Challenges to Mobile SEO

The obvious challenge to Mobile SEO is the varying screen sizes and the issues that can create with regard to formatting a website. Some sites are hyper fixated on a computer interface, that either their mobile version isn’t as good or almost unusable. Along with the screen sizing, another issue can be a slow loading speed or any sort of performance issues. Loading speed is an issue for every website, but it is especially so for mobile users. Since phones are the most convenient access to the internet, users are more likely to look for convenient and quick information on their phones. In other words, if users plan to sit down and actually do research, that would most likely be done on a computer rather than a phone. This major hardship is the difference in user behavior compared to typical desktop users. Mobile users tend to search with urgency. They prioritize clear and quick results. For example, if a site forces users to constantly pinch, zoom or scroll endlessly for simple information, they won’t stay on that site for long. This is categorized as a high bounce rate. These high bounce rates signal to search engines that this site isn’t what users are looking for which can lower the sites visibility.

Rise in Mobile SEO

Despite these challenges, Mobile SEO is no longer optional. The majority of global web traffic is now from mobile devices. This means that businesses that avoid or ignore mobile optimization will continue to lose visibility and even credibility. These two things ultimately leading towards less revenue. But of course Mobile SEO is not just about shrinking a desktop website to fit into a smaller screen. This sort of optimization requires faster performance, intentional design, a simplified navigation, and a well executed empathetic approach to mobile user desires. Mobile SEO is a necessity in this day and age for a successful and visible website.