Google’s recent change in it’s search algorithm reflects the truth that more and more people are using their mobile devices to find information.
More smartphones than computers have been sold every year since 2011, and Google wants to connect those smartphones to responsive websites (sites that change depending on the screen it’s viewed). With the recent changes not only will websites that are responsive rank higher, but mobile friendly or “lightweight” sites will increase in rank as well. With Americans keeping a mobile device within arms reach 80% of the time, it is important that your business adapt to these new changes to be more visible than your competition.
Here are 5 options to convert your website:
1) Switch to WordPress – Easy to use with a ready made plugin to convert sites to responsive, WordPress powers over 17% of the web. If you have small or simple site that uses any of the following CMSs (http://codex.wordpress.org/Importing_Content) then converting to WordPress should be easy and cheap.
2) Separate website – It is possible to make a separate site exclusively for mobile users, and while the initial cost will be low the long term cost and not being future friendly is a large deterrent.
3) Specialist – If your website is large conversion may not be possible in house. Several companies offer services to convert your website (many will convert it to WordPress), the cost will vary depending on the size and complexity of your site.
4) Create a new site– The most expensive option, creating a new site from scratch this will insure your site is future friendly and sleek.
5) Plugins and conversion tools – Other CMSs have plugins or conversion tools similar to WordPress (JQuery has one for example), check to see if your current CMS does. Your modern responsive site may be virtually free.
Having a responsive website is more important than ever with the Google algorithm changes, with 75% of mobile users leaving a site immediately if it isn’t mobile friendly, you can’t afford to have a low ranking as well.