Google mobile search changes
Recently at Digital PowerSports we’ve heard some concern from our dealer-partners regarding the new Google mobile search changes. We’re here to let you know that your services with DPS are in compliance with Google standards and will not affect your website ranking.
As the majority of websites are becoming mobile friendly, Google has recently seen mobile pages that show intrusive interstitials to users, or full screen ads that cover the interface of their host application. While the underlying content is available to be indexed by Google, the desired content is obscured and can provide a poor experience because the user did not ask for the content displayed. Well… Google intends to deter this behavior.
In a effort to improve the mobile search experience, after January 10, 2017, pages that display interstitials may not rank highly in search results.
“There is no concern about Google’s new mobile search changes and it does not apply to any of our current technology. It certainly doesn’t apply to the In-Motion avatar or our Side Tab. Interstitials apply to content that blocks entire screens where the user must address it before seeing their desired content. DPS highly values the user experience and search ranking of our dealer-partners websites and will continue to develop services that promote this.”
Chris Purser, Digital PowerSports CTO
Here’s what you should know…
Here’s what will not affect your ranking:
- Pop-ups that are in response to legal obligations, such as cookie usage or age verification
- Login dialogs
- Banners that are easily dismissible
Here are some examples that are considered interstitials:
- A popup that covers the main content, either immediately or while they are looking through the page, often freezing on the screen for a select number of seconds.
- Displaying a standalone/unrelated pop-up that the user has to dismiss before getting the main content.
- The above-the-fold portion of the page appears similar to a standalone interstitial, but the original content has been in-lined underneath the fold.
If you’d like to test your mobile design with Google, they provide a Mobile-Friendly Test. If you don’t have a mobile friendly website, we believe it’s imperative, especially since early last year mobile devices are now the main source of Google search traffic.
If you have any questions, contact us here!
