Search Engine Optimization

The Scoop on the Mobilegeddon

the scoop on mobilegeddon

Since about February 2015, the SEO forums have been abuzz with talk of the impending change to Google’s search algorithms specific to mobile-friendly websites, also known as Mobilegeddon. The change in Google’s algorithm (released April 21st , 2015) is about rewarding mobile-friendly websites with improved rankings in mobile SERP’s (Search Engine Result Pages). In other words, if your website is not mobile-friendly there is a possibility that those searching Google on their mobile devices would not see your website in their search results.

Over the last year, Google has been seeing more value in providing its users with content that is easy to read and easy to interact with on smaller mobile devices.  It only makes sense for websites to be mobile-friendly (or better yet responsive) as 48% of all searches now take place on a mobile device.

If you are unsure if your website is mobile-friendly, you can take this test provide from Google – Mobile-Friendly Test tool.

Fast forward to today… was the Mobilegeddon as terrible as predicted?

Some companies reported that the new algorithm change did affect their site’s ranking but many companies have reported the big, bad Mobilegeddon wasn’t so big and bad after all. That doesn’t mean that it’s not important to consider a mobile-friendly or responsive website. All websites are created differently, have different content and rank differently. High quality content is still one of the Google’s main ranking factors.  If your website has great content but hasn’t jumped on the mobile-bandwagon just yet you may have gotten lucky. But the question is – for how long? Google changes its algorithm between 500-600 times a year. While this first strike may not have left a wound for most – it certainly doesn’t mean that another strike isn’t looming on the horizon.