Optimising your website to enhance mobile performance

James Hussey

Mobile SEO (search engine optimisation) has evolved and become more prominent in recent years, with Google changing its algorithm to prioritise mobile indexing.

Despite this being the case, desktop versions are still indexed – it is just that mobile sites take priority when it comes to indexing.

So, what exactly is mobile indexing?

This is when search engines look at the mobile version of a website and rank it based on how the content is displayed on the device, in order to provide the best overall experience for mobile users.

With over 60% of users generally from mobile traffic, it makes sense why Google would make the move to prioritise the majority over the desktop-using minority.

But what are the differences, in terms of expectation, between the two?

Indexing

As mentioned earlier, mobile is prioritised by Google. However, this doesn’t mean we should neglect or prioritise one or the other, as both will be considered – it’s just mobile takes priority.

User behaviour

When it comes to mobile use, people will expect a quicker experience, so the content must be more concise and easier to consume. You can go into more detail with the desktop version, as users will expect to browse for longer periods of time.

Navigation

This will need to be more simplistic on mobile devices. You can use elements like collapsible menus to make the navigation process simpler without losing too many options.

Due to desktops having larger screens, you can afford to have more detail, and include more menu items like sidebars and multiple sub-menu options.

Overall, the general layout and content of the mobile version needs to be more concise in comparison to desktop. It is important not to overcomplicate things, as this could have a negative impact on usability, consequently tarnishing your SEO performance.

If you need expert advice on how best to optimise your website, speak to the team at Engage Web today.

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James Hussey

Digital Marketing Executive at Engage Web

Having once gone to school in the Burnage area of Manchester known for being the childhood home of Noel and Liam Gallagher, “Some Might Say” that James is a “Supersonic” presence within Engage Web, happily turning his hand to “Whatever” tasks his role throws at him.

Optimising your website to enhance mobile performance