Get Ready For Google’s Mobile Search Update

As per the new SEO update 2015, the website should be responsive. More and more users are relying on mobile device for surfing the internet. Mobile should be given a priority as it is growing rapidly. Due to this reason Google has strongly recommended webmasters to focus on responsive site to increase their traffic and grow their sales. It has also created a mobile friendly testing tool.

Here are some steps to analyze and optimize your mobile web search presence:

1. Refine your mobile web optimization status

Inspite of already having a responsive site, it is important to do a mobile SEO audit. Validate your site with Google’s mobile friendly test tool. Also make sure the website resources such as CSS, images, JS are crawlable. Google Webmaster Tools will alert you to various mobile usability issues such as the use of Flash or improperly sized content.

Identify the sources of web crawling issues and make sure to block or unblock as per the requirement. Avoid linking to non-existing pages. Also check how Google’s smart phone crawler views your most important pages. You can perform this analysis by using crawling tools like DeepCrawl or Screaming Frog.

Website speed is another important optimization that needs to be considered as it impacts the site ranking.

2. Assess Your Mobile Web Search Visibility

Identify the top queries and pages in mobile search with the Mobile filter of the Search Queries report in Google Webmaster Tools. Use Google Analytics to view the traffic generated by mobile devices and identify the top mobile devices used by your visitors.

Later, check how the pages with the highest mobile page views are seen from your visitors’ most popular mobile devices by imitating them with Chrome’s Developers Tools Device Mode. Also do some research to identify your top mobile search competitors.

3. Monitor Your Performance

Use analytical tools to discover the keywords for which your mobile search competitors are ranking. Use this information to target more potential keywords.

After compiling the list of your competitor’s keywords, create a master list of keywords from top mobile search queries report. Segregate these keywords and perform keyword research with the Google Keyword Planner.

Once you become aware of your potential keywords, start tracking and monitoring your progress. Keep a track of where you and your competitors stand with the keywords that you have identified.

This information will help you to establish a mobile SEO strategy and continuously improve your mobile web presence, ultimately getting you ready for the upcoming Google’s Mobile Search Update.