Google now penalizing non-mobile friendly sites

As of 21 ^st  of April, Google now determines which sites to penalize based on the mobile-friendly ranking factor change that is affecting people’s results on mobile devices.
Responsive  (or really any ‘mobile-friendly), websites adapt to the size of the device people are using to view your site. Basic mobile friendly features include faster loading times, scaling of images and appropriate sizing of text for easy reading.
A good example of such a site is  Awwards , which promotes well-designed websites or blogs and allows users to vote for the best site.
(Desktop View)

(Tablet View)

(Mobile View)

Google’s push for mobile friendly websites

The push for more  user-friendly websites  aligns with Google’s belief that by focusing on the user, the rest will fall into place. Google wants it’s users to get quick and easy access to information on products and services, and have the ability to complete tasks while on the go.
What does this mean for businesses? As advancements in technology seep into our everyday lives, the need to keep up with how people are using devices is becoming a real focus for many companies. According to Google, 75% of users reportedly prefer mobile-friendly sites and a further 52% will engage less with a company if they have a bad mobile experience. In terms of dollar and cents, 15% of shoppers make regular purchases over their mobile phones, companies need to jump on the proverbial band wagon and provide mobile users with the same, if not better features that they experience via a computer.

What can you do?

If you’re still not sure if your website is mobile-friendly, you can quickly run it through Google’s  Mobile-Friendly Test   to determine if your site is safe.  Do this by entering your URL and Google will analyze your site and give the results on your site. Once you know your site’s status, you will either breathe a deep sigh of relief or sit down and start planning a site upgrade ASAP.
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