Google's "Mobilegeddon" and What it Means for Your Website
On April 21st, 2015 Google updated their search algorithm to include one important new metric - mobile devices. It was rumored that an update was coming that would totally change the online search landscape and the rumors were right.
What are the risks of not having a mobile friendly website?
Google's search algorithm looks at over 200 factors when choosing which website to rank over another. Now one of those factors, and arguably the most important variable, is mobile-friendliness. Before the search algorithm update in 2015, all websites were created equal - a mobile-friendly website was not favored over one that was not.
This is no longer the case.
If your tree service website is not optimized for mobile devices then you run the risk of not showing up in search results when people search for your "Tree Service + Your City" on their mobile devices.
Many businesses are starting to realize the importance of ranking well in Google. If you don't show up on the first page of Google, you're practically invisible.
What makes a website mobile friendly?
A mobile friendly website is a website that responds to the size of the user's screen. Here's a tree service Bellingham WA website that is mobile friendly. The navigation, text and images all respond nicely to the size of the user's screen.
You can test if your website is mobile friendly by using Google's Mobile Friendly Test Tool.
A quicker way to see if a website is mobile friend is to resize your browser window (on a desktop or laptop computer). If the text, images, and forms all scale down to fit nicely in the smaller browser window then congratulations! Your website is mobile friendly.
If you discover that you have overset text and images cut off by the browser's window then unfortunately your website isn't optimized for viewing on mobile devices.
About a year ago it was official - people search for things more on their smartphones than desktop computers. If your website isn't mobile friendly then you're bumped out of those search results.
It's not too late to update your website
Let's face it - more and more business is being conducted online. By not showing up on the first page of Google you can be leaving a lot of business on the table. But there is good news!
It's not too late to update your website to have a mobile friendly design. By getting a mobile friendly website you will start to perform better in mobile search results which can bring you more tree service leads and business.
Your website should be viewed as your best employee - only if it's optimized. A website works 24/7/365 with no over time. It's also more effective than canvassing a neighborhood with a few of your crew members because people searching for your business on Google already want what you offer.
This post was authored by Jordan Stambaugh
Jordan M. Stambaugh has a degree in Digital Media Design and specializes in websites creation and SEO services for local businesses. Located in the Pacific Northwest, WA, he has helped numerous businesses rank in local search results for tree services. You'll find him at Stambaugh Designs helping tree care companies grow their business and at his blog writing about website design and internet marketing.