Ask the Expert: Google Mobile Search Update ... More Mobilegeddon!

In our ongoing efforts to keep clients and friends up to date, here are the latest questions from our FAQ file.

Question: My website looks fine on my phone, but Google indicates it’s not mobile-friendly. What’s the deal?

Answer: Websites can be made “responsive,” which means they change shape and layout based on the detected user display size. That is not necessarily mobile-friendly. Responsive design is more about adapting to various screen resolutions and display sizes.

Question: After this update, if my site isn’t optimized, will I not appear in search results at all?

Answer: This update will only affect mobile searches — that is, searches performed using phones, smartphones, and feature phones. Searches performed on desktops and tablets will not be affected.

However, recent statistics indicate that 60% of all searches are from mobile devices. Sites that are not mobile-friendly will still appear in search results, but potentially at a lower rank.

Question: Why is Google doing this?

Answer: Google is always trying to provide users with the best experience possible. This update is logical — mobile users want websites their phones can easily read and display.

This isn’t a punishment. It’s simply a reflection of Google adapting to changes in how people search.

Question: When will this update be released?

Answer: The update is set to begin rolling out on April 21st. Google is staging the rollout and says it may take about a week to complete.

Question: Does Google consider tablets to be mobile devices?

Answer: No. Google considers tablets to be a third class of device.