It is no secret that mobile browsing is fast becoming the norm and clinics have been urged to look into mobile optimization for some time now. However, with Google introducing the 'mobile friendly' tag and penalizing sites who do not address mobile compatibility this is now more important than ever. Let's take a closer look at the mobile friendly Google tag and what is needed to achieve it.
Google has been teasing the release of an algorithm update specifically focusing on mobile browsing and it was finally launched on April 21. Google insist that the update is not about punishing anyone, but rather it is designed to improve user experience. However, it is inevitable that some sites might lose traffic as Google begins to remove search results that are not compatible with mobile browsing to make room for those that are going to offer a better browsing experience to mobile users.
For physical therapy clinics, it is important to make sure that they are not among the search results being removed from mobile search results. The good news is that Google has actually created an easy to use testing tool that will check whether or not a website meets the requirements to be considered mobile friendly.
As with every algorithm update that is launched by Google, there is a fair amount of misconception surrounding the mobile friendly changes. This can lead to panic among physical therapists who fear that their sites will be severely impacted by the changes. In reality, this is one of the more minor updates that Google has implemented in recent times. The following important points will address the most common misconceptions.
The algorithm is only going to impact search results returned to mobile users. That means that even if a website is not deemed mobile friendly, the site will still appear in the results shown to other users. However, when we consider the fact that 50% of all searches are estimated to be performed on mobile devices it is best to address the issue as quickly as possible otherwise the clinic in question could be missing out on a large chunk of their target audience.
This particular update is a real time update which means that even if a physiotherapy clinic's website did not meet the requirements for being mobile friendly when the algorithm launched, as soon as the improvements are made to bring the site up to standard, any lost traffic can be recovered. In addition, the update runs page by page, so any pages of the website which are mobile friendly will still show up in search results even if the entire website is not yet updated.
Another fact that some people are not aware of in regards to this update is that branded searches will not be demoted. If someone searches for a particular physical therapy clinic by name using their mobile device then the result will not be demoted. This only applies to non-branded searches such as 'physical therapists New York' for example.
In conclusion, while the new Google update is only going to affect mobile search results, that doesn't mean that physical therapists can ignore it! Mobile browsing is becoming more and more popular so having a website that will perform well in mobile searches is essential if a physiotherapy clinic is to make the most of internet marketing. It is also good practice to make sure that a website offers the best user experience possible.
PatientSites can help make sure that your clinic does not miss out on potential patients simply because of a website that is not suitable for mobile browsers. One of the basic features of PatientSites is automatic mobile formatting.