News
Mobile First Indexing – What That Means for Your Website
There is no denying the power of the mobile platform. These handheld devices have worked their way into our everyday lives. Many people access the web entirely or primarily from a smartphone. There were approximately 3.7 billion unique users in the global mobile population as of January 2018. That’s a huge potential audience for any business.
What Is Mobile First Indexing?
Mobile first indexing is a shift away from web content designed for desktops and a move toward content that’s made for mobile. The term refers to changes to Google’s algorithm that began rolling out earlier in 2018. The update means that Google uses the mobile version of websites for ranking and indexing instead of the desktop version.
What Does This Mean for My Website?
If your website utilizes a responsive design, then you will likely not see any significant changes. The problem is with websites that have more content on their desktop version. Any content that helped with SEO may be skipped if it doesn’t appear on the mobile site. Your pages could rank lower if you fall into that category.
What Can I Do to Prepare My Site for Mobile First Indexing?
Make sure at minimum you have a mobile-friendly design in use. It is best to have a site that is mobile first for best practices to adhere to the Google algorithm. Also, check your pages and make sure you are serving the same content on mobile as you do on your desktop version. Your site should load quickly and be optimized for performance as well. Contact OMA Comp to learn more about prepping your business website for mobile first indexing.
Computer Security Day
Computers are now essential for work and play. We no longer can envision our lives without them.
Computers have improved our efficiency and allows instant communication but at the same time has caused concern with privacy and security.
Computer Security Day is a reminder to make sure that your systems are all checked and updated with the most advanced security options available so your business can run smoothly with reduced risk of security threats. If you need an audit, updates, or a seminar to teach your employees best practices to keep your data safe and secure, contact OMA Comp today.
Facebook Ad Platform Down for 7 Hours
The Facebook ad platform went down for 7 hours today. When the platform was restored, there were errors causing problems for brands that have come to rely on Facebook and Instagram as advertising tools. Some businesses were unable to place critical Thanksgiving holiday ads.
Will this affect much counted on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales? 2018 is predicted to be a banner year for holiday sales. One reason is low unemployment which is a precursor for increased spending. Online marketing is now a major force in holiday sales. Disruptions especially ones that compromise security may make us less merry this Christmas.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
As a business, you can make sure that your systems are up-to-date with the latest security and privacy updates. Training your employees is key to help reduce the risk of your business so that it does not become prey to cyber crime. Reduce your risk of becoming hacked or infected, contact OMA Comp today.
All of Us at OMA Comp Wish You a Happy Thanksgiving
Marketing is more than SEO and branding. It also involves getting to know each client and finding the best way to share their message with the world. We at OMA Comp are proud to be able to provide this service as well as our IT services to so many wonderful people and help ensure the technological portion of their businesses run optimally. We are thankful for the opportunity to help each one of you who comes to us. As families gather for the annual feast, we would like to share a wish for happiness, health, and plenty. May our staff, clients, and neighbors have a happy Thanksgiving spent with people you love.
Do I Need the Hreflang Attribute for Google to Display the Correct Language?
Some websites consist of multiple versions intended for different geographic regions or languages. This makes the site accessible to people across the world. In the past, pages would have to tell Google what language to display using the hreflang attribute.
What Is the Hreflang Attribute?
The hreflang attribute is code that is added to a website to tell Google which language is being used on that page. It would look something like rel=”alternate” hreflang=”x” and would be placed in the HTTP header, on-page markup, or on the sitemap.
This function was introduced in 2011 to help search engines identify the relationships between pages that could be displayed in alternate languages. It allowed sites to offer a localized experience for different audiences. This tool didn’t influence search results ranking specifically, but was intended to ensure that each visitor sees content that is relevant to them.
Does the Hreflang Attribute Still Apply In 2018?
Search engines are getting smarter. Google webmaster trends analyst John Mueller was asked on Twitter on April 25th, 2018 if hreflang tags are needed to display different languages. Mueller responded by stating that “If it’s in a different language, usually Google can figure that out without hreflang. Most queries are clearly in one language, so we can send users to that version of the page.”
It’s still important to include hreflang because Google doesn’t always choose the alternate page. However, some sites may no longer need this element to get the search engine to display the correct content. If you’re ready to learn more or build a fully-optimized, multi-language site, let us know. We’re available in Southeast Michigan to provide website building and SEO services that utilize current best practices all around the globe.
