IT’S been mooted for some time that mobile web searches would soon overtake desktop search, but it has recently been confirmed that in many markets there are more Google searches being carried out on mobile devices than on desktop computers or laptops.
This might sound like just an interesting snippet of information at best, but the truth is that it has huge implications on anyone who runs a business or anyone who has a website.
IT’S been mooted for some time that mobile web searches would soon overtake desktop search, but it has recently been confirmed that in many markets there are more Google searches being carried out on mobile devices than on desktop computers or laptops.
This might sound like just an interesting snippet of information at best, but the truth is that it has huge implications on anyone who runs a business or anyone who has a website. If more Google searches are being carried out on mobiles than on computers, more people will be finding your website on their mobile device than on their computer, which means that your website needs to display properly on these devices.
Gavin Hills from Northampton web design agency in.house.media said: “If your website doesn’t adapt for mobile, you’re likely to be losing potential customers who will not like the idea of zooming in and out to find their way around a website and they will probably leave and find a site that is easier to use – and that could be your competitor’s.”
Web searches overall were up five per cent between Q4 2013 and Q4 2014, but this rise – and more – is attributable entirely to mobile search. In fact, desktop searches dropped by over 200 million, with tablet searches up by a huge 1.3 billion and smartphone searches by a stratospheric 1.8 billon.
Google recognises this and from April this year began to give preference to websites that are mobile friendly.
It’s clear to see that considering mobile devices is no longer something to also consider, but should now be the main consideration.
These principles apply across the board, through to SEO and search marketing, but the first step has to come with ensuring that your website has a mobile responsive design which can readily display across a range of mobile devices. If it doesn’t, you’re now potentially alienating more than 50 per cent of your visitors and potential customers, and that number is growing every day.
Visit www.ihm.co.uk/getmobile to find out what you can do to make your site mobile friendly, or ask how mobile friendly your website is, or call in.house.media on 01604 790007.
