Google is changing the game for SEO and websites once again, and it’s important to be ready and prepared.

A week ago, Google’s webmaster trends analyst Gary Illyes confirmed that within months Google will update page speed rankings, focus on the speed of mobile pages individually, and ultimately rank mobile search results separately from desktop search results. This is a major move from the current practice that bases mobile site rankings on desktop site factors, meaning that if the desktop version of your website is fast, it helps your mobile ranking. Now, mobile and desktop sites will rank independently from each other’s influence.

 

Why is this important? The reason is that people are on mobile now more than they ever have been, and speed matters to them. Almost half of mobile users expect websites to load in two seconds or less, and up to 40 percent will leave a page that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. This makes mobile site speed a priority for businesses that want to rank highly on Google’s results pages.

 

In this blog, we will discuss Google’s move to mobile, how it affects your business, and how you can be proactive to find a solution.

 

Google’s Move to Mobile

The move to rank mobile sites independently of desktop factors is just one step in an ongoing motion towards mobile optimization. You may disagree with Google’s actions, but they’re simply responding to the mobile-friendly atmosphere that smartphones have created. Since 2014, smartphones have been the primary source for web surfing among internet users.

 

Google’s end goal is to use the mobile index as the primary index, which means the desktop ranking index will be less up to date and less important than it is today. The most adept businesses will adapt and optimize their websites’ mobile responsiveness, leading to an improvement in the mobile user experience overall. Page speed is at the forefront of that change; you simply cannot afford to have a slow mobile site anymore.

 

What It Means for Your Business

If your business has a mobile site that is dependent on the desktop version for its ranking, you can count on that to change. Your mobile site will be graded independently to determine its rank and be judged on various factors, such as content, inbound and outbound links, and speed. If you do not optimize your mobile site now before Google officially makes the changes to the algorithm, you can expect your mobile rankings to tank and your sales to suffer.

 

Mobile sites for your business must be optimized from top to bottom with no exceptions. This is especially important for businesses where mobile search is the industry norm, allowing potential customers to search for your business on their phone and call it directly. All of the change in Google’s rankings means your business must adapt in order to thrive.

 

Adapt or Get Left Behind

It couldn’t be clearer; the change is inevitable. It’s up to us to be ready for it. As more internet users move towards mobile, failing to change soon can do crippling damage to your business. Now is the time to start building strong relationships with customers who are using mobile. If you’re proactive, this can be an amazing opportunity to take advantage of the situation and be at the forefront of the changing digital landscape.

 

The solution is simple: Your business must make mobile site speed and overall ranking a priority. Fortunately, Google has given you the chance to test your page speed and speculate where it will rank before it enacts the changes. Take this opportunity to see how your mobile site will rank in the future and take action to enhance that ranking today.

 

Moving Forward Together

This is the beginning of a new era in internet use. With the smartphone’s utility and the millennial generation becoming the majority, the age of the desktop is coming to a close. Google has simply recognized the changing atmosphere and acted upon it; your business should be no different.

 

The future is here, and the time is now. Let Teamwork Solutions optimize the speed of your mobile site and ensure your business is prepared for the changes to come.