The biggest news on the horizon is of course the Google mobile algorithm change coming on April 21st. I’ve been discussing the possibility of this coming, and then the actual date for quite some time, but Google has shed some more light on the details, so I just wanted to relay them on to you as I know everyone is very nervous about what is going to happen on April 21.
Here are some key facts that have been shared from Google:
The Update will have more impact than the Penguin or Panda Updates:
Zineb Ait Bahajji of the Google Webmaster Trends team was quoted as saying that the upcoming alorithm adjustment will have more of an impact on Google’s search results than Panda and Penguin did. Though she did not specify percentages involved, I would assume since those updates were more punitive and attacking those breakging the rules, this makes sense, because it will involve every website. Though the adjustment will only change mobile rankings, every site is a potential candidate to come up in mobile search.
The Update will be done on a Page by Page Basis:
This isn’t something like in past penalty based algorithm changes, where your whole site is penalized if you break the rules, though in most cases, your site is mobile friendly or it isn’t with smaller businesses. This algorithm will address ranking on a page by page basis and it is possible for one page on a site to be mobile friendly and another one not to be. You should look at your whole site, though if your using a mobile friendly wordpress template or something similar, you are probably OK.
The Update will look at pages in Real Time:
It is important to note here that by real time they likely mean once your site page is indexed by Google. In some of the past penalty based algorithm changes, sites that were hit hard had to fix their errors or bad links and then apply for reinstatement. This addresses the fact that the mobile adjustment will be made as soon as Google indexes your page again and deems it mobile friendly. So you can correct the issue fairly quickly but real time may be slightly misleading.
The Update will start on April 21 and take a few days to roll out Completely and Globally:
This is somewhat self explanatory. The update will kick off on April 21, but it is not just flipping a switch. It will take a few days to completely roll out. As Google has been saying, updates are ongoing, so there may even be little tweaks felt to it in the coming weeks.
Your Page is either Mobile Friendly or it is Not:
People keep asking me to define mobile friendly and that is a good question. Google either decides that you are or you aren’t. I have shared this before, but this tool will tell you on a page by page basis, if you are mobile friendly or not. Though a lot of technical and usability factors contribute to this decision, when it comes down to it, it is a yes or no on whether you are mobile friendly or not.
Good luck with the big algorithm adjustment and if you need help with SEO in this new mobile focused world, please feel free to give us a call at 732 462 6019. We can help you get that search traffic flowing.
Leave A Comment