Though mobile users look for the same thing on personal computers yet they are little different in some aspects. Usually websites build a duplicate of their original one, make some minor tweaks and add ‘m’ sub-domain to it. This works in mobile search optimization up to some extent, but it is not that useful as people think it is. Here are few points that will be helpful for optimizing a mobile site for search engines.
Design According to the Resolution:
Most of the computers have a resolution of 1366X768 pixels, but mobiles have varying resolutions. You should design such a website that it automatically fits the desired resolution of a mobile screen. Many websites that are not optimized for mobiles face a problem when viewed on a smaller display.
Use Shorter Keywords:
Though mobiles have the same QWERTY keypad, users do not like to type much. They input the least keywords possible on a search engine to get the desired results. For mobile search optimization, you need to use smaller keywords than usual.
No Pop-Ups:
These are very irritating on a 15-inch screen, and when they appear on a 5 inch mobile screen, the user might close the website at once. Pop-ups are a strict no-no for a mobile optimized website.
No Flash Content:
Avoid flash content as much as possible because it might result in a bad experience for the user. If a user is low on data and visits your website, the flash video will use most of the data, and your website ends up as a not so friendly mobile one.
Welcome Googlebot:
He is your best friend when it comes to mobile search optimization. Google uses it to track updated pages, and the company claims that it visits every page in the world within a few seconds. If you are using a code which blocks Googlebot from accessing your content, you will be at the losing end. Use a code that does not hinder its access, this way it will read most of your content and all of it will be added to Google Index.
Make it Crisp:
Fit your content in the least pages possible and cut down on scrolling and clicks. Mobile users hate to click on “more” after every paragraph because it eats up their data and consumes more time. Compress all the data available on your mobile website in a single page so that the user gets more information in less time.
Design for Touchscreens:
Days of plastic keypads on the phone are over. Mobile users scroll through their fingers and usually prefer their thumb for this purpose. There should not be too many links crunched within a tiny space because the user might accidentally click on them.
After you have got a mobile website built for yourself, try it once. Be honest with the pros and cons and see it with a critical eye. Improve in areas where you think your website lacks and update it.
