Google update to officially confirm that non responsive websites are out of the game!
Google has announced in one of its latest blogs that mobile usability will be a ranking factor in its search results as of 21st April 2015. This means that if you do not have a responsive website, your competitors that do will be higher up on the search engine's rankings - which means more business for them!
Most people access websites through mobile devices these days, 40% use them exclusively over desktop computers, because it's simply easier than switching on desktop. Mobile devices are always on you, on the go and therefore easier to use. This has steadily increased in conjunction with the growing availability of 3G and now 4G.
This news doesn't really come as a surprise to us, as this web design Chichester based company has been designing responsive websites for four years - longer than anybody else in the UK outside of London! All this means for us is that our responsive design techniques are becoming a necessity to local businesses in Sussex.
Here are a few reasons why your mobile website may be affected by this new update:
1. If your text too small to read on a mobile device
2. The website links too close together
3. The mobile viewport is not set
These factors will all contribute to a decline in rankings if you do not invest in a new, responsively designed, website. Remember that the vast majority of people will search the internet for services these days, if your website is not there, they will not be able to find your business. Think of your website like your online shop window, with internet traffic being footfall in the high street outside your shop.
This is a good analogy when thinking about your company website, as it reflects you just as effectively as any physical premises. All internet users want is to find what they are looking for as quickly and simply as possible. If they are unable to locate your website, or anything on it, they are very unlikely to use your services. Indeed approximately 80% of mobile users will leave a non-responsive website straightaway!
Food for thought
As the update is not due to happen until next month, that is still plenty of time to think about getting a new website. If your website is less than 2 years old, we advise talking to your web designer about making it responsive. Alternatively give us a call on 01243 776399 to talk about investing in a new design altogether.
Make 2015 your new website year!
We wish you the very best of luck in this endeavour.
Access by Design - Creating Access Online!
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