Mobile SEO: A Guide to Success

Mobile SEO, is it a term you’ve heard before? Basically, it is about search engine optimization for the mobile version of the website. Many people use mobile phones to search on Google, especially when it comes to local searches.

Then it is important that you have search engine optimized correctly. In this guide, we will go through everything you need to know about mobile SEO.

• What is mobile SEO?
• Why is mobile SEO important?
• What is mobile-first indexing?
• Is mobile-first indexing important?
• Best tips for mobile SEO
• Google’s mobile friendliness test
• Website speed
• Web design for mobile users
• Do not use pop-ups
• Enlarge everything
• Responsive design
• Mobile SEO and local searches
• Structured data
• Mobile SEO Summary

What is mobile SEO?

Mobile SEO is about optimizing your website for users who surf on mobiles and tablets. Mobile SEO is also about optimizing your website for search engines.

Why is mobile SEO important?

Why is it important to even think about this? Mobile phone searches have increased sharply in recent years and continue to do so. Today, more than half search on their mobile. In addition, Google has switched to mobile-first indexing.

What is mobile-first indexing?

Mobile-first indexing means that Google ranks your website based on the mobile version of your site. This happens even if you search on Google from your desktop.

Before this update, it was a mix of both mobile and desktop results. This meant that if someone did a search from their phone, then Google showed results for the mobile version and the same was true for the desktop.

Today, no matter what device you use to search on Google, Google will show results from their mobile index.

Is mobile-first indexing important?

This is because, if your site is already perfectly optimized for mobile, it should be calm. So about your website…

• Loads resources between devices
• Do not hide content on the mobile version of your site
• Charges quickly, as mobile users expect
• Has worked internal links and redirects
• A UX (User Experience) that is optimized regardless of which device the user uses

If you check all the points, then your site is optimized for all devices. However, mobile users may use different search phrases when searching on mobile than on desktop. For example, local searches are more common on mobiles than on desktops.

Best tips for mobile SEO

Using the following tips, you can ensure that your site is adapted for all devices, and that Google believes that the site is optimized for the devices.

Google’s mobile friendliness test

The very first thing you should start with when working with mobile SEO, is to use Google’s mobile friendliness tests. First go to the Google Search Console, where you can click on “Mobile Usability” in the left menu.

You will then see if there are any errors or problems with the mobile version of your website. This could be, for example, if some elements are too close together or the text is too small to read.

Then go to Google’s mobile friendliness test. Paste your URL into the tool and then you get a report on what you can do better to customize your site.

Website speed

You already know that your website loads fast, you already know that. For mobile devices, it is even more important, for several reasons. Among other things because there can be bigger problems with coverage but also because many are leaps and bounds when they use their mobile phones.

Make sure you optimize your images for the web, reduce redirects and minimize code for optimal mobile SEO.

 Web design for mobile users

No matter what platform you use for your site, most people adapt their websites to mobile. However, it is not always optimal, so you should always check what your website looks like on mobiles and tablets.

Do not use pop-ups

Pop-ups are not optimal for mobile phones. On the one hand, they are difficult to tick down and on the other hand, they take up much more space than if you need the website on a desktop. If you use pop-ups on the mobile version of the website, you risk increasing your bounce rate.

Enlarge everything

Of course, everything is smaller on mobile phones, but in addition, many people find it more difficult to read on mobile phones if the elements are small. On the mobile version of your website, you should therefore enlarge everything, especially for those who also have slightly larger fingers.

Responsive design

Responsive design means that your website adapts depending on which device it appears on. So it looks equally good on all mobiles, tablets and desktops.

No matter what CMS tool you use for your website, WordPress, Wix or Squarespace, you can always check what your website looks like on mobiles and tablets.

However, you can often not choose what size of tablet or what kind of mobile for example. Then you can use a website such as Responsive Website Design Test, where you can choose the type of mobile you want to see your site on, etc.

Mobile SEO and local searches

As we mentioned earlier, many local searches are done from the mobile. Therefore, it is extra important for you who have a local business, to search engine optimize for local searches. It includes optimizing by address, phone number and using your city or town in your metadata.

Related article: Local SEO: How to search engine optimize locally

Structured data

Since there is limited space on the screen, there is a greater chance that rich snippets (selected excerpts in English) will receive more clicks than normal search results. Therefore, it may be an idea to arrange structured data.

Mobile SEO Summary

Mobile SEO does not have to be complicated, it is important that you think from a user perspective – on the mobile. After reviewing our tips in this article, your website will be optimized for mobile devices.

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