August 2019

If you only have a desktop version of your website, you could be missing out. Failing to optimise your content for mobile users is often a costly mistake, regardless of mobile first indexing. With the majority of users relying on mobile devices to browse the web, having site content which is optimised for mobile usage ensures functionality, speed and accessibility.

Typically, users spend less than five seconds on a website if they can’t navigate it easily or if it takes too long to load. If mobile users aren’t getting the speed or functionality they expect from your site, they’ll simply switch to a competitor instead.

Whilst MFI is a valid reason to switch to mobile optimised content, user experience is a significant factor too. Although Google will still index desktop-only sites, users may not be so forgiving. If your site doesn’t perform well on mobile devices, you should expect to see a drop in visitors.

However, you don’t have to create a separate mobile version of your website to appease Googlebot or satisfy your users. Responsive web design (RWD) is one of the easiest ways to cater to a range of users. With RWD, you won’t need to create or manage various versions of your site. Instead, your site responds to the user’s behaviour and adapts accordingly. Essentially, your site will be optimised for usage on a laptop screen, a 46” SMART TV, a 5.5” smartphone screen or any other device.