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Video Summary

Ever wondered about the difference between mobile and desktop SEO? I suspect the answer is yes because you’re here watching this video.

With technology giving people access to websites from anywhere at any time, Google has adapted its algorithms to accommodate users on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This shift towards enhancing the online experience has had a significant impact on SEO strategies.

What mobile-first indexing means is that Google crawls your website as if it’s using a mobile device, not a desktop browser. Basically, it means your site competes in the search results based on how it behaves on a phone.

And this raises the question: how does mobile SEO differ from desktop SEO, and how can you take advantage of this? With mobile-first indexing complete, here are three key differences to consider when creating your SEO strategy…

Video Transcript

Hello, I’m Jeffrey Kirk.

Ever wondered about the difference between mobile and desktop SEO? I suspect the answer is yes because you’re here watching this video.

Mobile-First Indexing

With nearly 70% of internet searches and about 55% of total internet traffic on mobile devices, the impact of mobile usage is obvious. Because of these significant numbers, Google first introduced what it calls “mobile-first indexing” back in November of 2016. Earlier this year 2023, Google announced the transition is complete with the exception of some sites that simply do not work at all on mobile devices.

1. Google Search Results

While search results on mobile phones and desktops may appear somewhat similar, they are not identical. Google provides personalized search results, meaning it’s going to show you what it thinks you’ re looking for and that can change depending on how you are doing a search.

It’s important to understand this so you can make good decisions to get your website showing up no matter what device someone uses for a search. The main thing that’s different, on different devices, is the actual appearance of the search results.

Mobile results look like cards with a border around them, taking up more relative space on the screen, though they will often show fewer words in the description. On a phone, you might only see two or three results on the screen at one time. To see more, you have to swipe the screen to bring up another set.

Because of this, it takes longer to get to the end of the search results, and people often just pick from the first few results instead of scrolling down.

On a desktop browser, you might be able to see up to five or six search results at once. Since you see more at one time, it’s easier to quickly review many more search results. With more and more people using mobile phones, Google noticed more searches coming from mobile devices.

So, Google decided to focus on the mobile experience when deciding which websites to show first. If your website doesn’t work well on a phone, or if it doesn’t even have a mobile version, you lose a lot of potential visitors.

And even if your site works well on phones, mobile SEO is still important. It helps you do better than others and rank higher in searches. If your website is not yet mobile-friendly, check out my previous video to learn more about mobile SEO and how to optimize your website for mobile.

2. Click-through rate

Click-through rate (CTR) is about how many people click on your website when they see it in the search results. When it comes to SEO, getting your website to show in a top position is super important.

Now, when we compare how many people click on results on mobile phones versus computers, it’s kind of interesting. Research shows that on a mobile device the first result gets clicked about 24% of the time, while on a desktop, the first one gets about 31% of the clicks. The second spot on mobile gets about 14% and on desktop searches, about 15%.

What we can see from this is that the drop-off is faster on desktop than mobile. And though the top spot on mobile gets much fewer clicks than the top spot on the desktop, by the time we get to the 5th spot it’s about even with around 65% of the clicks going to those top 5.

So why is click behavior different on mobile? Well, it might be because each result on mobile looks like a separate card, making it easier for people to look at each one.

On a desktop, the faster drop might happen because you can see more results at once and might feel a little overwhelmed with the choices. This may cause searchers to go with the first one they see instead of checking out the others.

3. Search Layout and Features

The way search results look can be different on computers and phones, and this affects how people see your website. Phones have smaller screens that go up and down, while computers have bigger screens that display information in a wider format.

Google arranges things differently on phones, often showing pictures and taking up more space. Also, the special features that show up in search results can be different on phones compared to computers.

In addition to the specific search results, Google might also display things like a knowledge panel, business info, location details, images, news, interesting findings, sponsored links, and more. These special results can show up before, in the middle, or after the regular search listings.

On mobile, you often see more of these special features completely mixed in with the search results. And they might repeat as you continue to scroll down.

Mobile vs Desktop

Now, you might be wondering why Google shows different results on mobile vs desktop. It’s really simple, Google wants to be the number 1 search provider and so they want to make it easy for searchers regardless of their device.

People on phones crave quick info, and Google knows it. It tailors results to offer a speedy answer without the need to click. On the flip side, desktop users usually have more time, so Google serves up more detailed results to help them choose the perfect website.

Let me give you a specific difference. If you have a Google business profile for your business, and you do a search for your business by name, a desktop browser will show a panel about your business to the right of the search results. On a phone, that information will appear at the top of the search results instead.

So, the key takeaway here is if someone is on a mobile device and they are not searching for your business by name, there could be some other information showing up first which means they might have to scroll or swipe more to find your info.

Therefore, to make your website more visible, you might want to apply some extra effort to get featured in these special result areas and attract more traffic.

Tips for Adapting Your SEO Strategy

To get more visitors and improve your website’s rankings, businesses have to adjust their SEO strategies for both mobile and desktop users.

By optimizing separately for these two types of searches, businesses can connect with larger audiences and make sure everyone has a smooth experience, no matter what device they’re using.

Here are some key areas of focus…

Responsive Design: Use a design that adjusts to different screen sizes, ensuring a great experience no matter what device someone is using.
Prioritize Mobile-First Indexing: Optimize your website for Google by making sure the mobile version of your site works great and gives Google everything they need to support your business in the search results.
Optimize for Voice Search: With the rise of voice-activated devices, be sure to incorporate natural language and conversational keywords into your content so your site can answer voice search queries. In case you want to know more about voice search optimization, here’s the link to another previous video.
Structured Data Markup: Implement structured data markup to provide search engines with clear information about your content. This enhances your site visibility in both mobile and desktop search results.
Local SEO for Mobile Users: Use local SEO strategies to target mobile users seeking immediate, location-specific information. And make sure your local business information is accurate.
Comprehensive Keyword Strategy: Develop a keyword strategy that considers the differences in user intent between mobile and desktop searches. And make sure your content matches the intent.
Regularly Monitor and Update: Stay on top of algorithm changes and user behavior trends and adjust your SEO strategy to remain effective.

And that’s it! A clear SEO strategy will help you reach searchers who are interested in your services, and, ultimately, convert them into more revenue. If you found this video helpful, be sure to subscribe to my channel for more digital marketing insights.

And if you have any questions or topics you’d like me to cover, please let me know in the comments area. You can also get some free resources from my website at upatdawn.biz.

Your business deserves to be seen online, and I will help you get there.

Thanks for watching and have a great day!

How To Take Advantage Of Mobile First Indexing