Google’s Guidelines On Mobile SEO?

We are all aware that in the next few years spending for mobile marketing, including SEO, will

double.

We are moving to a world where everything will be mobile. That’s right, mobile. SEO also needs to adjust to this trend if it wants to survive. This is not just a note to

the SEO practitioners and experts but also to the search engine

companies.

According to an article in searchengineland.com, Google has already taken a clear stance

on mobile SEO. Finally they spoke of the guidelines and other

details on what should be the ideal approach in doing it the

mobile way.

Google & mobile SEO

These are the ones that are on top of Google’s list when it comes

to what an ideal site should be:

• sites should use responsive web design•sites that dynamically serve all of devices in the same set of URLs, however each URL should have different HTML (and CSS) depending on the type to whether it is a desktop or a mobile device•sites that have separate mobile and standard desktop designs

Let’s explore these!

In this approach, CSS3 media queries are used, which alters

how the pages appear on mobile devices. So Google recommends

this because it makes it more easy – one content, one URL, and one HTML (that uses CSS media

queries).

What is responsive design?

When you want to use this, it is better to use the Vary HTTP

header in order to tell the search engine that there is a change in

the CSS and content based on the useragent.

How about the device-specific HTML approach?

This command is used to guide the GoogleBot in order for it to

identify that there is a change in the useragent. Thus, the bot can identify which one is mobile and

which one is the standard desktop site.

using the same URL – HTTP Vary Header for GoogleBot

Smartphone to crawl the siteusing a different URL

- rel=alternate on the desktop version & use a canonical on the

mobile version

There are actually two sub – approaches when using different HTMLs:

To guide mobile sites developers and SEOs, there is a developer

site allotted to discuss the issues regarding this.

We also need to go back again from the start and ask why develop our mobile-site-

capabilities? Just imagine the number of devices being sold every year. Most of these are

mobile.

Why go mobile?

According to MarketingSherpa’s 2012 Search Marketing

Benchmark Report – SEO Edition, in 2011, spending for mobile

advertising has surpassed that of email and social media.

Furthermore by 2016, the total amount being spent for mobile

marketing will reach $8.2 B. Purchasing online is much more

easier and 47% bought stuff online.

It looks like we are heading there (or….already there).

One new report released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau

states that ad revenue already hit $8.4 B in the first three months of

2012. This is higher by 15 % compared to the data from the first quarter of 2011 – $7.3 B.

Practically-speaking, there is also a proliferation of mobile devices- the main reason why mobile SEO is becoming more of a reality. The phones and other mobile devices

make it possible.

One article in techcrunch.com mentions that the total number

of mobile devices will exceed the world’s population this year. It’s based on the report released by cisco.com, which also points out

to the drastic increase in data usage.

Not all agree with the potential and current use of mobile devices

in marketing. According to a study by

Strongmail entitled 2012 Marketing Trends, business

leaders can’t really agree on the benefits of mobile marketing.

It can help?

Most believe that it can help their business by expanding their

customer base & build loyalty (35%), expand their reach (29%), and build customer awareness

(28%).

But 7% of the respondents believe that mobile marketing has no value in their campaign.

A few years from now, SEO for mobile devices will be a trend. To get ahead of the competition, it is better to make the changes now and optimize your mobile sites.

Closing thoughts

No wonder why more and more companies are working their way into the mobile marketing world, other than advertising through the standard channels and the

standard desktop sites.

Google has really something to say in any of the changes in the web. With regard to mobile web

sites, what ever the giant says need to be taken into account,

seriously.