Mobilegeddon is Upon Us! Will Your Website Survive?

Update: Google discusses the mobile algorithm roll out on their Webmaster Central blog.

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past two months, Mobilegeddon is the term many people are using to describe Google’s mobile-focused algorithm changes that were launched today. What does that mean, you ask?

Throughout the past several years, mobile traffic has been growing at a steady rate. That means if a website is not mobile-friendly, it will affect how these users browse and click around on these websites. So, today’s Google algorithm changes are focused on ensuring websites are mobile-friendly in an effort to continually improve the user experience. A mobile-friendly and responsive website design will be placed higher in mobile search results.

Are you asking your IT team if your website is mobile-friendly? If it is not, then it is time to make some important changes or your website exposure in Google’s search results will start to drop dramatically.

Not sure if this will affect your website’s exposure and SEO strategy? Ask yourself the following questions:

Is my website mobile friendly?

Use Google's Mobile Friendly Test Tool to measure how mobile-friendly your site’s infrastructure and content are. This tool will provide a free assessment of whether your website is mobile-friendly, or not. It will also provide reasons of why your website’s features are not considered mobile-friendly so you can target those problems directly.

How fast does my website load?

Google rewards websites that have faster loading speed. Use Google's PageSpeed Insights Tool to understand how your website is performing and whether it is time to invest in a more advanced website hosting plan or other page optimizations.

Do I have a responsive website?

Does your website adapt and respond to the device it is being presented on?

• If you are using a content management system (CMS), then use Google's Mobile Guide to assist you in the transition
• If you are not using a CMS, it is time to learn more about the benefits of a CMS and transition to a more responsive design

Where’s my website traffic coming from?

If more than 10% of your web traffic is coming from mobile devices, including tablets, then it is a good sign that you need to update and improve your visitors’ user experience.