I’ve had a few questions about the new Google “mobile friendly” search ranking changes that are coming along on April 21st.
As with all of Google’s updates, a lot of detail and analysis has been written already. Just search for “Google update mobile” and you’ll find no shortage of advice.
Also (as usual) many SEO companies and internet marketers are seeking to cash in by selling products about how best to deal with forthcoming changes.
These are often accompanied with grave warnings about what will happen to you if you fail to act.
So, what is my take?
Well, if it’s okay with you, let me first tell you what I’m doing about it so you can see where I’m coming from.
Then, I’ll outline my advice.
What am I personally doing about this?
Nothing.
Regular readers of my newsletter may know that I got burned by a Google algortihm change very early on in my career with this:
As you can see the site was only getting 70-110 visits a day anyway but still the drop was significant in relative terms and quite a blow given the work I put into the site.
Lesson learned – I didn’t want to rely on Google for traffic again.
Today I get about 10% of my traffic from Google (the other 90% comes from these sources).
So my attitude is: I’m very relaxed if Google want to send me traffic but I’m fine it they don’t.
Basically I’m not bothered about Google either way.
My Advice?
Firstly, if you get a lot of traffic from Google already then this update is something to investigate and look into.
Some of the information products that are being published might be of help although obviously given what I’ve said above I can’t help with specific recommendations I’m afraid!
Also there are certain cases where Google search traffic can be important such as larger companies who dedicate some marketing budget to SEO or local businesses who want to rank for phrases like “plumbers in Dunstable”.
However, these are exceptions rather than the rule.
If you don’t get significant traffic from Google then don’t waste time worrying about this update at all.
Virtually all WordPress themes are now mobile responsive anyway so this will allow visitors to view on mobile devices.
And as for traffic, as I’ve said, just forget about Google. There are far more certain and better value traffic sources out there that are more dependable.
Agree/Disagree? ALL views welcome and would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment below – I’ll reply personally! Cheers, Rob 🙂
Hi Rob,
AGREE – I get your point about traffic from Google – fair enough!
DISAGREE – However, as a ‘consumer’ landing on a page that is NOT mobile friendly only causes me to hit the ‘back’ button. I don’t have the time or a magnifying glass to read minute text! There is no excuse for this sort of unfriendly web page!!
As you say, most WordPress themes are responsive nowadays, but unfortunately, not everyone has upgraded to the latest themes, so I think they will lose out!
My post this week, strangely enough, is about the Google Update too. If anyone needs links to the mobile-friendly tests etc they can check my post 🙂
Thanks Rob!
– David
Thanks David, good points well made 🙂
Cheers, Rob.
I have a major problem with this. I have twenty plus old sites to update, one of which brings me in 150 dollars a day. My sites are constructed using html and many contain exercises written in Flash. I have been working on this full time for a couple of weeks and I reckon it will take me another month to do everything.
Hi Pearson,
Wow – that sounds like a great deal of work indeed! Maybe you can turn the situation to your advantage somehow and use it as an opportunity to get rid of the dead wood and increase conversions on the stuff that is making money.
Cheers, Rob.
I have been on a long learning curve and recently bought dreamweaver cs6 (low cost software). It is totally geared to build mobile friendly sites with plenty on line tutorials. Good for those of us not able to afford web builders.
It seems mobile friendly sites will be given a thumbs up and traditional sites a thumbs down which gives all us switched on to the change a big lift up, an SEO gift from Google. Not certain but have heard some providers are moving away from Flash.
Hi David,
Thanks for your comment 🙂 I looked at Dreamweaver myself a long time ago but decided it was a bit technical for me (same thing with Photoshop). But obviously it is extremely powerful and I’m sure learning it would be a valuable (and profitable) skill if one is that way inclined.
Good to get your views.
Cheers, Rob.
Hello Rob,
Agree. Forget about Google unless they’re your main source of traffic.
If you have a WordPress site and you want it mobile friendly (if your WP theme isn’t already) you might want to check out the JetPack plugin by WordPress.com (of course, be sure to check the “known issues” before installing).
Good suggestions Mark and thanks for taking the time to comment – good to see you here 🙂
Cheers,
Rob.
Hi Rob,
Excellent timing very smartly presented in regards to Google… 🙂
Definitely, got a good mix of readers through various resources thinking much more about the following product I’m sure! Almost ready to purchase and promote the following fairly soon… :)…
http://trafficmatrix.net/jv
Although, I do have a very important question on this Google, April 21st subject that I’m hoping you can explain and answer. If not, since you are an affiliate and I know you love and promote all their WordPress themes as being one of the very best to have in your toolbox these days!
Here’s the problem, unless something has changed in the last few days, Thrive Themes, including their main theme sales page which is using one of their own Thrive themes is showing failing results and problems as per Google’s mobile testing tools and details.
Again, unless it somehow just changed, please check further into this problem with Thrive themes and clarify with your subscribers in case no one else has noticed.
Maybe Thrive themes will also post and comment in this thread as per these concerns…
Thank you very much for checking further into my comments and clarifying just to be sure on these failing results and problems as per Google’s mobile testing tools and details.
Greatly appreciated…
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your comment and good to see you here on the blog 🙂
If you believe there to be a glitch/problem/bug with Thrive then their support desk or forum is the place to go. They are definitely best placed to help and given the nature of the issue you raise I think they’ll keen to investigate as a priority.
Cheers, Rob.