1 SEO for Mobile Platforms

SEO for Mobile Platforms

These days, it’s common for people to search for information on their mobile phones. It’s so convenient to search for restaurants, stores, and services on mobile devices while we’re out and about. For users with smartphones like iPhones and Androids, our telephones are essentially pocket computers. So should we be tailoring SEO content to a mobile platform?

On December 15, 2011, Google introduced their smartphone Google-bot Mobile. It is Google’s hope that by indexing smartphone content separately, users will have better search experiences on their phones. The blog post, written by Yoshikiyo Kato, says:
“With the number of smartphone users rapidly rising, we’re seeing more and more websites providing content specifically designed to be browsed on smartphones.”
In a Search Engine Land article about mobile searches in 2012, Michael Martin explains how users may want different information from searches across different platforms:
“The intention of inputting a search term on a desktop, feature phone, smartphone, or tablet can mean different things for the same keyword. For example, when typing in the term ‘tacos’ on a desktop I may want information or recipes; but on a feature phone, I may want to call a local taco shop; on a smartphone, I want directions to a local taco place, and on a tablet, I want to check reviews or what different items on the menu look like.”
For your business, it’s relatively easy to provide all this information to your potential customers. Having a variety of content, such as recipes, directions, menus, reviews, and photos, can be important on a mobile platform (and on a stationary computer).
A study by the group Meditative shows that images and reviews draw in your user’s eyes. For iPhone users, the study revealed that positive reviews on the Google Places app made a huge difference in which listing got clicks and which did not. While you need to register to see Meditative’s eye-tracking report, Search Engine Land breaks down the basics in this article.
Ryan Jones at Search Engine Journal doesn’t believe you need a different strategy for mobile SEO. Since our phones are just little computers, Jones thinks it’s easier just to design your website to work well on all devices – including phones, tablet computers, and traditional desktops and laptops. Jones writes:
“If you want something that is really native to a device, an app is definitely the way to go. Apps can access multi-touch features, rich media, in app purchases, gps, camera, and other aspects to provide a truly unique experience that a website cannot.”
My favorite websites that I frequent online all have apps. If your business could benefit from a mobile app, brainstorm ideas that would entice your customers, entertain them, or practically inform them about your business. Maybe your pizza place could commission an app to let users create their own pizza. Your personal training business could create a personalized workout app, complete with a nutrition and exercise routine.
While mobile screens are smaller than traditional computer screens, apps can give users a tailored experience on a smartphone. Apps with in-app purchases, such as the photography app Hipstamatic, drive users to their website with extended packages and the ability to purchase photography prints. The Pinterest app is just as useful as the full website for users to share things they like.
Focus on how your customers will find you, and keep up your tireless SEO endeavors. If you believe your business needs a separate mobile site, or even an app, evaluate what’s best for you and for your customers.
But no matter which form of technology is accessing your website due to your SEO efforts, all SEO strategies require three things to be successful, as outlined by Mater Google’s CEO Ali Husayni, who says:
“SEO takes the following three things: expertise, hard work, and patience. On average, our clients see the best results within six months to a year after we start a project.”
Master Google client CariniAir.com recently saw their site rise to the top of Google Places and other search result areas after working with us. Doug Cooper, the VP of Marketing for CariniAir.com, was thrilled with the results.
“Finally achieving the top spot on Google Maps for our most important keywords is a dream come true. Everyone at Carini Heating and Air is very excited and grateful to Master Google for their continued hard work and persistence,” Cooper says.