If you’ve just recovered from Google’s Penguin and Panda update, then better brace yourself for another one of Google’s Web Apocalypse. As quoted by Google’s Zineb Ait Bahajji at SMX Zurich, their new algorithm to be launched on April 21 will impact more sites than their Penguin or Panda algorithms.

What is Mobilegeddon?

 Mobilegeddon, as it is now commonly referred to, is Google’s latest algorithm update that’s expected to produce a “significant impact” on mobile search results worldwide for mobile search users. There will be two distinct changes to its search algorithm.

• Mobile-friendly factors will affect mobile search results

Taken from its name, Google’s new update will only affect mobile searches. This means that it will only apply to searches done through a smartphone or tablet. Web searches made through a laptop or desktop computer will not be affected.

• Indexed Apps for signed-in users will rank better

Mobile apps that are indexed by Google through App Indexing will also get better ranking results. This, however, would only work for Android Apps as you need to be a signed-in user. Google added that along the app, content description may now surface prominently in mobile search results. 

Google goes Mobile

 In a presentation by Google’s John Mueller called Mobile-friendly by Default, he briefly explained how webmasters can prepare for the upcoming algorithm update. John revealed the following facts: 

• 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble with.
• 40% said they’d visit a competitor’s mobile site instead.
• 55% would give up caffeine to keep their phone.

 In line with Google’s mission to be “timely” and “relevant”, they have focused their latest update on providing better mobile experience for users. Back in 2014, Google officially launched its Mobile-friendly Label. Following their vision to provide their users with the best search experience, Google has elevated mobile searching to a whole new level by promoting the use of mobile-friendly web design. Before, mobile searching used to be frustrating. A few of the many complaints involve text being too small, and links being hardly clickable. Many users spend a lot of time pinching just to read a site’s page content. 

Preparing For Mobilegeddon

 Pass Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and dodge that Mobilegeddon bullet by getting a responsive website while there’s still time. Research shows that mobile search is now more than 50% of the total search volume. It’s expected to rise even more in 2016. If you still don’t have a responsive website, then you may be at the risk of losing almost 50% of your traffic, and the chance to get more clients. If there’s one thing you can learn from Google, it’s how you should “refuse to be irrelevant”.

Contact us now for a FREE Web Analysis to learn what Mobilegeddon may do to you.