representative to interface directly with you about everything we do for your campaign.To get started with us, just give us a call at 888-601-5359 or contact us online today!
