Mobile-friendly websites more important than you think

Last April, Google released a major change in its search engine that will dramatically impact the online traffic for mobile-friendly websites. In fact, it is pushing responsive websites to the top of search results, while moving nonresponsive websites further down.

You may have been living under a rock if you haven’t heard about the hype over recent mobile website trends.

Responsive (mobile-friendly) websites are a great way to improve your online traffic, considering that more than 50 percent of searches today are performed from mobile devices.  However, the benefits of a website built for all devices can have other dramatic impacts on more than just the online experience:

Gain more traffic: Simply put, responsive websites will receive more online traffic than those that are not. You have to consider this path if you are to remain competitive with your online competitors. Google called its algorithm change in April “Mobilegeddon” for good reason.

Convert more sales: With more traffic comes more sales. By having an improved user experience, people will spend more time on your website and enjoy interacting within it. This is especially crucial for eCommerce businesses where the shopping environment must be quick, organized and efficient.

Look professional: Your website is often the first impression a user will have of your business.  You want your audience to be engaged and impressed by your brand, and a website built for mobile devices can do just that. It is difficult to gauge how many missed opportunities could come from a negative website experience.

Tablet and smartphone sales are exploding and have been surpassing PC purchases since 2012.  The mobile market is not going away, and neither is Google and the other search engines. Be sure that you stay ahead of the trend and remain competitive in your industry by optimizing your website to suit the needs of your consumers.

Hans Broman, a sales and marketing strategist at iPoint in Fort Collins, can be reached at hbroman@ipoint-tech.com. 

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