The stats are out there and they’re constantly changing. But what we know about mobile usage is this: people are turning to their mobile devices more frequently for their internet searches, and they’ll continue to do so more and more. Smart webmasters and web owners focus on the premise that their website needs a mobile counterpart. While everyone is worried about keywords, title tags, meta information and analytics on their main webpage, it’s important to prioritize mobile SEO.
Experts repeat over and over that SEO is a constantly changing field. That is probably even more true when you look at mobile SEO since the mobile world is changing by leaps and bounds. You’re going to need to change with it to get the most out of your website. The good news is there is a lot of common sense built into mobile SEO. The following three tips should get you started toward a better mobile website.
Think Fast and Small. There are a lot of mobile devices out there. They come in different sizes, but they’re all smaller than a laptop or desktop computer. Remember this when you’re designing a mobile website, the information needs to be easy to see and easy to find. Also, people on mobile devices tend to want instant results and they do not have the patience for slow downloads or scrolling through numerous pages to find exactly what they want. Instant responsiveness is a big plus in the mobile world.
Mobile is Cool. Don’t get caught up in the belief that your mobile website is just a smaller version of your main website. Take advantage of the things mobile offers that a traditional computer does not. Can you take advantage of GPS, voice based commands, the built in camera, barcode scanners, SMS, portability, etc.? Ask yourself this: Do you really want a smaller clone of your website or do you want the mobile version to be something totally different? You literally have to think outside of the (computer) box to find the best ways to incorporate these features.
Know your SEO. The basics of SEO are the same as they’ve always been for both mobile and stationary. Tell your visitors what your web pages are about. Craft descriptive URLs, page titles, headings and sub-headings that quickly and efficiently explain what the page is about. Spend some time really considering the words you are using on your website. Better yet, hire a professional to write your copy so you have the most effective and customer friendly mobile website possible.
Having a mobile website will not guarantee your success. In fact, if the experience is frustrating and doesn’t give the right information, it may actually harm your company’s reputation. When designing your mobile presence and crafting your SEO the best approach is anticipating your customer’s needs and responding in the most efficient way possible.
Have any interesting mobile website insights you’d like to share? Add them in the comments section.
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