If ever there was a time when the saying “the customer is always right” was true, it’s now. The digital landscape has fueled a new evolution of the face of consumerism: a confident, capable, and connected force that is directly plugged into a world where they can get anything and everything on-demand. And because of how fast and relevant consumers expect to receive information, mobile devices now dominate the digital landscape.

Because mobile is a uniquely positioned productivity tool, it’s important to consider how your brand is creating mobile experiences that cater to people’s desire for efficiency. A seamless mobile experience goes a long way in tapping into that desire and building a stronger relationship. We found that 79 percent say they’re more likely to revisit and/or share a mobile site if it is easy to use.

Changes in SEO

Importance of Site Speed

There are two main factors that determine if your mobile site is prepared to meet the demands of consumers: mobile ranking and site speed. First, you need to make sure your site can be found when prospective residents search on a mobile device. Next, you need to make sure the site, graphics, any attached pages and videos load quickly – very quickly.

Be prepared to meet consumer demand for fast, relevant information by reducing the time it takes your desktop and mobile website to load. The average mobile site takes 15 seconds to populate (seven seconds less than last year), but that’s still too slow. According to Google, 53 percent of mobile visitors leave a page if it takes more than three seconds to load. Mobile devices account for more than 50 percent of overall web traffic and page speed ultimately effects lead conversations and revenue. Websites and pages with a slow load speeds will result in less time on the page and higher bounce rates.

Mobile-First Ranking

Since 2015, Google has recommended mobile-friendly websites and content. That recommendation has shifted as mobile use has increased: Google now recommends that websites are designed to be “mobile-first”.

Individual page speed is also important to user experience. Page speed has long been used in site ranking, but was traditionally focused on desktop searches. As of July 2018, mobile page speed is also a ranking factor. This update will primarily affect the slowest pages and only a small percentage of queries. However, it is important to remember that the intent of the search query is a very strong ranking signal, so a slow page may still rank highly if it has assistive content.

How to Optimize for Mobile-First Indexing

The following recommendations will help to optimize a mobile-friendly website for mobile-first indexing:

  • Start with a clean design that displays correctly on a small vertical screen. Contact information should be clear. Visuals should display completely and be easy to view.
  • Buttons and other clickable elements should appear far enough apart to be easily and accurately clicked on a small screen.
  • Each web page should load in two seconds or less.
  • View website on a mobile device. Pay attention to layout, contact information, search bar, and load time. If there are any issues, have your web team resolve them.

Optimize Your Website for Mobile

When it comes to website optimizations, if you’re not mobile-first, you’re last. As pioneers in responsive design, we at G5 have always prioritized the mobile experience. For more information on how we can help you attract more qualified leads, set up time with us for a free digital strategy consultation.