Google will expand the use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal beginning April 21st. This change will make mobile search results more relevant and high-quality for users. Google will assess all websites for mobile-friendliness and include this as a factor in its algorithm. For a site to pass as mobile-friendly, all pages must be optimized for mobile viewing on an individual basis. Sites must also allow Google to crawl CSS and JavaScript files. While responsive design is recommended, other mobile optimization methods will not be penalized. Websites can test mobile-friendliness using Google's mobile-friendly test and mobile usability report in Search Console.

1. Upcoming mobile changes to
Google’s ranking algorithm for
searchers on mobile devices

2. From 21st April, Google will be expanding
the use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking
signal. This change will have a significant
impact in search results and users will find
it easier to get relevant, high quality search
results that are optimised for their devices.

3. So much website traffic is now coming from smartphones
and tablets, Google is assessing all sites in its index for
mobile friendliness and this change will be pushed into its
algorithm on that date.

4. When determining if a website is mobile friendly, Google
bases this on a page by page case and all pages must be
mobile friendly. Creating some pages, even the majority of
pages, as mobile friendly will not mean your entire site passes
the check.

5. Your site must allow Google to crawl CSS & JavaScript
If you are blocking elements such as CSS and JavaScript,
your site will not pass Google’s mobile friendly test, even
if everything else on the site passes.

6. Because Google has been pushing responsive design as a
way to handle mobile traffic, some have speculated that it
will receive a ranking boost over and above other types of
mobile optimisation. However, Google says that they only
recommend it because it works well for Google, so they
believe that solution will work for almost everyone else.
Other systems of mobile adaptation will not be treated as
second class.

7. You can find out if your site is ready for this change by using
the following tools to see how Googlebot views your pages:
If you want to test a few pages, you can use the mobile
friendly test.
If you have a site, you can use your Webmaster Tools
account to get a full list of mobile usability issues across
your site using the mobile usability report.

8. For more information please visit
http://www.freshwebz.co.uk/