Mobile-first indexing is officially a priority for Google. If reading that just gave you something else to worry about, read on. I’m here to get to the bottom of these changes and offer suggestions to put those fears to rest.

Mobile-First Indexing: What To Do

Mobile-first indexing is the shift Google is making to index mobile-friendly web content first, before desktop versions of your web pages. They made the switch thanks to the sheer number of mobile searches, which have been outpacing desktop searches for quite a while.

This may sound alarming on its face. But Google isn’t creating a new index. They’re simply giving priority to web pages that have been built and optimized for mobile.

And the good news is, it’s not likely to affect your rankings. If you’re already using a site that has a responsive design, then mobile and desktop users see the same content anyway (and nothing has to change).

Keep an eye on your Search Console. You’ll get a notification there if Google indexes your mobile site. If you haven’t been indexed yet, there’s no need to panic. There are steps to take that will improve your rankings, and enhance the customer experience for your mobile users.

First, use this test (free from Google) to determine how mobile-friendly your site is. Your results show whether your site meets the basic requirements for mobile-readiness.

Improving UX/UI

As a next step, take a look at your User Experience and User Interface (UX/UI). There are a few ways to improve it for people viewing your site on their smartphone.

• Fonts: Make sure your text is clearly visible and easy to read.
• Menus: Try a hamburger or accordion style menu, both intuitive designs for mobile users
• Mobile Snippets: Keep a close watch on your Google Analytics to see how your snippets are performing. Understanding this data is key to improving mobile engagement on your site.
• Make sure to check this in your Google Analytics.
• If your search traffic is mostly from mobile Search Result Pages, make sure to optimize your mobile snippet in our snippet preview.
• Tabs: Similar to mobile-friendly menus, tabs make site navigation easier on mobile.

And don’t forget content. People don’t typically read paragraph after paragraph on their smartphone. Clear, concise, personable content with action steps that match your site buttons and menus.

All in all, mobile-first indexing is nothing to be afraid of. Building a mobile-responsive site can only help you build your online community, and grow a loyal customer base. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You just need to know where to start.

[GET READY FOR MOBILE FIRST— REQUEST A FREE SITE ANALYSIS]