Exploring the Basics of Mobile SEO

What can be more convenient? You are driving and feel like eating doughnuts. While the stoplight is red, you enter the search words “glazed doughnuts store”. In some instances, you can even perform the search by calling out the keywords. In a little while, you’ll be cruising to your selected doughnuts store and will soon be driving off with those coveted glazed doughnuts.

More and more people are doing their searches this way. Often, they may search for a store or a product while they are on the way to completing the purchase.  As more users turn to mobile devices and smartphones to perform web-based transactions, including searches, businesses need to also evolve and adjust to increase their presence in the mobile search arena.

Interestingly, there will be a change in how Search Engine Optimization works. What used to be effective for traditional SEO (with websites that were accessed through desktops) may not necessarily work for mobile SEO.

Here are some things to take into consideration when it comes to mobile SEO:

• User search behavior. With mobile search, the action following it is more urgent. Close to 90% of those who search via a mobile device will usually call or visit the store within a day or two days (at most). Also, it is important to note that keywords used will be shorter and more direct to the point.
• Mobile is more on localized searches. When a potential customer makes a search for a restaurant using his mobile device, chances are, he is looking for a place nearby where he will take his lunch in a while. Or, once he finds the results, he can simply tap on the number and call the restaurant using the same phone. That is why Google searches yield more localized results and websites with localize content will get the top rankings as opposed to a website with generalized content.
• Importance of ranking. Search result ranking is, of course, a very important element. However, for mobile SEO, getting to the top is critical. The search engine results that are displayed for mobile devices may display only 5 results, rather than the usual 10 that are displayed on the desktop page. The lower you are in position, the lower the chances that a customer will take a look at your website. Business should aim for the top 5 results, as the user on the go will usually look at these and will rarely move on to the next search results page.
• Mobile friendliness is key. For one, Google penalizes websites that are not mobile friendly. Second, users can easily leave your website and move on to the next result. Depending on your company structure and marketing requirements, you can decide to build a mobile friendly website or to create a separate website for mobile devices. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, which you carefully need to weigh. However, in both cases, you need to provide a smooth and painless experience for your users, if you would like them to remain engaged in your website.
• Use of meta tags and descriptions. Because of the need to balance usability with SEO considerations, you can still make use of meta tags and descriptions. However, you need to keep these shorter (40-60 characters for title tags and 90 characters for meta descriptions).
• Because mobile search will likely result in immediate action, make sure that your business infrastructure is prepared and can handle queries. You should provide a shorter response time. Remember, the customer will most likely use his phone to call and will be concerned about battery life.

Start Implementing Mobile SEO Strategies for your Website

Adaptivity Pro offers expertise, experience and insights on the latest trends on mobile SEO. We can help you catch the mobile SEO wave by implementing sound Utah web design and SEO principles, as well as in providing you with the tools to help you increase your traffic with mobile users. Adaptivity Pro also has a team of Utah SEO and internet marketing specialists, including copywriters, artists, web programmers and designers.