A recent announcement from Google is sending shockwaves through property management companies and business owners that rely on the Internet for marketing. Google revealed that on April 21, companies’ websites will be punished in mobile search rankings if they don’t have a mobile-friendly website. This has scared a lot of people because they’re worried about how their search rankings will be affected on all of Google’s other platforms.
What Google specifically says is, “Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results.” (From Google’s Webmaster Blog)
The most important thing to know is that searches done on computers, laptops and tablets are safe. Nothing will change on those devices, as they are not considered “mobile” devices. However, searches performed on smartphones such as iPhones and Androids will favor websites that are “mobile friendly.”
What property managers really want to pay attention to with this change is the importance Google places on mobile websites. There is an upward trend of people searching for services on their smart phones. Keep in mind: it’s another place for you to reach potential clients. One survey claims that, “compared with other devices, the mobile phone showed the highest conversion rate, with nearly 80 percent of mobile phone searches ending in a purchase.” You need a mobile-friendly website so you can put yourself in the best position possible for these potential customers.
Make sure to ask your webmaster to ensure your website is mobile friendly. You want to be confident that you’ll be able to reach people on mobile. If you have any questions about what you need to do and how this can help you grow your property management business, please contact us at Fourandhalf.com.
