It’s important to understand as business owners that our efforts to get listed in search engines and to rank well do not affect our rankings in Google on mobile phones.
The search results are different on mobile than on our computers; and, in part, are determined first by whether or not you have a mobile friendly site. This is not the same as a mobile optimized site.
There are many ways to make your site mobile friendly. This is the barest necessity, the very first step. If you don’t do anything else, whatever you do, at least do this: get a mobile site.
Let’s talk about how to tackle that, but note that it isn’t all you need to do. I recommend skipping this and going for the real mobile site up front. There are many reasons for this, but, if you are not in a position to do that, here’s what I suggest is second best.
Option #1 – For Google Mobile Rankings At Least
If you use WordPress software on your site, do this. Many sites do use WordPress, and we highly recommend it to all our clients. If you are already using it, or if you haven’t built your site yet and you can go this route. There is a plug in you can use to add a mobile option to the site. It’s a very basic first step, but if that’s all you implement right now to better your position with mobile rankings by all means do it. It can help to get you started.
Once installed the templates that come with this plug in can be modified to look anyway you want. It isn’t an easy plugin to install, compared to many WordPress plugins, but it works. Also, the templates aren’t easy to modify if you don’t know CSS and HTML, but someone who does won’t have any problems.
One step in the installation of this plugin includes submitting your site to the mobile search engines, which you should definitely do.
Also, it provides easy access to a cell phone emulator which is very helpful in modifying the mobile templates.
Option #2 – Mobile Site Templates
Another option is to purchase some mobile site templates. If you choose this option you will need to purchase a domain name or add a subdomain and you’ll have to host it somewhere. (You can find out more about mobile site hosting on our site.)
You’ll need to know HTML and CSS if you want to modify the mobile templates, but this can be a good option. Also you can hire someone to make these changes to your templates.
Option #3 – Mobile Site Builder Software
Then there is mobile site builder software you can buy. This can make it easier to make some of the changes, but there are limitations to all software and there’s that learning curve business. However, if you are pretty confident on a computer, mobile site builder software can be a helpful option.
Option #4 – Hire A Mobile Site Builder
A mobile site builder is responsible for the entirety of your mobile site design, development and the design. We offer mobile builder services here at MobileSiteArmy.com, as well as mobile site design and hosting. Other companies have similar offerings. Click here to have it all done for you: Mobile Site Design.