Google has issued an ultimatum!
Google says: "To improve the search experience for smartphone users and address their pain points, we plan to roll out several ranking changes in the near future that address sites that are misconfigured for smartphone users..."
[source: Google Webmaster Central
June 11, 2013]
Translated: Web sites that fail to flawlessly display on ALL devices including smartphones will be "addressed" (yep, penalized) in the rankings. Google further "suggests" ...
" ...it's important for webmasters to focus on avoiding all of the common smartphone website misconfigurations."
Translated: Web sites with...
- Unplayable videos – if you are using FLASH, you are eff'ed
- Faulty redirects – redirects are already complicated enough, but Google is saying that getting them wrong is good enough reason for ranking penalties!
- Smartphone-only 404s – this can happen when a smartphone user visits a Web page intended for desktop users if you've failed to use the proper setups.
- App download interstitials – If your App promotions are causing Google indexing problems, then you can expect that your pages will be penalized in the rankings.
- Irrelevant cross-linking – even if you're attempting to accommodate both smartphone users AND desktop users, you'd better make sure that you link them up in the way that Google likes, or else!
- Slow Loading Pages – Google is obsessed with speed! ...they've suggested that your page should ideally load within one second (and, no, we're not kidding). Right now the average load time is currently about 10 seconds. This means that lot of sites have a LOT of room for improvement!
...will NOT be ranking anywhere near the top in the search results!
So what does all this really mean? ...simple. Relevance is no longer Google's primary focus. Nope. It's style over substance. They're ranking pages FIRST on their mechanical compliance and then branding and then (maybe) on relevance which, if you think about it, is pretty weird because...
If I'm looking for the best product or the most accurate information or the lowest price, or the sweetest deal, or the highest quality, do I really care if the page is using FLASH or takes a few extra seconds to load?
So you might be asking, is Google being evil? I wouldn't argue if you said they were, BUT whadaya gonna do about it? cry? ...or prepare and gain an advantage.
Before you cry about it, consider this. Not only do most online company's all have the same problem, many of them don't even know it – yet. And it doesn't matter if you're a professional SEO or a Web site designer or an online business seeking a competitive edge, in every case, this, uh, "problem" spells o-p-p-o-r-t-u-n-i-t-y!
Why? ...because here's what Google actually recommends:
"Google recommends webmasters follow the industry best practice of using responsive web design, namely serving the same HTML for all devices and using only CSS media queries to decide the rendering on each device."
[source: developers.google.com...]
And THAT, my friend, is the point of this article!
You see, in Google's typically veiled way, they are issuing an ultimatum. They're saying that the HTML design that most everyone's been using over the past decade is becoming increasingly disadvantaged in the rankings. That the old HTML design is effectively obsolete in terms of search engine rankability ... so you better start redesigning your site(s) to be super-fast and responsive to smartphones and, well, all other devices too. Otherwise, don't be surprised if you wake up one day to find all of your sites banished to cyber-siberia (read: hopelessly buried somewhere in the middle of the search results).
Of course none of this is new. In fact we've been warning you since our August 2013 issue of SEN that Google is beginning to favor Web sites that use Responsive Web Design -- the type of HTML that makes Web pages viewing-compatible across ALL of the various platforms. This includes desktops, laptops, iPads, notepads, iPhones, and Android devices.
So what, exactly, is Responsive Web Design and how do you convert?
Glad you asked because that was the topic of our most recent SEO Training Course. And, yes, you missed it. BUT fortunately for you we recorded it. That means that, in a little under SIX Hours you can catch up on everything that the LIVE attendees were able to learn.
Here's what The Professional Mobile Optimization / Responsive Web Design Training Course covers...
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Presented by John Heard |
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His easy-going, patient, heartland style of communication puts people at ease. His complete and total grasp of everything SEO personifies expert! If you want to be taught by one of the best, and perhaps gain the insight of 'the SEO guy' who's been there, done that, and knows the score, then this is the course for you. |
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Sessions One, Two & Three
John Heard is one of the best SEO
trainers in the world. He's the head of the SEN research department and our lead technical writer. John has been with Planet Ocean and SEN since the very
beginning back in 1997. It's safe to say he's literally seen everything!
Training Course Details and Session Run Times
The Training course can be downloaded or viewed in streaming video format. There's also an audio-only version if you'd rather listen while on the go.
| Total Run Time = 351 Minutes (5.85 Hours) | |
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Session #1: 104 minutes Course content + Q&A |
Session #3: 91 minutes Course content + Q&A |
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Session #2: 101 Minutes Course content + Q&A |
Session #4: 55 minutes ALL Q&A |
Bonus #1: Certificate of Completion
After finishing the course you'll be eligible to receive your Official Certification and a Personalized Web site Badge which links directly to your Web page showing clients you've been trained by SEN. This proves your dedication and commitment to continuing education and providing top quality services. Prior to certification, you'll be required to pass an online test that confirms your mastery of Mobile Marketing Strategies.
The Cost — $495
You'll be getting the same Professional Mobile Optimization / Responsive Web Design Training Course which participants experienced LIVE during the week of November 4th 2013 — except:
- We've edited out pauses and sputters so you'll be getting an efficiently streamlined and easy-to-listen-to version of the LIVE training.
- and you'll be able to learn at your own pace. You can pause, rewind, and even take a break when you need one.
You will see and hear everything they did. We'll even compensate you for not being able to ask questions LIVE, by giving you...
BONUS #2: A FULL 30 days of Unlimited Fast Track Question access!
- This means that, after completing the course and taking the test, you can get answers to ALL of your questions via email. One of our experts will respond to you within one business day! (that's a $49 per question value that you will get FREE)
BONUS #3: 30 days Free Membership in our MasterMind Group
- This is our communication channel where professionals like yourself who've done this and various other training courses meet to exchange strategies, solve problems and overcome everyday challenges in real time. It's like having the brainpower-benefits of a large agency but without the hassles. When you're part of the MasterMind, you're never working alone! (This is a $69 per month value)
Guarantee: 30 days conditional...
- If within 30 days you've completed the course and passed the test to receive your certificate of completion, you do not believe you got your money's worth, then tell us and we'll refund the entire cost of the tuition.
The Separation is in the Preparation
If ever there was a 'golden opportunity' to separate yourself from the competition by elevating your skills, this is it. Based on the fact that everyone is affected by Google's recent *ultimatum* about fast loading sites and error-free display across ALL platforms, there's no doubt the edge you'll gain will enable you to...
- command higher fees,
- and close more prospects
...which will make you more money!
Think about it... in just under 6 hours study time you'll learn what you'll need to know to smoke your competition in 2014. And your complimentary MasterMind membership will return value beyond measure!
Submit the form below and get started today. This may be the best professional action you've taken all year!