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Be All That You Can Be On Mobile

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Did you know that half of Google searches take place on mobile devices? HALF. And, conversion rates are higher there. As Google continues to prioritize the platform, the message is clear: You need to make the most of mobile. (See the company’s turn to mobile-first indexing.)

Mobile strategy is a consistent, ongoing effort. Here are some tips on how to fine tune your game:

(These steps are brought to you by our Senior Content Writer and Editor, Michael Morton.)

Mobile Means a Team Effort

Some mobile-inspired changes will require help from your designers and developers, so it might be a good time to bring them some treats. But you can start with your content approach:

  • Avoid thin content, and confirm that your content works for mobile.
  • Provide clear and simple calls to action, higher up.
  • Make sure forms are easy to use (and see if you can get rid of any).
  • Focus your SEO efforts on your mobile site.

Now about the rest of your team. Here’s where they come in:

  • Responsive site: Consider making a site that adjusts to screen size. You only need one set of content, and you will have Google’s recent changes covered. Other platforms can work, though, too. If you have a mobile site (m.site), verify it in Google Search Console.
  • User experience: Design with fat fingers and touchscreens in mind. Use a readable font size. Remember that Google no longer penalizes sites with expandable content, but keep the user experience in mind. If you’re doing a complete site rebuild, design for mobile first.
  • Mobile v. desktop: Compare your mobile and desktop sites. Mobile should not be missing content, and the content and links should be similar.
  • Faster and faster: Boost your speed, so your pages render in less than a second. Users are more likely to stay and to come away with a good impression.
  • Keep it clean: Limit popups, and make them unobtrusive (small banners are a good example). You can make exceptions for logins and legal obligations such as age verifications.
  • Easy-to-use: Use clear and easy navigation. Look at your data when deciding between an extensive menu and a slim one.
  • Check your details: Your mobile site needs structured data markup, SEO tags, active links (including between mobile and desktop) and working crawl paths that don’t run too deep.

Finally, a bonus tip: Use cellular coverage to test your mobile site, rather than just Wi-Fi. By following these guidelines, you’ll be well-positioned for the ongoing shift to mobile. We’re eager to see the results.