10 Reasons Your Fort Lauderdale Business Should use Mobile SEO
Just like user behavior, the best practices for optimization and digital marketing are always shifting. It’s not possible to create a free-standing search engine optimization campaign and just leave it untended.
Recently, the challenge has been adjusting campaigns to account for the new devices and methods of browsing the web that people are moving toward. Smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, and other devices are all common sources of people’s web activity.
Each one of those areas requires attention in terms of your SEO campaign. We’re going to explore some ideas for those of you conducting Fort Lauderdale SEO, doing an examination of why you should use mobile SEO heavily in your strategy.
Mobile traffic has skyrocketed by 222% in the last 7 years, which means it’s time for you to make the shift to mobile optimization. Let’s take a closer look.
1. Accessibility
The first thing that sticks out for businesses without mobile websites is that they’re inaccessible.
We’ve all had the experience of visiting a site on a mobile device, only to find that the layout is clunky and difficult to manage. This happens when a site is only set up for desktop use and not mobile.
It might seem trivial from the user side, but it has wide implications for a business. Shuffling through a clunky page to get some information is one thing, but trying to make a purchase or connect with the business is another.
People will be scared away from your site if the user experience isn’t optimized for mobile, and your sales could suffer.
2. Google is Prioritizing Mobile
One of the dominant shifts in Google’s SEO for the last year or so has been the value placed on mobile.
Mobile ranking factors have gained importance slowly, but it appears that those changes might start coming faster and faster. Your pages might lose ranking if they aren’t optimized for mobile anymore.
On a baseline level for SEO rankings, mobile SEO could give you a significant uptick across all of your pages. Your desktop rankings will even improve because a benefit to one page on your site spreads across to the rest.
The rising tide lifts all ships, so to speak. Your general engagement and traffic levels operate as an independent factor that Google takes into account. So, if your site is popular across the board, that fares well for each individual page.
The long view of optimization supports going mobile as well. Things are shifting slowly but a landslide is in view, and mobile doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. In fact, it’s fair to assume that more technology will sweep the market, making it easier for users to access the internet wherever they are.
Going mobile now will safeguard you from any sudden changes to the algorithm that heavily prioritize mobile optimization.
3. Improved Engagement
Mobile-friendly sites tend to offer more options when it comes to connecting with businesses.
For example, you can click to call a business in an instant, pull up the map to their site, or get in touch with them on social media. These features are unique to mobile sites in that they capitalize on the function of the phone or device.
You can make the call right when you find the information, or head out to the brick-and-mortar location right when you’re given the address. These features are available in less effective ways on desktops, but they’re at center stage in mobile.
Further, mobile devices are geared more toward user engagement. By this, we mean that the smaller screens incorporate more information into a confined space, and it’s required to click and browse to get through to all of the content you’re interested in.
That won’t always do something for your bottom line, but the simple fact that users are interacting with your content sends out positive signals to search engine rankings. The more engagement, the better.
4. Improved Load Times
Mobile sites are also equipped with a fast loading time even though phones have less processing power.
Speed is an excellent factor when it comes to user experience. That way, users can get in and peruse your content without any hiccups that might scare them away. It’s pretty easy to just give up on a site if it doesn’t load fast enough.
Load time is also an SEO factor that plays a significant role. Remember, anything that improves user experience will improve your search rankings. If you use mobile SEO, get familiar with some tools that allow you to examine your load times and troubleshoot issues that might be holding things up.
5. Mobile Factors in Desktop SEO
There aren’t many features of desktop SEO that mobile optimization doesn’t cover. In other words, your site’s existing pages won’t get neglected if you do comprehensive mobile optimization.
Your new keyword research might shift a little bit based on location, but most of the process remains the same. It’s also a good thing to start adjusting your keyword research toward location-specific terms anyway.
Unless your business exists only online, it’s smart to start optimizing for the people in your area. Local results are a huge boost to businesses, considering the level of product research and consequent shopping that starts online.
If someone’s going to go out and make a purchase, they’re starting their journey online. You show up in the first few search results to their “near me” search, and you have a great chance of getting the sale.
Beyond those slight differences, though, the content you create and the way you optimize your pages will remain pretty similar. You’ll just have the added bonus of mobile-friendly sites and the uptick in rankings that comes along with them.
6. Voice Search is Growing
Voice search isn’t just something available in mobile devices, but few people are using it on their desktops.
Individuals using devices in their cars are equipped with voice searches in almost every case. Many vehicles come set up with voice activation options that help people make searches while they’re on the road.
Similarly, products like Alexa and Google Home are spiking voice search even higher than they were in 2016 when Google found that 20% of searches in the app were made through voice.
So, with the advance of mobile use, the rise of voice searches follows. It’s hard to imagine a way for a desktop site to come in handy for people using voice search. Because most of those searches are done on mobile devices, unoptimized sites aren’t going to show up in many of the searches.
7. Increased Shares
We also have to consider the relationship between the devices we use and social media. Users are exploring social media on every device, but the type of information we seek differs according to the device.
For example, you’re more likely to seek out a “restaurant near me” while you’re out and about using your phone. Similarly, people who come to your shop and want to tell their friends will share your site from their phone.
Desktop use tends to be less location-specific.
It’s important to note that mobile site design has always included options for social media shares. It’s a lot easier for people to access and share information on your mobile pages when they’re using their phones.
The people receiving the shares and engaging tend to be on their phones as well, so the whole experience is improved with a mobile site.
8. Keep Up with Competition
It’s no secret that mobile is on the rise, so a lot of your competitors are starting to use mobile as well. If you’re not sure, check their websites with your phone then take a look at yours.
How’s the difference? Which one has a better user experience?
If you notice a huge gap between your quality and theirs, they’re already on the mobile optimization train. The trend will only continue.
It’s smart to employ a mobile campaign for the fact that competitors are doing it alone. No mobile site, and you’ll see a slippery slope down the rankings as your competitors start optimizing.
9. Wider Search Reach
Mobile and desktop optimized pages help exist out there to rank in searches and draw traffic. Having both can really spread your reach out and help you rank.
A healthy balance of both kinds of pages will put you in a good position to be seen by users, wherever they’re searching. Each significant uptick in rankings for any particular page will benefit the entire site.
So, adding a mobile campaign will just serve to improve your existing desktop rankings.
10. You’ll Make More Money
The point that all of the points above lead to is that your business is going to improve if you use mobile SEO.
More people will see you, they’ll have a better experience with your business, and it will be easier for them to make purchases from you. The investment in a mobile version of your site will pay itself off in no time.
Want to Use Mobile SEO for Your Business?
There’s no reason not to use mobile SEO for your site. It can seem tricky to start moving forward with a campaign, though. We get that, and we’re here to help.
Work with us to add a professional touch to your campaign and see big results that boost your bottom line.
