Bron Thulke - Web Developer
Google Ranking Changes for Mobile-Friendliness
Google have announced that as of April 21, 2015 they will be introducing changes to the way pages are ranked, to take into consideration the mobile-friendliness of the site. This change will affect google searches performed on mobile devices, to help ensure that content shown to users is not only relevant but is also accessible from their device.
We have been talking for quite a few years now about the importance of having mobile-friendly features on your site, and with the advent of “responsive website design”, the task of creating a site that is suitable for desktop, tablet and mobile visitors has become second-nature. Every site that we create here at Angel Web Designs is now responsive.
Even prior to the rise of “responsive website designs”, we were already thinking of behaviours that may need special consideration for mobile device users, such as multi-level navigation systems that didn’t include navigation links on the top level, and using font sizes suitable for all devices and font zoom settings (an important requirement for accessibility, dating back further than the mobile device concerns that we face now). However, there is so much more that we need to do these days to ensure a website is considered “mobile friendly”, such as
- appropriate font sizes for specific screen sizes
- alter content (the display and amount thereof) for various device sizes
- create easy-to-touch elements, that are well-spaced from other touch elements
- define a viewport (“viewing area”) which fits perfectly into the device screen, to ensure the user doesn’t need to scroll horizontally to see the full page.
If your site has not been updated recently, get in touch with us today to discuss options for reviewing and renewing it.
Remember, stay relevant and usable, to ensure you keep your competitive edge!