Google to put mobile-friendly websites first in search engine

[Lynx-lynx]

So which ebook sellers are changing their websites to be more mobile friendly?

Apparently Google has been alerting webmasters of the need to have phone friendly websites over the last three months.

Google has announced it will prioritise companies that have "mobile-friendly" websites when people use the search engine on their smart phones or tablet computers as of Wednesday.As a result, businesses with desktop-only websites may find themselves plummeting in Google's search rankings..... Google estimates half of all searches are conducted from mobile devices, through mobile browsers and its own search apps.
The company has rolled out a mobile-friendly test and other tools to help sites conform to the new mobile ranking. ...... Mr Strong believes Google is responding to the competition posed by apps which bypass search engines.
"So, there's no advertising in the way, there's no opportunity to make money from people searching," he said.
"I think this is a way of Google without actually saying it, they're trying to keep up with technology themselves, they're the ones that have fallen behind."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-2...nesses/6409764

Apparently over the next 4 weeks or so there will be a significant impact on the current search rankings, with companies that are currently in the top end losing their rankings unless they have phone friendly sites.

[AnotherCat]

For myself, I find the article quite misleading and over dramatic as my reading of it infers that all searches are affected, whereas Google have made it amply clear that is only searches made from small devices e.g. phones, where the prioritising will take place. Searches from PCs and tablets will not be affected.

EDIT: Been wondering about your first comment and had a play. Also how do E Ink readers appear to Google, I suspect as a tablet, but I don't know? Even on my little 3.5 inch screen phone Kobo's site is very easy to browse even though it does not offer to serve me a script for mobile; everything wraps fine and maybe if they were going to keep thumbnails of covers then not too much else they could do compared to that?

[eschwartz]

Hmm, it appears that MobileRead doesn't qualify as Mobile-friendly.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/to...p%3Ft%3D259458

[AnotherCat]

Tried it for Kobo's Home page and got

Awesome! This page is mobile-friendly

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Hmm, it appears that MobileRead doesn't qualify as Mobile-friendly.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/to...p%3Ft%3D259458

Of course, the mobile version is.
https://www.google.com/webmasters/to...leread.mobi%2F

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

Of course, the mobile version is.
https://www.google.com/webmasters/to...leread.mobi%2F

If a script is put in to automatically redirect mobile devices to the mobile site, then google will see it as mobile friendly.

Shari

[Purple Lady]

So Google is concerned with mobile friendly sites now? If they want people to be able to use a browser on their phone, maybe they should fix the Chrome browser to be able to do text wrap. They removed that capability a few years ago for some reason.

[Phogg]

I have seen less and less mobile friendly websites in recent months.
More and more they are becoming abysmal like the New York Times website.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Phogg

I have seen less and less mobile friendly websites in recent months.
More and more they are becoming abysmal like the New York Times website.

... right on!

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

So Google is concerned with mobile friendly sites now? If they want people to be able to use a browser on their phone, maybe they should fix the Chrome browser to be able to do text wrap. They removed that capability a few years ago for some reason.

If the websites had been mobile friendly you would not have needed reflow in the first place. That I think is googles thinking they are not going to allow websites to get away with inadequate coding for small screen by giving them workarounds and no incentive improve their code. I agree with the sentiment though but not the effects.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

If the websites had been mobile friendly you would not have needed reflow in the first place. That I think is googles thinking they are not going to allow websites to get away with inadequate coding for small screen by giving them workarounds and no incentive improve their code. I agree with the sentiment though but not the effects.

I need reflow because sometimes font sizes on a page are ok for me and sometimes not ok . I would have to have different Chrome accessibility settings for different sites. Without reflow I can't read easily. Also I prefer the desktop version of websites - mobile versions usually suck. Google will see the mobile version of a site as acceptable and the desktop version not acceptable. With text reflow the desktop version works perfectly.

Google finds this page mobile friendly, but the font size is too small for me and the comments section has a tiny font that I don't think anyone could read. http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_...news-12055.php

Google finds this page mobile friendly and the font size is much bigger than the gsmarena font. This is using Chrome with the same accessibility setting.
http://www.androidauthority.com/leak...attery-604162/

[Purple Lady]

This also shows as mobile friendly. Only some text is ok, and the book description is microscopic. I think Google needs to work on their mobile friendly test and Chrome browser.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00267SZES

[eschwartz]

Amazon links should redirect to their mobile interface, which actually is mobile-friendly.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Amazon links should redirect to their mobile interface, which actually is mobile-friendly.

I forgot I installed Chrome UA switcher because Amazon Mobile site sucks so bad. I set it to default and still get the regular site. I cleared it's cache and uninstalled the UA switcher and closed and reopened Chrome, but still get the regular site.

The regular site looks great in both Dolphin and Opera on my phone so there's no reason it has to look bad on Chrome.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Amazon links should redirect to their mobile interface, which actually is mobile-friendly.

Let me correct your post.

If the browser is set to mobile view as the default, then that is the view that should show when you go to Amazon. If the browser is set to desktop view then that is what should show.

And (as an aside) if you have a browser on a phablet or tablet that doesn't let you select the default view - get a better browser.