The Vital Importance of Mobile SEO

Kelsey Group predicted that 2015 will be the year that mobile search will eclipse desktop search.  This insightful expectation appears to be on its way to coming true, with the mobile share of overall search traffic being reported as almost one third in Q3 of last year.  As such, marketers around the world are investing a great deal of time into mastering mobile SEO techniques.

Mobile SEO has come a long way in the past five years.  Up until 2007, mobile SEO was truly a niche topic as the majority of consumers were not yet using mobile devices to conduct web searches.  When Apple launched the iPhone in 2007, the easy-to-use mobile functionality drove many more people to use their mobile device for searches.  Some experts were speculating about whether or not SEO that is devoted to mobile searchers would be necessary, considering the fact that many users look for the same websites and use the same keywords as they do when using their desktop or laptop computer.

The launch of the iPad in 2010 resulted in many more experts discussing the logic of creating sites and SEO that is devoted to mobile searches, since many users of this new device weren’t actually using it in a mobile setting.  More recently, the popularity of iPad and smartphone searches have resulted in the responsive web design and adaptive content movements, with users expecting to have the ability to access the same content from multiple screens and various types of devices.

However, instead of this convergence having the effect of lessening the need for mobile SEO, Google’s guidelines for smartphone optimization have actually increased.  This is due to the fact that more searchers are accessing content from mobile devices now than ever before, with Google announcing smartphone-specific ranking changes in 2013.

The increased focus on mobile SEO is expected to continue as the majority of users access content from mobile devices.  Recently, Jay Taylor from Search Engine Watch said that “mobile SEO should no longer be considered separate from desktop SEO.  Rather, they are two parts of a complete SEO strategy.”  This sensible advice will only become more relevant over the coming period as more people use smartphones and tablets for a larger percentage of their web searches.

The continuing movement toward conducting searches on mobile devices makes it absolutely essential that those in the industry have a full understanding of Google’s guidelines for building smartphone, tablet and feature phone sites.  Google has a vast amount of information available, including a checklist and a video on mobile SEO, which is vital data for everyone involved.

Yahoo predicts that the majority of searchers will be accessing content from mobile devices by the end of this year.  Based on the rapid changes in the technology market, this prediction may very well come true.  Don’t allow yourself to fall behind by ignoring this change.  Instead, educate yourself fully about everything to do with mobile SEO to remain on the cutting edge of internet marketing tools.