Google Mobile First Indexing

Google Mobile First Indexing

What is Google’s mobile first indexing and why should you care.

Do you have a mobile-friendly website?

If not, you might be in trouble. Google’s “mobile-first” update could see mobile websites appear earlier in the search results.

Google has rolled out a new algorithm update that could see mobile-friendly website appearing higher in google’s search results than desktop-only websites.

The update will rank webpages based on the quality of their mobile content, so if your mobile content isn’t up to scratch, your ranking in the search results could get hit, along with your website traffic, website enquiries and website conversions as a result.

You might think, “most people visiting my website aren’t using mobiles.” 

The bad news is the change is going to update the search results for both mobile and desktop users.

What does mean for your business? Basically, having a quality mobile version of a website will be more important than ever. The good news is that you have time to make sure your site is up to scratch.

Here’s what you should consider when evaluating your website for Google mobile first indexing:

1. Your website should be mobile responsive (mobile friendly) : if you don’t already have a mobile responsive website, get one now! A responsive website contains design elements that adapt to different screen sizes – from the widest desktop down to the smallest mobile and every size in between. That’s how you know if your website is mobile friendly? Check your website on your smart phone or tablet. If it looks, works and is readable on a smart device you could be safe. 

2. Optimise your website’s speed : website loading speed has always been important for SEO. Now it’s even more important with google’s mobile-first update. Try using google’s free mobile site speed tool to see how your webpage is performing. 

3. Create content for mobile devices : make the written content on your website easy to read by using short sentences and and easily digestible paragraphs. The layout of your website should also be clean and minimal wherever possible, with good use of white (blank) space. 

4. Say no to pop-ups : Google is planning to penalise websites with intrusive mobile pop-ups.If you have a pop-up on your website (an offer sign-up box, for example), consider integrating this into the body of the page instead.

5. Test, test and test : to some this may seem obvious, but one of the most important things you can do to ensure your website is ready for google’s mobile-first index is to test extensively on mobile devices. Keep an eye out for site speed, ease of navigation, and general layout and usability on mobile devices. Use tools like Screenfly to test your website at different screen resolutions – which you should do any time you make changes.

Related article: How website design has changed

Increase your online visibility, reach and engagement with2 Sons Marketing.
Want to get more reviews for your business online, while also getting found by more customers? It’s time speak with about your website, search engine optimisation or social media marketing. You can contact us here

View our full range or services that are tailored specifically for your business.

Website Design

Search Engine Optimisation

Social Media Marketing 

To see samples of our work visit our Projects page here.

How to use Google Local SEO for your business

How to use Google Local SEO for your business

Google Local SEO is super important to any business, particularly if you’re a local business relying on local customers.

Google Maps help in directions, and if you know about google maps marketing, you are already familiar with the concept of Google Places. When your business is searched, it adds a box to the right side of the search results displaying all the necessary details.

Google local seo shows on the Google maps. The most beneficial aspect about google local seo is the improved search ranking.

Google is the key place people go to look for answers. 3.5 billion searches happen every single day. on an average, approximately 97% of consumers browse for local businesses online. Through both organic and paid searches, google could substantially impact your brand awareness and customer traffic.

With increasing competition and businesses popping up, the need to know about businesses in the area has become a necessity this year. google places let us see what we need near us. Google local allows your business to be verified on google places. it gives trust and confidence to google that you are a legitimate and trustworthy company that provides its services.

The aim of all businesses is to be ranked among legitimate and trusted companies.

 Related article: How to get online reviews for your business.

Increase your online visibility, reach and engagement with2 Sons Marketing.
Want to get more reviews for your business online, while also getting found by more customers? It’s time speak with about your website, search engine optimisation or social media marketing. You can contact us here

View our full range or services that are tailored specifically for your business.

Website Design

Search Engine Optimisation

Social Media Marketing 

To see samples of our work visit our Projects page here.

How to get online reviews for your business.

How to get online reviews for your business.

Google, Facebook, or your own website, positive customer reviews can really help your business.

Instead of waiting for your customers to leave a great five stars review, there are a few ways you can proactively reach out and increase your review numbers. We share our very own strategy for requesting feedback from our customers, as well as our tips for, how to respond to the reviews you already have.

The importance of customer reviews.

Reviews are an important part of promoting your business online. Insights from the ACCC found that almost three-quarters of all Australians read online reviews before making a purchase. When these reviews are positive, they can go a long way to convincing a customer to shop with you. However, data from BrightLocal reveals that one negative review can drive away 40% of total customers.

As well as convincing customers to shop with your business, reviews help you rank well on Google’s search engine results pages (SERPS).

Companies with more reviews increase their likelihood of showing up in the top three positions on Google Search, while those without any reviews will appear lower in search results. With the numbers showing that over 25% of people click the first search result, ranking high can have a huge impact on both the online and foot traffic you get for your business.

How to ask customers to leave online reviews.

Create a short URL for customers to write reviews on your website or online business listing.

This makes it easier for customers to find you on the platform. With a Google My Business listing, simply sign in to Google My Business, click ‘Home’, then select the ‘Get more reviews’ card. You’ll receive a short shareable URL that you can then send directly to customers, which makes it easier for them to leave a review.

Ask your existing customers to leave a review.

Your existing customer base is your biggest asset when it comes to getting more positive reviews on online platforms. Share a post via your social media channels asking them to leave a review, along with the link to your listing.

If you’re not sure what to say, this template is a good starting point:

Thank you for being a loyal customer of [company name]. If you have a moment, please consider leaving us a review on [Google/Facebook/TripAdvisor]. It will only take a second, and your feedback helps us improve our [products/services] in the future.

Another way to do this is via email marketing. Send an email to your existing customers asking them to leave a review, along with a link to your different listings across Facebook, Google, and more.

Add reviews into your customer journey.

#GiveGiveGiveThenAsk – if you have delivered a great service or product, you have the right to ask for a review.

The best time to ask for a review is right after your customers have shopped with you or used your service. At this point in time their experience is fresh and they’re more likely to share their feedback online, as opposed to a few weeks or months after the fact.

There are a number of ways you can ask for a review after your customers have shopped with you, including:

  • Adding a sign at your checkout register. Print out a plaque or simply put up a sign that says ‘Leave us a review’ with the logos of the platforms you’re on. If you’re an eCommerce business, pop a thank-you card inside the package with a link to review your products or services online.
  • Include a call-to-action to leave a review at the bottom of your receipts. This could be at the bottom of an email receipt or at the bottom of a physical receipt that you print out for customers in-store.
  • Train your staff. If your staff are interacting with customers on a regular basis, it could be as simple as training them to ask at the point of sale. A simple sentence like “If you have a moment, we’d really appreciate it if you could leave us a review on [platform name]” can work wonders.

Replying to existing customer reviews.

If you receive a positive review, the process is fairly straightforward. Simply thank the customer for their feedback and express how much you look forward to welcoming them back in the future.

For negative reviews, the key is to acknowledge the customer’s feedback, express your regrets about the situation, and share how you have addressed the issue/s (if applicable). Try to take the conversation offline as soon as possible —  ask the reviewer to send you a private message or get in touch via email, so the matter doesn’t drag on in a public forum. Last but not least, try to fight the urge to get defensive. Keep in mind that your responses are there for everyone to see, and are a reflection of your business.

Increase your online visibility, reach and engagement with2 Sons Marketing.
Want to get more reviews for your business online, while also getting found by more customers? It’s time speak with about your website, search engine optimisation or social media marketing. You can contact us here

View our full range or services that are atilored specifically for your business.

Website Design

Search Engine Optimisation

Social Media Marketing 

To see samples of our work visit our Projects page here.