Why Mobile-Friendly Websites Are Essential in 2023

Updated Content on 7/04/2023

If there’s one thing we can count on from Google, they’ll change their algorithms the second you get a handle on the last one. For example, let’s take a look at mobile-friendly design. Google has favored mobile since 2017, but the algorithms change slightly every year. What works for mobile now, and what doesn’t?

Let’s consider the facts before we go any further. Approximately 60% of internet searches are made by mobile devices today. There’s no denying it: you NEED to optimize your website for mobile. Otherwise, you’re missing out on about 60% of your opportunities. With that many people conducting Google searches on their phones, the search giant wants to ensure the results these users get are relevant, right?

Mobile Makes Money

We already know that mobile searches now exceed desktop searches. That information alone is enough to realize that investing in a quality mobile site makes just as much sense as a desktop one.

But, if you need more convincing, did you know that mobile is also a big player in presale searches? Consumers use mobile devices to search local businesses, watch product reviews, and even complete purchases. Many consumers will look up a store or restaurant before going in to see if they’d like it. You need a quality mobile website to convince these consumers that your business has what they’re looking for.

Clearly, skimping out on good mobile design can cost you money, whether online or in-store sales. Need one more reason? Google has something to say about mobile-friendly websites.

Google Knows Best

Since 2017, Google has slowly been switching over to mobile-first indexing. This means that the mobile version of your site will be the priority when Google is ranking your content. So, even if you have a spectacular desktop site, if you don’t optimize it for mobile, Google will dock some major points off your ranking.

Luckily, Google also provides tools to check if your website performs well on mobile. Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test allows you to plug in your web page URL to see how it scores. Google Search Console is another great tool for optimizing your site’s search traffic and making sure Google can crawl all your web pages.

If you’ve found that your site needs a little work, there are a few things you can do to fix it up fast.

Make it Mobile

Responsive Design

The best way to ensure your site looks good on all devices is to use responsive design. Responsive design means that your website will shift to display correctly on all devices, from desktops to iPhones to tablets. Some plugins can format your site for mobile, but the most reliable way is to write responsive design into your code.

Page Speed

Consumers are searching on their mobile devices because they want a quick answer. Page speed has always been important, but it’s critical on mobile. Check your web pages using Google’s PageSpeed Insights. To increase speed, you may have to reduce image files or implement lazy loading onto your web page.

Intrusive Pop-Ups

There’s nothing a consumer hates more than clicking on a website and seeing an intrusive pop-up with an impossibly tiny exit button. Stick to cookie and age verification pop-ups, and if necessary, only use advertising banners that take up a third of the page.

Readability

Mobile device screens are tiny. It can be hard to read on a phone sometimes, so make it easy for your customers. Keep paragraphs small and digestible, only about 3-5 sentences each. Consumers will click off a page with a giant wall of text.

Whitespace

Again, it’s hard to concentrate on such a small screen. Don’t be afraid to utilize whitespace. Whitespace makes a web page cleaner and more readable. You don’t have to stuff every page to the brim with text, images, and videos to get the point across.

If you’re one of those brands needing to trade in a whole site or mobile template site for responsive design, we’re here. We know how confusing Google’s algorithms can be, and we can hold your hand through it. Contact us to get started.