Last week, webmasters around the globe received a notice from Google warning them of mobile usability issues. These warnings were emailed and posted in users’ Webmaster Tools accounts. The warnings included a full report of the non-mobile friendly pages on the site in question along with a list of the problematic components on the offending pages. The reports highlighted issues like “small font size” and “touch elements too close”; while these site elements may not be problematic on the larger screen of a PC, they are not ideal for a visitor trying to access or navigate around a site on the smaller screen of a handheld device.
Many SEO experts suspect that this warning is just the beginning of a major mobile ranking algorithm that the search engine giant will unveil in the months ahead. In addition to these warnings, Google recently launched a mobile friendly testing tool and now features mobile-friendly labels in the search results. Once the mobile algorithm is unveiled, many suspect that sites with mobile usability issues will take a major hit in the search engine results pages.
If you have yet to do so, we highly recommend that you assess your site’s mobile usability. For those with more technical knowledge, this can be done through your Webmaster Tools account. Alternatively, try accessing your site from your own mobile device and evaluate the following:
- How quickly does it load?
- Are you able to see the graphics?
- Is the text legible?
- Can you easily jump from one page to the next?
- Are you able to call your firm with the click of a button? Can you get directions easily using your phone’s navigation system?
If you answered no to any of the above questions, you should consider developing a mobile site for your practice. At Amicus Creative Media, we’re pleased to offer attorneys mobile websites that effectively connect them with users across all devices. Contact us today to learn more.