We recently posted about why it’s essential to have a mobile-friendly website by 21 April 2015, when Google will introduce a major update to their mobile search algorithm – an update they say will have a “significant impact” on the mobile search results.
A Bigger Impact Than Expected
However, recent comments by Google’s Zineb Ait Bahajji from the Webmaster Trends Team suggest that the impact will be even bigger than anyone expected.
According to Search Engine Land, Bahajji was quoted as saying at SMX Munich that the upcoming algorithm will have more of an impact on Google’s search results than the Google Panda and Google Penguin update.
When you consider the fact that Google’s Panda algorithm affected about 12% of all English queries, while Penguin was closer to 4% of global queries, you should be left in no doubt about the significance of the coming update.
Understanding Bahajji’s Comments
There is, however, some debate about the meaning behind Bahajji’s comments. Is she talking about the impact on mobile search queries? Or will the impact be across mobile and desktop searches? As the mobile-friendly algorithm only impacts mobile search results, sites such as Search Engine Land are suggesting that she is talking about the mobile impact only.
Although Bahajji did not specifically release the percentage of queries impacted, it’s believed that around 50% of Google searches are made on a mobile device.
One thing is certain – it’s more important than ever to ensure your site is mobile-friendly, or you risk losing out to competitors and experiencing a bumpy road ahead.
Get in Touch with Fat Media Today
Want to know if you are at risk of losing your traffic? As a leading SEO agency, we offer site audits with an emphasis on mobile, as well as other technical services and expert advice. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you.