Few names – if any – strike quite as much fear and awe into the digital masses as Google. As the biggest player in the search engine world, everything this tech giant does seems to send shockwaves through the rest of the industry.
Not convinced? Just take a look at the chaos and excitement around the latest search algorithm update, “Mobilegeddon.” To help you stay calm during this period of change and adjust your content marketing strategies accordingly, let’s take a moment to go over the details of Mobilegeddon and what message Google is trying to convey to marketers like you.
The Particulars Of Mobilegeddon
As Court Cunningham of Forbes magazine explains, this update is all about making life a little easier on mobile users. Mobilegeddon goes beyond simply having a clever name; it rewards brands and marketers alike who implement mobile optimization strategies related to site design and content development, specifically when it comes to the smartphone viewing experience. In return for this acknowledgement of the mobile community’s needs, Google’s new algorithm has no problem sending pages that utilize savvy practices straight to the top of search ranking pages.
Understanding Google’s Motives
So why has this industry leader instituted these changes? Cunningham goes on to note that the answer to this question is actually pretty straightforward. Essentially, Google wants to cater to the growing number of mobile viewers, and Mobilegeddon is just the latest addition to a long line of mobile-oriented search algorithm shifts. Considering that the experts at the Pew Research Center released a study in April noting that nearly two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone that can access the web, with the younger demographics leading the charge, it’s hard to argue with Google’s thought process on this one.
Gauging the Impact On Content Marketers
In terms of the impact of Mobilegeddon, it’s still a little early to tell. Naturally, some marketers and brands are reporting jumps or drops in rankings based on the mobile capabilities of their sites, but as more and more feedback comes in, the greater industry picture should take on a more focused representation.
Perhaps the biggest indicator that this shift in Google’s algorithm is nothing to scoff at is the response found within the actions of other members of the search engine community. In particular, Search Engine Watch’s Mike O’Brien points out that Bing has gotten in on the act as well by instituting a “Mobilegeddon” of its own that tags and rewards mobile-friendly sites with favorable rankings.
Position Yourself For Succeess
Since there’s no sign that the prominence of mobile optimization is going to slow down, David Goldman of CNN offers up some guidelines and tips for content marketers who are trying to make a move under the auspices of the new algorithm. First off, there’s no reason to panic. Yes, Google wants the sites representing your organization and its clients to be as mobile-friendly as possible right now, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of time and facing immediate backlash.
By testing your current mobile capabilities and implementing a responsive design that caters to smartphone users, you can take a step in the right direction in terms of Mobilegeddon compliance. Once you’ve brought any relevant sites up to speed, make a point to stay ahead of the curve. Content marketers who keep up with trusted industry news sources and blogs on a daily basis have a decided advantage over those who let breaking stories – like this one – sneak up on them.
If you can put these tactics to good use, as well as the rest of what you’ve learned here, there’s no reason that you’ll have to worry and fret like so many others when Google unveils the inevitable successive updates to the Mobilegeddon algorithm change.
