Google wants companies to make mobile websites in order to keep their search engine rankings
Google is making changes to the way it ranks websites on its popular search engine. Such changes are not uncommon from the company, which often updates its ranking methodology to accommodate changing trends in various sectors. One of the most influential of these trends is the growing use of mobile technology. With more consumers using smartphones and tablets to browse the Internet, Google has issued a mandate for those ranked on its search engine to become more mobile friendly.
Companies have until April 21 to make mobile websites
Websites have until April 21 to meet Google’s standards concerning mobile friendliness if they do not want to receive a lower ranking on the company’s search engine. Large companies have already addressed the mobile friendly issue, making their websites easily accessible via mobile devices. Smaller businesses, however, may struggle to adopt to Google’s new search standards, as they may not have the resources needed to become mobile-centric. Mobile websites have become a powerful tool that can be used to engage a new generation of consumers.
Small businesses may see the most significant impact from Google’s new rules
Small retailers may see the greatest impact by not complying with Google’s new standards. These companies tend to operate their own websites, choosing not to use services like WordPress. As such, they often acquire the services of web developers and designers, whom are responsible for the functionality of these sites and how they look. Making a website mobile friendly can be a difficult and expensive task, which smaller companies may not be able to accomplish in the amount of time that Google has given them.
Growing number of consumers opt to use their mobile devices to shop online
Consumers have shown that they favor companies that have mobile websites, as these sites are easier to navigate on smartphones and tablets. Companies that offer an enjoyable mobile experience tend to find more traction with mobile consumers, especially those interested in digital commerce. Mobile has become a major priority for the retail industry, which has seen a major increase in the number of consumers that are shopping from their mobile devices.
A recent study has shown that despite the popularity of smartphones, they are still not the top internet access devices.
The results of a new Pew study have now been released and they looked into the mobile technology usage of 2,188 smartphone users, asking them about the way they depend on those devices for their internet access.
What they found was that the home broadband experience is still preferred to smartphone based internet.
The research indicated that the mobile technology device owners who are relying on those gadgets are more likely to be those who use them for vital services and job hunting. Moreover, those who use the devices as their primary internet connection are also those who have experienced financial hardship and who are more likely to have their smartphone service cut off.
This reveals quite a bit about the way that mobile technology is being used as a source of internet connection.
According to a co-author of the study, Aaron Smith, explained that “That momentary inconvenience could be the difference between hearing back from a job and being able to apply for a job.” He went on to add that “This could affect their financial situation in a meaningful way.”
This data shows that approximately 64 percent of adult Americans own smartphones, and among them, about 7 percent don’t have any other type of high speed internet access at home. The study referred to those users as “smartphone dependent”. They face limitations with regards to their internet usage options, aside from their smartphones, when it comes to going online. Some of their only alternative choices would be local community centers and libraries.
The report also indicated that among all owners of smartphones have an annual household income that is lower than $30,000, just about half of them had said that they had been forced to pause or even cancel their smartphone service as a result of money struggles. Moreover, 51 percent of them also said that they occasionally or even frequently max out their data plans.
The cessation of internet service over mobile technology could have been potentially devastating for households within the annual income level that was lower than $30,000 per year, as they were also those that were four times more likely to submit a job application over their smartphones than people who were doing better financially.