In 2021, search engine optimization (SEO), will be in for a major overhaul. Google’s March 2021 mobile-first indexing update will completely remove desktop-only websites and any images or assets from desktop-only sites.

Google will only index and rank the mobile version of content due to the widespread use of tablets and smartphones. Let’s first clarify any confusion surrounding the update and the best practices for mobile-first ranking.

• Mobile-first indexing is the default and has been for some time.

• Both the mobile-first index and the desktop indexes are identical. Google will now use the mobile version of a website to index and rank rather than the desktop version.

• Website owners cannot opt out of the update. Google wants all websites to be mobile-first indexing. Website owners must prepare for this change and follow through.

What are the Best Mobile-First Indexing Practices?

Let’s now get a better understanding of mobile-first indexing.

1. Use responsive web design

You should join 70% of mobile-optimized websites. This is possible with responsive web design. Responsive websites ensure that visitors always view the optimized version of the website regardless of their screen size or device.

Responsive websites are advantageous because they allow for flexibility. Website owners don’t need to create multiple versions of their websites to fit different devices.

Mobile-first indexing shouldn’t have any significant impact on your website’s performance in search engine results pages. These web design tools are available to assist you in creating a responsive website. Google stated that responsive websites with dynamic serving properly don’t require any modifications.

2. Googlebot can access your mobile website

Googlebot, Google’s web crawler software is capable of accessing and rendering your content. Allow Googlebot access to your site’s resources. Make sure that your mobile site uses different URLs than your desktop site. You should also check if a disallow directive is blocking the URL.

You need to use the same meta robot tags for your desktop and mobile sites to ensure your site ranks high. Google may not crawl your site if you use different meta robot tags.

Last, make sure that you are not using lazy loading for primary content. Lazy loading refers to an optimization technique that delays the loading of content that is not visible or critical. Googlebot won’t load content that requires user interaction, such as typing or clicking.

3. You can keep your site the same across both its desktop and mobile versions

It is not acceptable to penalize users for using their smartphone or tablet instead of a computer. Your mobile website should contain the same content on your desktop site as it does on your mobile site. You may consider updating your mobile site if it has different or less content.

When you compare your content between the two versions, be sure to take a close look at your headlines. Make sure your headlines are consistent and look good on both the desktop and mobile versions of your website.

The same applies to website owners. You need to make sure that your visitors have the same experience on each version of your site. One of the best ways for your visitors to enjoy a consistent experience is to ensure that they see your website in both versions.

4. Analyze your structured data

You must ensure that your structured data is available on both your desktop and mobile sites.

Also, ensure that URLs in mobile versions of structured information are up-to-date to mobile URLs.

5. Double-check your Ad Placements

If you aren’t careful with where your ads are placed, they can impact your mobile page ranking. Refer to the Standard to ensure your ads meet the criteria when viewing them on mobile devices.

6. Be aware of your visual content

Each image or video on your mobile site should have its own set of best practices. You must provide high-quality images in a supported format to your users when it comes to images. Images should have sufficient resolution to not look too small on smaller screens.

Avoid changing URLs for images and videos. Google won’t be able to properly index and process your images if they change.

Video content must be easy to find on a mobile device. It should also be in a supported format with relevant tags. It is not a good idea to put a video too far down if you don’t want users to scroll forever. This is where structured data best practices apply: you want the same data on both mobile and desktop versions.

Final Words

The world is changing fast. Most people prefer to use their mobile devices to access the internet rather than a computer. Because of the convenience and ease that mobile devices provide, this is why most people prefer to access the internet on their mobile devices. Google’s move to mobile-first indexing was a great response to this. It shows how dependent we are on mobile.

If your website isn’t optimized for mobile and desktop users yet, it is time to make the change.