As of 2015, more Google searches are being performed on mobile devices than on desktop computers; therefore, it has become essential that a website’s design be mobile-friendly in order to reach its audience, gain traffic and remain competitive in Google search rankings. Before last year’s algorithm change, Google warned that mobile-friendly sites would be ranked above non-mobile sites in searches performed on smartphones and other mobile devices. A mobile-friendly website is a basic necessity if you want to keep up with your competition in 2016.
Mobile-friendly websites are designed to load quickly, provide an optimal viewing experience on a small screen, offer intuitive navigation and require minimal scrolling. This can be achieved in one of two ways. Some websites will automatically redirect users to a mobile version of their site with a separate URL when they detect that the user is on a mobile device. A more comprehensive approach (and the one that Google recommends) is a responsive design. A responsive designed website will adapt and conform to the screen size on which it is being viewed without redirecting users to a separate URL.
If your website is not mobile-friendly, you may have noticed a drop in your search engine rankings on mobile searches; however, desktop search rankings have not been affected by mobile-friendly design… yet. Google has left the door open for future updates to possibly include algorithm changes that will negatively affect desktop search rankings of websites that are not mobile-friendly. Moreover, with the majority of users searching the web from smartphones rather than computers, a responsive designed website provides a strong foundation capable of reaching the greatest number of users in your target audience.
If you have not yet made the switch to a responsive designed website, now is the time. The web design team at Premier Legal Marketing (PLM) creates custom designed responsive websites for lawyers interested in surpassing their competition by increasing or enhancing their online presence and attracting new clients online. PLM’s innovative search engine optimization (SEO) team employs proven strategies and cutting edge techniques to raise your website’s Google search rankings and ensure that your site achieves maximum traffic and attention from your target audience. PLM is a SEO Company specializing in attorney niche marketing. Contact PLM online or call 856-448-4736 to find out how a PLM marketing campaign can benefit your law firm.
