Tips for Your Mobile SEO Strategy

Mobile searches are becoming more mainstream, which has forced the SEO world to take serious notice. Some brands report that more than 30 percent of all searches come from mobile devices, according to Mobile Marketer. Strategy Analytics, a global research and consulting firm, reports that the number of smartphone users around the world has topped 1 billion—and that number is only rapidly increasing. Webmasters must focus on employing sound mobile SEO tactics and strategies in today’s world. After all, Google has come out with Googlebot-Mobile, which crawls smartphone content to provide a better search experience for smartphone users. So, what are some important points you should keep in mind when crafting your mobile SEO strategy? Let’s take a look. Select Mobile-Friendly Keywords to Target If you’re familiar with SEO, you know that keyword research is vital to achieving high search engine rankings for targeted terms. You may be used to compiling a list of highly targeted long tail keywords that you want to target through content on your website. Long tail keywords contain three or more words, usually with a generic head term. Let’s consider possible keywords the webmaster of an e-commerce business selling LED TVs may look at. An example of a short tail keyword is “LED TV.” An example of a long tail keyword is “Sony XBR 4K Ultra HD LED TV.” As you can imagine, it’s easier to rank higher for the long tail keyword. Also, long tail keywords result in higher conversion rates since users are searching for a very specific item they have a need or desire for. Your mobile SEO keyword strategy, however, should be centered on selecting shorter, more concise terms. It should be fairly obvious that those using their smarthphones to conduct searches are doing so by typing in shorter keyword phrases. Keep this in mind as you develop your mobile SEO keyword list.

Include a Mobile-Friendly Call-to-Action You want mobile visitors who land on your website to take some type of action, whether it be to make a purchase or call you for some service. Your mobile SEO strategy should aim to make it as easy as possible for interested visitors to call you. You may want to include, for example, a “Call Us” button—the visitor would simply have to click the button and his or her phone automatically makes the call to you. Bolster Your Website’s Entertainment Features Your mobile SEO strategy should really take into account the psychology of smartphone users. Over 90 percent of smartphone owners say they use their mobile device to pass the time. Selling cleaning products, for example, may not be the most interesting or entertaining thing in the world. However, you should try to make your mobile web content as entertaining as possible to engage users. Featuring a relevant game or multimedia items such as music or videos may cause users to stay on your mobile site for a longer period of time. You may want to hire a freelance specialist who can help you prepare such multimedia items. Don’t Neglect Social Networking Tools Do you have the Facebook or Twitter app on your smartphone? Do you ever see your friends using their smartphones to update their Facebook statuses? As part of your mobile SEO strategy, you’ll absolutely want to integrate social media to your website. Do you manage an e-commerce business that sells high quality designer handbags? Make it easy for mobile visitors to share your item on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking tools. This will only increase traffic to your website, which may mean more revenue for you. Drop the Desktop Mentality When you’re crafting a mobile SEO strategy, remember that you want to optimize content for mobile screens as opposed to traditional computer screens. Mobile screens are usually small and you’ll want to optimize your site’s content for such screen sizes. This means eliminating unnecessary fluff and focusing on conveying only the most important core items to users. Do me a favor. Grab your smartphone and visit your website. How does the user experience feel to you? By keeping these mobile SEO tips in mind, you’ll be on the good side of Googlebot-Mobile and smartphone users, which can only help you in terms of strengthening your brand and generating higher revenue.