Index Mobile First

 While previously Google based natural referencing  on the status of sites in the computer version, for the vast majority of sites it is now the mobile version that is put forward. An important change that many are not yet aware of, it has nevertheless become essential today to offer an optimized version of your website for mobile .

On this page, you will learn more about the Mobile First Index and how it works so that you can adapt your strategy to these new changes.

Mobile First Index: definition

The Mobile First Index mainly concerns how Google robots operate when they visit the pages of your site .

While robots judged the site based on its performance on desktop until now, it's now the mobile version that takes precedence. Your site will therefore be judged primarily for its mobile version and the computer version will only be taken into account in the background.

This change took place because of a paradox that was noticed by search engines. In fact, the majority of queries are now made on mobile phones on a global scale and until now the search engine only judged the computer version . The mobile version was then only a bonus which was offered to the user if it existed.

How does the Mobile First Index work?

The operating principle is relatively simple. Instead of taking into account the performance of a website in its desktop version, the Google algorithm will highlight the mobile version . The computer version will be taken into account in the background, in the same way as the tablet version .

Website owners therefore have every interest in prioritizing the SEO optimization of their website in its mobile version in order to offer a pleasant interface to use and a good user experience if they do not wish to be penalized in terms of SEO. .

Although the announcement was made in 2016 and the implementation in 2018, many professionals and website owners continue to focus on the desktop version of their website while leaving the mobile version aside. An error that is costly in terms of SEO since the rules have changed.

The “Standard” version as it is called is an abuse of language since the standard is now the mobile version.

Our advice for optimizing your mobile SEO

To optimize your SEO , you must now focus on the mobile version of your website .

Indeed, from a statistical point of view, you are more likely that your visitors come from mobile sources than desktop. They therefore need an optimized user experience so that you get good feedback in order to get into the good graces of search engines.

Although the mobile version is now highlighted, the computer version should not be left aside either, nor the tablet version, because although relegated to the background, these elements are taken into account in the criteria of SEO.

Consider implementing useful features specially designed for mobile versions to allow Google robots to better understand the tree structure of your site in its mobile version.

The objective is that your site can offer fluid and movement through the different pages while having impeccable SEO optimization in terms of content.

If you're not yet up to date, now might be the time to catch up and understand why your pages are less well-referenced than the competition.