How Responsive web design Can Improve Your SEO Results
As more people use multiple devices to access the Internet, it is becoming increasingly important to have a website that displays in an optimal format across all devices. Responsive web design has become the standard method for achieving universal access to website content. However, did you know that responsive design can help to improve your SEO results? Here are a few reasons why responsive design is good for SEO.
Google Recommends Responsive Design
When it comes to website design for smartphones, Google specifically recommends responsive web design as the best way to reach a mobile audience. In displaying search engine results on a mobile device, Google also focuses on sites that are mobile-optimised.
No More Separate Mobile URLs
Prior to the rise of responsive design, many website owners were being forced to set up separate subdomains or domains in order to build mobile websites. Now that responsive design has rendered this technique obsolete, all of the content for a responsive design site can be found at a single URL. This is an obvious plus for SEO because it eliminates duplicate content.
Having a single URL also means that a tighter internal and external linking structure for the site will be built over time. A single URL means that it will be faster and easier to build authority for your site. No longer will you have to worry about the mobile URLs of pages of your website competing with desktop versions of those same pages for the top Google search results.
Better Navigation and User Experience
Google ranks having a clear site navigation system and user experience as extremely important when it comes to search rankings. Responsive design can make it easier to navigate a site by making only the options that the user needs for that particular device available. This improves user experience dramatically and makes websites much more user-friendly.
Local Search
Responsive design is also good for improving local search results. Many customers search for local businesses by using mobile devices. Responsive design can ensure that customers have access to the information that they need quickly in order to make on-the-go purchase decisions.
Bounce Rate
Opting for responsive web design can also help to lower the bounce rate of your website. This is because mobile users will be able to find the content that they need instead of simply leaving your website because it is difficult to access from a mobile device. Google looks at the bounce rate of websites in order to determine if a site is a spam or low quality website. Therefore, it is in your best interest to keep your website’s bounce rate as low as possible.
While responsive design can improve SEO results, it is important to perform tracking and split-testing as with any other type of site. By incorporating the optimisation of your responsive website into your online marketing strategy, you can determine which strategies will yield the best results.
