Google is the search engine of the world. Pure and simple. So, when they announce changes in their algorithm we need to take notice. What are they up to now? Well, if you’re not in the know they are switching from a desktop-first to a mobile-first focus.

Why are they doing this?

It makes sense. The number of mobile searches surpassed desktop searches a while ago. So, Google is prioritising efforts to make the mobile experience for everyone as good as possible. They’re not saying neglect your website’s desktop experience, just that you should now put more effort into making the mobile experience your priority.

What does it mean for us?

Everyone loses their minds!

Not really, if you have a website which has been built responsively and offers a good experience overall on mobile (that means the site must load quickly, display correctly for varying screen sizes, offer good and useful content) you should be fine. For those of you with a good desktop but poor mobile experience you’re likely to suffer a bit than your competitor who offers users a better website experience across the board. And for those of you with websites that haven’t been updated since nineteen canteen and/or is STILL Flash based (yes you know who you are) then you should be taking measures now to bring your websites up to date.

What steps can I take

If you are in the situation where your website is dated and needs attention, then you should engage a SEO professional. They’ll be able to conduct an audit to identify what your search rankings and landscape is like. This will help to inform improvements to the website when it’s being fixed or redesigned. It’s important you undertake any work with SEO in mind and not purely from what you think is a good design or experience. Research and data are your friends.

Who am I

I’m Darren and coincidentally I’m a SEO professional. I’ve been involved in digital for over eight years now. I run 8th Row which is a digital agency focusing mainly on SEO, PPC, and Web Design/build projects.

Please feel free to contact me at darren@8throw.com if you have any SEO or website related questions.