Google to launch mobile-first indexing

Google has announced that its search results will become mobile-first on 1 July 2019. The announcement  acknowledges the increase in mobile search as we increasing use our mobile devices to search, find and engage with websites.

EVC Marketing's John Heffernan explains: "Search engines like Google are well aware of this seed-change in search behaviour and they are evolving to meet our needs with mobile-first indexing".

Simply explained, until now, Google indexed the content from the desktop version of your website first. From July this year, Google will index the content from your mobile version of your website first.

This latest development by Google to make the web more mobile-friendly could have important consequences for business owners. So, as a resort manager, what do you need to do?

It's all down to whether your resort website is responsive or not. If different versions of your website are displayed based on the type of device it’s being viewed on, then it's responsive. If visitors get the same website they would on a desktop, then it's not.

The lack of a mobile-friendly user experience may start to have a negative impact on your site's search rankings - if not now, it is likely to do so in the future.

So what can you do to make your site mobile-friendly?

First check your website and make sure all your technical areas such as the page speed, structure, language and design are mobile-friendly. And take a look at your Google Analytics and Google Search Console to see where your traffic is coming from, how long they stay on your site and where they go.

Make sure your site has a security certificate (Secure Socket Layer or SSL) changing it from http to https (like this website). A non-secure site will deliver a "not-secure" statement in the search results.

Check your sitemap links, privacy policy links and click links - heck, check all your links!

And make sure that you continue to add high-quality, engaging and valuable content to your site on a regular basis with meta data, titles, and optimised images and video.

Check that this content will display easily and properly on a mobile device. This includes writing shorter sentences in compact paragraphs, large and clear fonts and larger tap buttons. We all know how frustrating it is clicking on a button on our mobile phone that is just TOO small.

What to do next?

When Google indexes your mobile site version, you will receive a notice in your Google Search Console (you’ll need to consult your techie team).
 
In the meantime we suggest you undertake a mobile-friendly site performance test.  How many of you have actually visited your website on your own mobile devices?

And while you're at it take a look at your overall digital marketing strategy.  Take the time to:

• Review your keywords – ever heard of Latent Semantic Indexing? It’s all about content relevance.
• Establish your brand reputation (reputation management) and use the mobile-first update within your reputation marketing.
• Review the current site links you have.
• Review your video content and images.
• Review your calls-to-action and how you respond to mobile clicks and enquiries.

EVC Marketing can help

If this is all rather techie for you, but you're concerned your search rankings could be affected by this change, then contact EVC Marketing. We can undertake a range of audits and report back with fix recommendations to make your site mobile-first friendly.

Prices start from just £199 ($275) and include checks on current mobile friendliness, page speed, mobile parity/structure, content, and links.

You can then pass this report to your techie team to implement, or we can do this for you.

To find out more about this mobile-friendliness check, complete the enquiry form, contact the team on +44 (0) 208 123 9273 (UK) or + 1 (239) 444 8176 (US) or Skype EVMCollins.