What’s this about the Mobile First Index Rollout?
This is an extract from TWIS SEO News & Updates 07 July 2017.
So, Google will be rolling out its Mobile First Index to individual sites in a staged rollout. This is such a slowly, slowly approach, that you can’t help but wonder if the project is stalling, or if the change will be so substantial it will be earth-shattering for search results, even though Google is PR-heavy on the “nothing substantial will change” message. Read about it now.
You need to get your site Mobile First ready, as being mobile friendly is just not enough. If you would like to discuss ways to become Mobile First, or check current status, please feel free to contact me.
#SEO #MobileFirst #MobileSearch #MobileStrategy
Mobile First Index Will Roll Out to Individual Sites
Mobile First Index Summary:
- John Mueller confirmed in a recent Google Webmaster Hangout the Mobile First Index will be rolled out to individual sites that are ready for it.
- This is likely to be sites which, effectively, are the same on Desktop as on Mobile.
- The sites will not necessarily be informed of the change.
- The Mobile First Index is still expected in 2018, but will be piecemeal and slow.
How to Get Ready for the Mobile First Index:
- Get your site set up to be Mobile First.
- Read Mobile First is not Mobile Friendly.
- Set up rank tracking tools to track mobile rankings, if they aren’t already.
- Keep a steady eye on rankings and traffic over the coming month, especially with traffic from mobile.
- Don’t wait for Mobile First to hit, get started now.
- Contact me if you would like to discuss setting up your site to be Mobile First.
Mobile First Discussion:
Google is definitely taking a slowly, slowly approach to Mobile First. This indicates that, despite assurances, a significant shift is likely to take place. In previous “big” changes, like Panda, or Penguin, 10%-20% of rankings were affected in some way. These were considered earth-shaking to the webmaster community.
I can envisage a scenario where Google rolls out Mobile First to certain sites, which effectively have the same mobile and desktop experience and would expect limited ranking changes as a result of being Mobile First. The next stage would be to roll it out to certain verticals, which are likely to be of limited commercial value, as Google is unlikely to want to hit its hip pocket. Following on from this, you’d expect the pace to pick up, more sites, more verticals, more algorithm tweaks.
Even though this is a big change which Google has announced well in advance, the feeling I get is that the change about to be unleashed really will see significant changes, but Google is struggling to balance the desired outcomes with the actual / projected outcomes. Why do it otherwise?
More info:
Mobile First is NOT Mobile Friendly
TL;DR
- Google’s Mobile First Index will be a staged release – individual sites, which are ready first.
- Slowly, slowly indicates stalling project, or substantial change ahead.
- Check your sites and get them Mobile First now, don’t wait.
- Read The State of SEO in mid-2017.
- Read about how Google’s Mobile First Index is not Mobile Friendly.
Thanks for reading. If you would like to discuss what these changes mean for your web property, or would like to know how to implement them, please feel free to contact me.
