These days, having a mobile-friendly website for your business is non-negotiable. That’s because Google changed the game in 2015 and started prioritizing mobile-friendly websites in its organic search results rankings. Since then, the need for a mobile-friendly website has only increased.
It’s the world of Google and we have to play in it.
An astonishing 87 percent of all web searches take place on the Google platform. With this market share, it’s no surprise that Google sets the standards and rules for doing business in the world online.
Today, years after Google made the move to prioritize mobile-friendly websites in search results, nearly 60 percent of all web searches are done on a mobile device. So what does it all mean?
That means you will lose business if your company website isn’t mobile friendly.
Moving to a mobile-friendly website needs to be high on your priority list, especially if you are selling online. If you are creating a new website for your small business, you should choose a website that has been created using something called “responsive design”.
Responsive design ensures a smooth website experience from mobile devices to desktops and tablets.
Google places great emphasis on mobile design to reward companies that provide users with a high quality user experience. When someone visits your website, their experience of your website should be the same, whether they’re viewing it on their phone or computer.
Responsive design is a design solution that takes into account how the website reacts to your content and graphics at different pixel widths and heights. The width of a mobile device is far smaller than that of a desktop, and your website needs to accommodate both.
A website designer creates a responsive design website and evaluates how the website reacts to text and images of different sizes throughout the design process. The result is a high quality website that meets Google’s mobile requirements and offers a positive user experience on every device.
If your website is not yet optimized for mobile devices, it is best to start over.
Years ago companies added plug-ins to make their websites mobile-friendly. Plug-ins are notorious for creating more challenges than solutions if used improperly. If you’ve persevered and still have a website that is not optimized for mobile devices, the best thing to do is to invest in a new, responsive website that will vastly improve the user experience for your customers and prospects.
Introducing a new mobile-friendly website – whether it’s a brand new website or a website update – is a big step for any small business. Supporting other small business owners and mentors who have already gone through a website launch, like a SCORE mentor, is one of the best ways to ensure that you are taking the right steps to start a website that is working well and is a positive one User experience.
A SCORE mentor can help you connect with a quality website design company and work with you throughout the process from start to finish. Contact a SCORE mentor today.
Ken Sethney is a Volunteer Business Mentor at Kitsap SCORE. He is a former creative director and marketing coach for an advertising agency who has worked with the owners of medium-sized companies in the United States. Contact Ken by email at [email protected].
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