As we know in the few past years the usage of smartphones has been increasing. People like to spend more time on mobile instead of Desktop computers or laptops. Users want to get fast results while walking, sitting, and talking. That is why the number of users on mobile has increased.
What does this mean for website owners? this thing indicates that we need to evolve our strategy to make our positing No.1 in the competition. If we don’t concentrate on Mobile SEO adaption and strategies then we can left behind.
In this post, we’ll look at the big trends for making websites work on phones and tablets. We’ll also talk about what website owners should do to make their sites work better on phones and tablets.
The Mobile-First Index
Back in 2018, Google made a big change in how it indexes websites and decides where to rank them in search results. Now, Google gives priority to mobile users and versions instead of desktops and laptops.
This is called the “mobile-first index.” It means the mobile experience of a website is now the most important factor for Google.
If your site is not optimized yet for mobile devices or tablets, you’re probably missing out on people finding you through Google search. You might even get penalized in rankings. Google suggests using a responsive web design that automatically adapts a site’s layout across phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.
The main points are:
- Google now prioritizes mobile over desktop
- Sites need to be mobile-friendly
- Otherwise, you’ll lose traffic and rankings
- Responsive design is the best way to optimize for all devices
Focus on User Experience:
Mobile users are usually busy and just trying to quickly find info or answers. Make your content short and easy to understand.
Some good ways to help mobile users:
- Menus that are simple to use on a small screen
- Clear buttons that let people take action fast
- A smooth, seamless design across the site
The goal is to make tasks quick and frustration-free on phones and tablets. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and complex navigation. Streamline everything to meet mobile needs and support what users are trying to do.
AMP and Page Speed
We know that how fast pages load affects how users feel on mobile devices. It also impacts search engine rankings.
Google created accelerated mobile pages (AMP) to load super fast and improve the mobile experience. Even though adoption is still ongoing, having streamlined, lighting-quick pages is great, especially for mobile users.
If your pages can load instantly with AMP, you have a better chance of showing up in the top search results carousel on mobile devices. This prime placement gets you more visibility.
The main points:
- Page speed is important for mobile SEO
- AMP makes pages blazing fast
- Prioritizing speed improves user experience
- This could lead to better placement in search results
Voice Search Optimization
More people are now talking to Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and other voice assistants on their phones. And these voice technologies keep getting smarter.
Voice search creates some unique SEO challenges. The biggest one: the way people talk is much different than the way people type keywords.
Brands need to optimize their content for “long-tail queries.” These are full, naturally worded questions that someone might ask a voice assistant out loud. For example, a long-tail query might be “Alexa, where is the closest coffee shop open now.”
The key is anticipating casual speech conversations with a voice assistant. Optimize pages with that more natural language in mind, instead of only typical typed search terms. This helps people more easily find your brand when talking to their phones.
The main points about optimizing for voice search:
- People speak more casually than typed keywords
- Plan for long-tail natural language queries
- Optimize content for conversational voice questions
- Helps brands show up more easily in voice results
Security Matters:
It’s important to have an SSL Certificate installed on your website. An SSL Certificate activates HTTPS and encrypts data.
Having HTTPS is good for two main reasons:
- Google uses it as a positive ranking signal. Sites with SSL Certificates can get a boost in search results.
- Users trust secure HTTPS sites more when deciding to share personal information. It reassures visitors that data transmission is private.
Local SEO Targeting
Over half of all searches done on mobile devices have “local intent” – meaning people are looking for nearby places. They want to easily find stores, cafes, services or other businesses close to their current location.
Local SEO is more critical in mobile search than ever before.
One of the best things brands can do is update their Google My Business listing with completely accurate information like the address, phone number, and hours open. This helps them show up for relevant searches by people nearby.
Optimizing your website and online profiles for keywords that include the city, neighborhood or region also helps boost local search results placement. Getting listed and referenced in as many relevant local directories improves local visibility too.
The key local SEO pointers:
- Mobile searches often have local intent
- Complete and update Google My Business listings
- Target your area by optimizing for local keywords
- Get referenced in local citations and directories
Video Content Expansion
Experts predict that 82% of all mobile internet activity will be video streaming by 2022. That’s because people watch a ton of online videos on their phones and tablets!
Making vertical videos designed for mobile screens is a smart future play for brands. Creating more educational “explainers” and “how-to” shorts that share knowledge can help engage viewers while also ranking in mobile searches.
For example, a 2-minute tip video like “How to Bake Cookies from Scratch” or “5 Yoga Stretches to Try at Home” works well. Video content should teach and add value for mobile users.
Key points:
- Mobile video consumption is booming
- Vertical formats work best on smartphones
- Educational shorts attract interest
- Valuable videos can also drive SEO traffic
Social Media Integration:
Mobile users are constantly checking and sharing content on social media platforms.
To tap into this, brands should make their content easy to share on social. Optimize blog posts, videos, and other content so they look good when shared on the small screens of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more.
Having content catch on socially can create a viral, pass-it-along effect. This social word-of-mouth also sends positive signals that can boost those pages higher in mobile search rankings.
Some key social media tips:
- Enable one-click content sharing
- Design visual assets for mobile newsfeeds
- Encourage social engagement
- Leverage viral potential on mobile
- Social signals can lift mobile SEO rankings
Conclusion
Mobile SEO can seem difficult to understand. But brands can get ahead by making local devices and users top of mind now. Follow Google’s mobile tips, make your pages load faster, optimize for local and voice search, focus on AMP and videos. The time to start planning for later is today.
Those are the most important things you need to focus on if you want to be successful with mobile SEO in the future. With the right strategies, you can connect with more customers. And you can keep up as Google continues to change its algorithm.