Making your website mobile friendly

“Google it” has become a commonly used phrase. Google is one of the most popular search engines, and is an indisputable leader in search engine optimization (SEO), the process of optimizing a website so it appears higher in search engines. This means Google should be top of mind for your retail propane business’ website design and structure.

Google impacts the way people find your business. The search engine processes about 3.5 billion searches every day, according to an April article published by Business Insider.

Potential customers may “Google” your business after seeing it in an ad, on a bobtail, through social media or from having positive conversations about it with colleagues. They also may search the internet for a propane retailer using key terms. Aside from SEO, there is other one major factor Google considers when ranking your business’ page: its mobile experience.

The search engine star favors mobile-friendly websites, ranking them higher than those that require excessive zooming or appear illegible on mobile devices.

That means your competitors may have a clear advantage over you in acquiring new business simply because they have a mobile-friendly website. There is a good chance decision-makers are reaching your website on their mobile devices, so it is imperative your website is mobile friendly.

So, what is defined as mobile friendly?

To be considered mobile friendly by Google, your mobile website must have legible font sizes and menus, obvious call-to-action buttons, a fast page-load time and viewable images.

If you aren’t sure whether or not your website is mobile friendly, use your mobile device to do a Google search for your business using different variations of your company name and common industry terms. Is your business on the first page?

Once you find your website, use your smartphone to navigate your site as if you were a potential customer. Are your buttons easy to click, or were you brought to the wrong page because your links are too close together? Consider the size of the tip of a mouse on a desktop screen compared to a thumb or finger on a mobile screen.

Another way to analyze how your website is performing is through Google Analytics. Whether you have a web department, contractor or you are running the show, Google Analytics can show what is and isn’t working on your website.

Google also provides a “mobile friendly test,” where you enter a website’s URL to test how easily a visitor can use your website on a mobile device. Simply search “Is my webpage mobile friendly?” in Google to find the resource, which will be ranked No. 1 on the page.

It is in your retail propane business’ best interest to put resources into making your website mobile friendly. It provides your customers or potential customers with a simple first step in doing business with you.