What You Need to Know
On October 31, 2023, Google announced that its Mobile-First Indexing (MFI) update is now complete. This means that Google Search will now primarily use the mobile version of your website for crawling, indexing, and ranking.
Google has been moving towards mobile first indexing since 2016, so this is not a new change, but the update which has taken 7 years to complete, is now final.
Here’s a brief summary of the update and what it means for you:
What is Mobile-First Indexing?
MFI is a new way of indexing the web that prioritizes the mobile version of your website. Google has been moving towards MFI for several years, and it’s now the default way that they index all websites.
Why is Mobile-First Indexing important?
MFI is important because more and more people are using their mobile devices to access the web. In fact, over 60% of all web traffic now comes from mobile devices. By prioritizing the mobile version of your website, Google is ensuring that users are getting the best possible experience, regardless of what device they’re using.
What does Mobile-First Indexing mean for my business?
If you have a website, it’s important to make sure that the mobile version is up-to-date and mobile-friendly. If it’s not, you may notice a drop in your search rankings.
Some basic MFI health-checks:
- Make sure your website is responsive, so that it looks good and functions well on all devices.
- Make sure your fonts, and buttons are large enough, and easy to tap on a mobile device.
- Avoid overloading your mobile pages.
- Make sure your website loads quickly on mobile devices.
What should I do next?
You don’t need to take any action. We already considered mobile when we audited your site and created your custom strategy. We’ll continue to monitor your website for any impact and advise you if we discover anything that needs to be actioned.
If you have any questions about MFI or would like to discuss the impact of this new update on your site, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help you make sure that your website is positioned for success.
