What is Mobile-First Indexing?
Mobile-first indexing is a method used by Google where the mobile version of a website is considered the primary version for indexing and ranking in search results. Instead of crawling the desktop site first (as was previously standard), Google now prioritises the mobile version when evaluating and ranking web pages.
This change reflects the growing number of users accessing the web via mobile devices.
Why Mobile-First Indexing Matters
As mobile usage has surpassed desktop in many markets, Google aims to deliver results that best serve users on smartphones and tablets. If your mobile site is incomplete or not optimised, it may negatively impact how your site is indexed and ranked.
Benefits of preparing for mobile-first indexing include:
- Ensuring full indexation of your site content
- Better user experience across all devices
- Stronger rankings in mobile and desktop search
- Alignment with Google’s search best practices
Sites with responsive design, where the same content and structure are used across devices, are usually well-prepared for mobile-first indexing.
Example in Use
If your desktop site contains 1,000 words per article but the mobile version only shows an abbreviated 300-word version, Google will use the shorter mobile version for indexing. This may reduce the page’s ability to rank for important keywords.
Ensuring that mobile content matches desktop content is essential to maintain full visibility in search results.
Related Terms
- Responsive Design
- Page Speed
- Core Web Vitals
- User Experience (UX)
- Mobile-Friendly Test