Since the invention of the smartphone, experts have been predicting mobile usage statistics and their increasing importance, and effects on search.
With the release of multiple testing tools and mobile statistics provided by Google over the past few months, if you still needed proof that a mobile version of your site is a must, well now you’ve got it. Google is now including a “Mobile Friendly” tag in its mobile search results, giving searchers a heads up on which results offer mobile friendly versions of the site.
What qualifies your site for the mobile friendly tag?
Recently released Mobile usability reports via Webmaster Tools suggest you should develop your mobile site with the following factors in mind:
- Text size – make it readable without having to zoom on a mobile device.
- Link Spacing – are they spaced for easy selection?
- Zooming – avoid horizontal scrolling and forcing users to zoom to view content.
- Flash – avoid Flash and other mobile incompatible technologies.
If you want to test your site for mobile usability and recommended improvements, be sure to run your site through the GoogleMobile Friendly Testing Tool and check out the mobile usability reports in Webmaster tools.
If you’ve been putting off mobile site development, it’s important to note that there are tools, such as Dudamobile (a partner of Google) that can help make the process a lot easier and less costly.
It’s becoming increasingly evident that mobile site development is a must and shouldn’t be ignored as Google has even hinted that it will be integrated as a ranking criteria.