Google has announced that it will include a “mobile-friendly” label in the mobile Google search for websites that are optimized for mobile devices. With this feature, Google wants to increase the user experience for mobile users. It will be rolled out globally in the next couple of weeks.
For a website to get the “mobile-friendly” label, the following criteria must be met:
- Avoids software that is not common on mobile devices, like Flash
- Uses text that is readable without zooming
- Sizes content to the screen so users don’t have to scroll horizontally or zoom
- Places links far enough apart so that the correct one can be easily tapped
You can see already if your website is going to get the label by inserting your domain in Google’s online test that analyzes the usability for mobile devices.
If your website does not pass the test you will be given tips for optimizing your website.
At the moment, Google is experimenting with using the mobile-friendly criteria as a ranking signal. So, you might want to test your website with the free Google test to be prepared for a future update of the ranking algorithm.
Update (2.3.2015): Google has officially announced that mobile-friendliness is going to be a ranking factor starting from April 21 2015.
