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Google Search Changes Its Algorithm Again: Prefers Mobile
RICHARD WEINER
Technology for Lawyers
Published: June 5, 2015
Just when you thought it was safe to… no, never mind. It’s never safe to think you know what Google is up to.
There has been another major update to the Google search engine. As of April, Google now will rank its searches based upon how mobile-friendly the website is. That fact, coupled with the last algorithm update that favored content over linking, present both challenges and opportunities for law firm websites.
On a recent blog post announcing the change, the search company said: “This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results."
According to a recent report, up to 60 percent of all web searches are now generated from mobile devices. In addition, other studies have indicated that upwards of one-third or more searches for lawyers take place through web searches.
That likely means that at least one-fourth of the people out there looking for lawyers are doing so through mobile devices. If you’re ignoring that fact, you’re missing out on the business that would cover your profit margin.
Think your office website is optimized for that? Think again. Unless your web developer (which, hopefully, is not you) has specifically made the website mobile-friendly, it is not.
And, since the vast majority of lawyer websites are old and have not been updated for years (as reported here recently), the odds are that your site is not mobile friendly.
That has two consequences. The first is that your website will not fit properly on a tablet or phone. Any tech-savvy searcher won’t go any further, believe me. You’ve already lost that business.
But now, Google has made that fact even worse, by lowering your placement on its search page. Unless you’re paying them, of course.
How can you tell if your page is sufficiently mobile friendly?
First of all, take this test. Follow this link from Google. It will analyze your site, and tell you how “mobile friendly” it is, according to the new algorithm:
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/?utm_source=wmc-blog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=mobile-friendly
Now, you’ll be able to talk to your web page developer with actual, useful information.
You’re welcome.