Mobile First Indexing Has Arrived: What Does This Mean?

Posted on October 31, 2023 nerdymind

The world of digital marketing is never a dull one. Google announced today that it has officially finished rolling out its mobile-first indexing prioritization. In other words, when Google indexes new content on the internet, it will prioritize the mobile version of a website over the desktop version.

What does this mean for websites?

Google will now promote a website’s mobile version over the desktop version. If your website is not optimized for the mobile experience, you might expect to see rankings drop, or your site may be de-indexed in the most extreme circumstances. Most sites won’t have to worry about being de-indexed, but the risk is a possibility if you don’t prioritize the mobile experience.

Why did Google do this?

Google has been increasing mobile prioritization since 2015. With mobile becoming the “go-to” method in which people search online, it makes sense that Google would eventually go this route. In fact, they’ve been working toward this goal for the past seven years!

How do I keep my search presence?

To accommodate this change it’s important to remain committed to the mobile version of your website and ensure that users have a good mobile experience. Have a mobile-responsive design, fast page loading, mobile-friendly content, and content optimized for mobile, just to name a few.

Keep producing content and focus on your digital marketing strategies, but remember that Google officially prefers and promotes the mobile version of your website. Your site’s search engine ranking will reflect this priority.

Have any questions about mobile-first indexing? Need help creating a mobile version of your website? Contact the NERDs today! We’ve been building mobile versions of websites for over 10 years and have the expertise and know-how to help you navigate this change. Contact us today!