Back in March, many outlets reported that the web search giant was preparing to make changes to the way its algorithm ranks mobile-friendly sites, with updates taking place over a series of weeks, beginning on 21st May.
With increasing numbers of people using mobiles and tablets to browse, Google is pushing for more mobile-friendly web pages in order to enhance the overall end user experience, meaning businesses can no longer ignore the change to more responsive designs.
When is this likely to happen?
We can now officially reveal that all planned changes have been implemented. John Mueller, Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google, tweeted that mobile changes were now “fully rolled out”.
What does this mean for businesses?
Opinions vary based on who you believe, with developers taking to social media to decry the changes as “mobilegeddon 2.0”, something which has been played down by John Mueller.
A more likely explanation of the algorithm change rollout involves sites which are mobile-friendly taking pride of place during searches. Sites which are currently mobile-friendly are unlikely to be impacted by the latest rollouts, although webmasters who are still sitting on a non-mobile-friendly website might want to think about pulling their finger out. But it’s worth pointing out that the mobile-friendly algorithm functions on a page-by-page basis, so you’ve probably still got some time before Google assesses and ranks each individual page on your site.
What’s next?
For most businesses, the first port of call is to consult the Google mobile-friendly tool in order to assess your site, and to have a thorough read of Google’s mobile guidelines – this will ensure you (or your site developer) have a good insight into how your site could potentially be affected. If you haven’t been responsive, chances are you’re going to experience significant hits this time around.
My site has plummeted rankings-wise, what can I do?
If your site has been adversely affected by Google’s latest changes, it’s important to remember that it’s never too late to turn things around and use the new algorithm to your benefit. Take a look at our SEO services and get in touch.
