Google Announces Two Important Ranking Signal Changes

shifting user habits, Google is adjusting the ranking signals to mobile-friendly pages and app indexing. In the update posted yesterday to Google Webmaster Central, Takaki Makino, Chaesang Jung, and Doantam Phan outlined the changes to the algorithm and when these changes will go into effect. On more mobile-friendly websites in search results:

Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.
What does this mean for your website? It means that your site better be mobile-friendly! Google has given website owners plenty of time, almost two full months, to make the necessary adjustments to their sites. If you need help getting started, head over to Google Developer Mobile-Friendly Websites guide. The second change impacts how app content is shown within search results:
Starting today, we will begin to use information from indexed apps as a factor in ranking for signed-in users who have the app installed. As a result, we may now surface content from indexed apps more prominently in search.
If you have an app, you need to implement App Indexing as soon as possible. With App Indexing, users can go directly from relevant search results to your app, as long as it’s already installed on their phone. It seems that all of the 2015 predictions that rolled out last month are already coming to fruition: mobile is indeed the focus of the year! We think this will serve as a great benefit to user experience, and website owners should make the necessary changes to better serve consumers. What do you think about the announcement? Read the original update from Google on Finding more mobile-friendly search results here.]]>

Laurel is a member of the executive team at Stryde. She's been doing digital marketing for businesses for 10 years. Two years ago, she started set up her own ecommerce business selling baby gowns and knows the struggles of a small business owner. She loves talking about digital marketing, content, SEO, and conversion rate optimization.

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