If you follow Search Engine forums, you might have noticed the growing buzz around Google’s upcoming algorithm update which is going to affect the mobile searches. The first step toward this change was made on the 18th of November 2014, when Google posted this announcement about adding a “mobile-friendly” label to the mobile search results.

Google Reinforces Responsive Design

Even prior to that announcement from Google and back in June 2013, in our own article titled “Top 6 Reasons for Choosing a Responsive Website Design” I already highlighted the importance of transitioning to this type of design approach versus the traditional Desktop version + Mobile Version model.

For those of you that missed that article, here are the key advantages of using a Responsive Design :

  1. You may be losing clients because of your traditional website
  2. Keep all your customers happy and satisfied
  3. Consistent SEO Results
  4. Track your conversions conveniently
  5. Cost savings approach
  6. Save time and give instant access to your members

Now Google is going further highlighting the advantages of mobile design and is already speaking about making “mobile friendliness” officially a new ranking factor. See this excerpt from their Official Google Webmaster Blog below:

“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. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.”

There’s no need to read between the lines. When Google speaks, most webmasters listen. It’s now clear that Google will increase the ranking of sites that are responsive and mobile-friendly. Google is also saying that the new algorithm change will have a “significant impact” on all mobile searches in all languages worldwide, justifying that as a result, Google says, users will be more satisfied by finding higher quality results as well. In other words, Google doesn’t want their mobile users to link to a website ranked on their search results page if that website is not optimized for mobile and it has nothing but tiny print and impossible to use navigation tabs.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise though. In reality, and knowing that today more than half of the website interactions start on a mobile device, these updates are great news for all mobile users. If any company out there has not yet considered converting their existing website to a responsive and mobile friendly design, this should help motivate them to finally build one.

If you need help converting your design to a mobile friendly Responsive Design, our Team at MGR Consulting Group will be glad to assist.   Take a look at our MGR Lounge that includes a large variety of not just websites but also other projects designs samples.

Until next time, this is Manuel Gil del Real (MGR)