With the introduction Mobile Friendly Testing Tool by Bing it is clear that search engines insists web pages to be mobile friendly. Search Engines like Bing and Google analyze web pages through their algorithm to find whether the web page is mobile friendly in many ways. The following things are checked in the Mobile Friendliness Tool introduced by Search Engine Bing.
Mobile Friendly Tag
Those who have visited the search results on Google and Bing through speedy connection might have noticed web pages being labelled as mobile friendly along with the search results. This is an indicator for the visitor to decide which results to click in the Search Engine Results Page. It has been found through various statistics that visitors prefer to go to the mobile friendly web pages on search results on both Bing and Google.
Ranking Factors
Search Engines display the most relevant web pages in search results page and along with relevancy mobile friendliness is also taken as a ranking factor. Currently Search engines like Bing and Google display the most relevant web pages and there might be some of the results not being mobile friendly. If the web pages are showing relevant information with respect to a query having quality content then search engines might not penalise them due to mobile friendly ranking factor.
There are a number of factors that determine the mobile friendliness of a web page. The following are some of the parameters that determine it.
- NavigationNavigation of a web page consists of the menu buttons and links should be able to touch easily on mobile devices. The navigational elements should not close enough to cause difficulties in clicking them. It is favorable to use easy to tap buttons that can be distinguished on the screen. preventing accidental clicks from close elements can be omitted through such design
- ReadabilityIt is advised by search engines that the web page content should be easy to read without zooming into it. the size of the fonts as well as view port settings by the stylesheets should favor the readability of items in the web page. The size of the text elements should be clearly defined in the stylesheet of the web page.
- ScrollabilityIt should be noted that the content of a web page should fit inside the screen otherwise it will cause readers to scroll the screen to read content. Search engines prefers content to be scrolled vertically due to the easiness and horizontal scrollability along with vertical scrolling ability can cause confusion among users. It should also be noted that the web pages be visible both in portrait mode and landscape mode.
- CompatibilityThe content of the web page need to be compatible with the browsers on the mobile devices. Inclusion of flash elements hinders viewing on certain browsers. Playing of audio as well as video on the web page also should be compatible with the device and browser in order to make the web page mobile friendly.
Bing Mobile Friendly Testing Tool
https://www.bing.com/webmaster/tools/mobile-friendliness/
Google Mobile Friendliness Testing Tool
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/