Google’s Mobile-First Index is Coming at You! 0:45 – 11:00
This may seem like another complex Google algorithm change, but simply put, Google will now be evaluating the mobile version of your site as a major ranking factor. Google will also show results for mobile sites, whether a user is searching from a mobile device or a desktop.
If you have a responsive website (the design automatically adjusts — or responds — to the device on which it is displayed) or a standalone mobile site, you probably won’t see too much change from Google’s newest indexing. As long as your site’s mobile experience includes all the important elements of the desktop experience, you’re golden.
However, there is always an opportunity to optimize your web design for mobile-first viewing. Be aware of:
- Lagging Site Speed — Reduce image and video size, manage JavaScript, and minimize plug-ins for faster load times.
- Clunky Navigation — Condense your navigation to reduce the number of clicks necessary for users to find what they need.
- Poorly Formatted Content — Use accordions or other methods that allow users to expand/contract content as desired and make content skimmable with subheadings, lists, call-out quotes, and bolded main ideas.
Is Facebook Listening to You? 11:00 – 24:30
At this point, we’re probably all too familiar with retargeting — you do an online search (for example: “hotels in NYC” or “kids Adidas sneakers”) and within minutes you see start to see online ads promoting the very thing you searched. But many people have the feeling that Facebook has taken things a step farther by eavesdropping on conversations (maybe a conversation on Valyrian steel, for all you GOT fans) and providing sponsored ads based on their discussions.
However, common sense tells us that these conspiracy theories don’t hold up. Facebook is probably not listening in through your phone. One cybersecurity expert shares information on how these ads are more likely appearing:
“Likely it’s probably something outside of Facebook that’s actually collecting data. Were they at a popular retail store where they actually were browsing and perhaps based upon their mobile device, and the wi-fi associated to a presence in front of that and the (store’s) camera system made a corollary they dwelled there looking at that particular display. That information is aggregated and sold with other big data that goes back to Facebook who then quickly sends up an ad. These things can happen almost instantaneous. It’s almost like you’re being spied upon, which is the feeling for sure.”
How Accurate is Your NAP? 24:30 – 34:50
If you’re unfamiliar with the acronym NAP, it stands for Name, Address, Phone Number — the key pieces of information that should appear in all online business listings for your company. Many online users, however, are developing trust issues due to inaccurate NAP information in local businesses listings. In fact, a recent survey showed that 30% of respondents called a wrong phone they found online, 24% arrived at a business too early or too late based on inaccurate business hours, and 22% went to a wrong location based on inaccurate address information.
And, possibly most disturbing, 68% of respondents would stop using a local business if they encountered inaccurate information online. We discuss the importance of claiming, periodically checking, and updating your Google My Business listing.