When it comes to optimizing your website for search engines, it has always been important to have a responsive design that displays and functions properly on a mobile device.

After this month, that will be more true than ever.

This is because Google, ruling king of the search engine kingdom, is finally implementing some long-awaited changes to its algorithm. The company has been talking about these adjustments for some time, but has officially named April 21 as the deadline for websites to get up to code.

We don’t know any of the specifics, because Google is always guarded about the details that comprise its methodologies, but the changes have been described as making the engine more “mobile-friendly.” That’s a logical and inevitable direction, since the number of mobile searchers is on track to equal the number of overall search users in four years.

Of course, it also means that Google will become more unfriendly to websites that are not optimized for mobile. If you haven’t paid any attention to the way your company’s site will display on a smartphone or tablet, now is the time to start.

What does it mean to have a website optimized for mobile users? There are three primary pieces to that puzzle:

1. Responsive Design. This means that elements of your site such as images and navigation will automatically re-size to display cleanly on a small screen. Responsive design is a top priority for all sites we build and/or maintain at Top Source.

2. Fast Load Times. Pages that load slowly are frustrating for desktop users, and often unacceptable for mobile users who are on the go and often using a slower connection. There are numerous strategies for reducing load times, but mostly it’s about cutting out unnecessary elements and shrinking image sizes.

3. Functional Multimedia. Videos and animated graphics can be engaging, eye-catching fixtures on a web page, but they don’t always display properly across all mobile devices. Careful consideration needs to be placed on the size and type of media components to a site.

When Google officially institutes these new changes, websites that are up-to-snuff on the mobile side should see a pleasant boost in search result rankings. Those sites that are behind the times, however, will feel the pain.

If you’re not sure whether your site is mobile-friendly, get in touch with us today.