Google prioritizes mobile indexing: what business websites need to do

On 26/3/2018, Google announced it was starting to roll out mobile-first indexing for qualifying websites. This means Google mainly uses the mobile version of a page for indexing and ranking. For business websites, it's time to review the phone version of your site.

What exactly changed?

Previously, Google mainly crawled and evaluated the desktop version of a page. Now the mobile version is the primary basis. According to the official post and TechCrunch the same day, some key points:

• Google tested for about a year and a half before starting the rollout.
• There is only one index; there is no separate "mobile index" apart from the main index.
• The first wave applied to websites already following mobile-first best practices; site owners were notified through Search Console.
• Google did not state when it would be complete.
• Desktop-only pages remain in the index; they are not removed.
• This change is not in itself a ranking boost; being mobile-friendly is a separate matter.

Which type is your website?

What to do

According to Google Search Central's practice guidance, the core points include:

1. Equivalent content: the mobile version needs the same main content as the desktop version. Using tabs or accordions on mobile is still acceptable.
2. Titles and descriptions: keep the title and meta description equivalent on both versions.
3. Structured data: have the same data on mobile and desktop; update URLs to the mobile version if you use m-dot. If you need to prioritize, start with Breadcrumb, Product and VideoObject.
4. Robots tags and access: use the same robots meta on both versions; don't block in robots.txt the resources Google needs to render the page.
5. Lazy loading: don't let main content appear only after the user swipes, taps or types, because Google may not see it.
6. Speed and experience: TechCrunch noted that Google said that from July 2018 page speed would be a ranking signal for mobile search. Test speed on a phone, compress images and reduce unnecessary scripts.
7. Monitor Search Console: add both versions (if you have them) and watch for notices about the move to mobile-first.

A quick check in a few minutes

• Open the page on a real phone: is the text readable, can buttons be tapped, do you have to scroll sideways?
• Compare mobile content with desktop content: are text, images, videos and internal links all there?
• Use the mobile-friendly test tool and Search Console to look for errors.

Notes for small business websites

Many older websites hide menus, price tables or contact information on mobile to keep the screen tidy. Hidden or trimmed content may not be evaluated like the desktop version. Prioritize keeping the main information (address, opening hours, phone number, products/services) on both versions. If you're considering rebuilding your website, responsive design is the simplest way to keep content consistent.

2026 update: Since 2018, Google has kept expanding mobile-first: according to the titles of posts on Google's blog, it applied by default to new domains in 2019, was announced for the whole web in 2020, and in October 2023 there was a post titled "Mobile-first indexing has landed". Google's current guidance still stresses equivalent content and structured data between mobile and desktop versions. See the latest Google Search Central documentation.

If you need help reviewing your website, you can contact HVSC's Technology team.

FAQ

Does mobile-first indexing make a website drop in rankings?

According to Google, moving to mobile-first indexing is not in itself a factor that raises or lowers rankings. However, if the mobile version lacks content compared with desktop, visibility may be affected.

Will a desktop-only website be removed from Google?

No. Google says that if you only have desktop content, the page remains in the index. Still, the phone experience should be improved.

How do I know my website has been moved to mobile-first?

Google notifies websites that have been moved through Search Console. Register and monitor Search Console for your website.

Reference sources

• Google Search Central Blog — Rolling out mobile-first indexing (26/3/2018): https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2018/03/rolling-out-mobile-first-indexing
• TechCrunch — Google begins to roll out mobile-first indexing (26/3/2018): https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/26/google-begins-to-roll-out-its-mobile-first-index/
• Google Search Central — Mobile-first indexing best practices: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/mobile/mobile-sites-mobile-first-indexing