Tips To Win The Mobile SEO Game In 2022 And Beyond
As mobile searches and shopping become a way of life, businesses cannot overlook the value of this engagement channel. The last thing you want to do is miss out on the huge base of potential buyers looking for products and services. They may not even bother to check the options on their computers and complete the transactions on their smartphones. Not being visible in mobile searches means losing out on a significant share in the online market.
Thankfully, ramping up your mobile SEO game is all you need to capture the attention of the audience and convert them into buyers. A little extra push enables you to retain them for the long haul. The good thing about the initiative is that you get the ranking benefit as Google prioritizes mobile-friendly businesses. But it takes some effort to optimize your presence on this channel to beat the competition and stand apart. Here are some practical ways to step up the mobile SEO for your website.
Ensure a mobile-friendly website
It is a no-brainer because you cannot expect the audience to stick only with desktop searches when they look for businesses. Before going a big way with mobile SEO, check whether your website is responsive. The easiest way to test responsiveness is by loading its pages on your smartphone or tablet. You can also use a tool to speed up testing. If something is amiss, it is time to get a design rework for your website. Integrating responsive design enables the visitors to view the site correctly and comfortably regardless of the device they use. You can imagine how the elements may look crammed on smaller screens. But designers can remove the barriers and ensure seamless rendering for the site.
Double up on speed
Your site’s loading speed and time are the cornerstones of mobile SEO success. Users searching for information on the go want to access it quickly. A slow-loading website can turn them off, and they are likely to bounce from your page sooner than later. You can check the website speed using a Google tool and address the loading time issue to enhance your SEO presence. Improving website speed involves several steps, such as trimming the elements to minifying the code, perfecting the design, and more. It is best to have an expert handling these tasks.
Ramp up mobile UX
A great UX is mainly about responsive designs and fast-loading speeds, so you are almost halfway through. But you can add more elements to your plan for providing an excellent experience for users. These include a thumb-friendly interface, a legible font style and size, and easy-to-find calls to action. These elements make it easy for visitors to browse the website regardless of the screen size. They are likely to stay longer and convert due to the friendly user experience. A low bounce rate sends trust signals to Google, and it ranks your website higher.
Rework your backlink strategy
Link building is typically about enhancing website rankings. But it can help your mobile SEO game as well. You cannot miss out on good quality, relevant backlinks as they cement your online presence. They are equally important to get your app ranking on app stores if you have it in addition to a responsive website. Whichever device visitors use to access your website, quality link-building can boost ranking and traffic. Consider cleaning up your link-building strategy by assessing the sources you link with, disowning low-quality links, and reclaiming the broken ones.
Optimize for local search
Local SEO is an integral element of a robust mobile presence because most searchers use the phrase “near me” to look for businesses. It means the scope for getting local customers is far greater with smartphone searches. All you need to do is fine-tune your SEO strategy to be visible to these customers. It is as simple as using more local keywords in your content. It will enable your website to appear in local search results. Likewise, a strong local listing will help you rank on top of mobile searches. Ensure you add complete and updated information to enable potential buyers to reach out.
Create content for mobile
Creating content for mobile devices is another surefire way to win the SEO game for smartphone users. It requires you to format content to ensure a positive experience on smaller screens of these devices. For example, keeping small paragraphs and including bullet lists makes it easy for the visitor to skim through your article. Adding photos and videos is a good idea as it serves as an engagement point for your audience. Similarly, you can get more by integrating interactive elements such as clickable buttons to enhance the mobile UX. But make sure these elements do not make the site too heavy as it tends to lose speed and seamlessness.
Ditch frustrating pop-ups
The objective of pop-ups is to get the visitor’s attention to action, such as signing up or downloading free content. They can help to pass on the vital information you want to provide. While pop-ups are great for desktop users, they can hinder mobile experiences significantly. Just imagine how frustrated users may feel when they see a pop-up occupying the entire screen space. They may leave your site when they are unable to see the information or get rid of the pop-up. Consider minimizing the use of pop-ups on mobile devices. You can use them sparingly and stick with small sizes that do not block the entire screen.
Improving your mobile SEO game is a worthy effort as it can enhance your customer base and support your overall ranking plan. It keeps you ahead of the competitors in the tight landscape. Thankfully, you need not do a lot to deliver the best experiences for smartphone users. Follow the basics of responsive design, provide a clean UX, and fine-tune your backlink strategy. A little more work with mobile-friendly content and local search optimization will do the rest. The best way to do it is by collaborating with an expert who knows the A to Z of search engine optimization.