The world or the internet isn’t over, but the big event in web this week that set off some sort of panic, Mobilegeddon, has finally happened. Just like the world’s most prominent search engine, Google, promised months ago, it has changed its search algorithm to suit mobile friendly sites.
This simply means that over the next week, Google will be effecting changes to search rankings which will give a higher ranking or priority to websites that are designed with consideration for viewing on mobile devices. It’s actually specific to website access on mobile phones.
The adjustment in ranking means that websites that aren’t mobile friendly have a lower priority on a search results list, and Google will also specify whether a site is mobile friendly or not.
If you’ve tried to view any website that isn’t mobile friendly from your phone, you might have noticed that you have the added task of zooming into the page and moving it around just to get the right sort of view. For mobile friendly sites with optimised content, the page and its contents fit onto your screen and you view everything in the right proportions without any extra work.
Google is acting on this because the majority of Google searches are made on mobile devices and internet access started moving away from the desktop ages ago.
In the Zimbabwean context, this reality can’t be any clearer. The huge majority of the 5.9 million internet connections we have are made through mobile devices which make it an even more pressing concern. Even though that is the case, the majority of local websites(including this one sadly) aren’t mobile friendly.
What this means is that starting now every entity or brand that has a website has to make sure it’s mobile friendly, just as long as it wants to have a decent placement on Google search rankings. Just to be clear though, while ignoring this won’t stop your site from working, it just means that you won’t be a priority for Google searches.
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7 comments
That was a long time coming. AT least more work for web devs.. More cash…
True. there’s an opportunity for web devs, as long as the holders of web properties realise how this a serious concern.
the question is how many people in zimbabwe look for products and services using google. so my thinking is that this number is quite insignificant to actually worry about rankings in zimbabwe.
For all WordPress websites, its as easy as installing a plugin, activating it and that’s it.
For those other websites developed manually, more work, and possibly more money. Chances are the owners wont care that much especially those on tight budgets.
Haven’t you heard – CMSes are not well-liked around here. Real developers eke out websites from scratch. Plugin?! For what? /sarcasm
For you to do well pass in school, you have to sleep 3hrs a day.
If it’s winter, read in a pair of shorts and T-Shirts and feet dipped in a bucket-resimbi.
Also, when you are ill… the best medicine is the kind that’s so bitter that you can taste it without a drop touching your tongue.
Dont you know?
suffering = success
Mobile optimization is simply must! Mobile-friendly sites are all set to hit an online market with search results that Google is supposed to rank high! An advent of digitization has indeed hiked huge numbers of mobile consumers and there is surely going be a magic that the online businesses would see just going mobile!