Read on…
If you have been following some (or most?) of the articles I’ve posted here over the years you probably have a good sense that my focus is on helping you get more organic traffic to your website.
And by “organic” I mean traffic that comes from folks searching online.
In the past, I’ve shared about Google updates after they happened and how those updates have affected how sites show up in search results. Happily, those updates only helped my clients because when you set things up properly you have nothing to fear about any future changes at Google.
Makes sense, right?
Well, there’s an update coming from Google next week. And this one will have a dramatic effect on how sites show up for search…
Why responsive design matters
You probably already know that more and more people are searching online with a smart phone or tablet than ever before.
In fact, one of my clients who offers a video training program through his site was recently asked by a customer whether she could view his videos on her smart phone since she no longer uses a computer. He was happy to tell her that the answer is “YES.” Now he is going to point that fact out on his sales page (my suggestion).
And that trend — folks surfing the net ONLY by smart phone — is here to stay.
Well, the folks over at Google are aware of this as well.
Which is why, starting on April 21 they are modifying their famous (and mysterious) search algorithm to factor in whether or not your site is “mobile-friendly.” Or not.
In fact, this was recently posted…
“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.”
Now, if you recently had a site created or updated by me in the past couple of years this is GOOD news for you. That’s because every single website that I create is built on a responsive, Google friendly WordPress platform. In fact, I’ve been building sites using WordPress since 2008.
So what is responsive design?
It simply means that the elements of your site automatically resize based on the device you use to view the site. In other words, it means your site looks great regardless of the device you use to view it.
So why this new emphasis from Google?
It should come as no surprise that Google generates most of their revenue from serving ads to folks who are searching and surfing online. What’s more, they have maintained their position as the number one search engine because they place a high priority on “user experience.” Which means, they will no longer serve up sites on their coveted page 1 that are not mobile friendly because they know that the future of web-browsing will be on the mobile device.
And that news is literally sending shock waves as business owners with older html sites (or WordPress sites that are not responsive) brace for serious changes to their traffic profile.
So does this mean for you?
Well, I can’t guarantee that you rank better for search because there’s no way to know if your competitors’ websites our mobile-friendly. But I can guarantee that you will not lose your position with Google.
When I heard the news I was thrilled because it meant that all of my own websites will rank better for search, and that means more traffic and the potential for business.
Bottom line?
This coming update will only be good news for you and your business.
One final note: most free website builder platforms and programs are NOT responsive or mobile-friendly. This doesn’t mean they their developers won’t scramble to make them this way. However, you DO get what you pay for. Free website builders aren’t worth the time investment to get off the ground, and sites built on these platforms will have a hard (impossible?) time climbing the “Google ladder.”
Schedule a website review or phone consultation today
Since early 2008 I have worked with dozens of clients and helped them get more than they thought possible from their websites. And I know I can do the same for you…
There are three ways to schedule your FREE website review:
- call 888-542-2936 and leave a voice message, including your name and URL, or…
- send an email to: support@bestwebpresence.com,
- or click the link and complete a short webform.
Online success starts by taking the first step…
Over the years I have helped clients to generate more leads and sales online. Period. To discover how I can improve your current web-marketing efforts to generate MEASURABLE results for you let me review your website, and then we can set up a time to discuss my analysis by phone.
