Google’s July 5th Update: How to Keep Your Website Live

If You Do Not Have A Mobile Website That’s Responsive, You Will No Longer Be Indexed After Google’s July 5th Update

In today’s digital age, keeping your website live and at the top of Google’s ever changing algorithm is more crucial than ever. With the recent Google devices update on July 5th, websites now face a new set of challenges and opportunities to ensure they remain visible and competitive. This pivotal SEO update sets the new standard for what it means to have a mobile website that is google friendly. Understanding these changes and adapting accordingly is key for businesses aiming to stay visible on Google and improve rankings.

This article sheds light on the essence of Google’s July 5th website update, delves into the importance of mobile access, and lastly offers concrete steps on how to prepare your website for these shifts. By focusing on the key aspects, we aim to provide insights that are not only informative but also action packed. Whether your goal is to enhance user experience, improve your site’s performance, the insights gathered here can serve as a road map to navigate through the complexities of the new Google July 5th update.

What is Google’s Website Update on July 5th?

Background of Mobile Website First Indexing

Google’s mobile first indexing initiative, launched over seven years ago, will reach its full implementation by July 5, 2024. This significant shift means that Google will mainly use its mobile Googlebot for crawling websites. This change is aimed to align with the increasing use of mobile devices for internet access. Websites not accessible on mobile devices will no longer be indexed or ranked by Google, marking the importance for mobile accessibility ^{[7][8][9][13][14]}.

Official Announcement Details

John Mueller of Google confirmed that from July 5, 2024, any sites still being crawled by the desktop Googlebot will switch to mobile Googlebot. This update primarily affects sites that are not mobile friendly but are still accessible on mobile devices. While Google will continue using the desktop crawler for specific functions, such as product listings and Google for Jobs, the main focus will shift to mobile first indexing. This change underlines the importance for website owners to ensure their sites are accessible on mobile devices to maintain visibility in Google’s search results ^{[7][8][9][13][14]}.

Why Mobile Accessibility is Crucial

Mobile accessibility has become a pivotal aspect of digital strategy as more users shift to mobile devices. A staggering 72% of users are projected to access the internet solely via mobile phones by 2025, highlighting the shift towards mobile usage ^[16]. This trend is reinforced by Google’s mobile first indexing, where the mobile version of content is prioritized. Likewise, the Google 5th update makes mobile accessibility crucial for maintaining visibility and search rankings ^[17][18].

Businesses are increasingly focusing on creating inclusive mobile web experiences. Mobile-friendly websites are favored by Google’s algorithms, impacting search rankings significantly. Websites that are not optimized for mobile devices suffer in terms of visibility and user engagement, as poor mobile experiences lead to high bounce rates and lower conversion rates ^[16][18].

Moreover, as mobile devices account for over 50% of digital media time in the U.S., optimizing for mobile is not just an option but a necessity for businesses to stay competitive and relevant ^[18]. Ensuring that websites are mobile friendly, with responsive design and fast loading times, not only enhances user experience but also supports SEO efforts, driving more traffic and improving online presence ^[20].

How to Prepare Your Website for the Update

Ensure Mobile Accessibility

In order to ensure your website remains indexed by Google after July 5th, 2024, it’s crucial to confirm that your site is accessible on mobile devices^[25][26][27]. Utilize tools like the Google Search Console URL Inspection tool to check if your site renders correctly on mobile devices ^[25].

Implement Responsive Web Design

Adopting responsive web design is essential for adapting your site across different devices. This approach uses flexible layouts and CSS media queries to ensure a seamless user experience whether accessed from a desktop, tablet, or mobile ^[28][29][30]. Responsive design not only adjusts to screen size but also enhances the overall functionality and accessibility of your website.

Optimize for Mobile User Experience

Optimizing your website for mobile users involves more than just making it accessible. Focus on fast loading times, easy navigation, and ensuring content is easy to read on smaller screens ^[31][32]. Regular testing and updates are crucial to maintain an optimal mobile user experience, which significantly affects your site’s SEO and user retention ^[32][33].

Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test

Regularly using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test can provide insights into how well your site performs on mobile devices. This tool offers specific recommendations for improvements, helping you to address any issues that could impact your mobile site’s performance and user experience ^[34][35][36]. Overall, ensuring your website meets these standards is vital for compliance with Google’s mobile first indexing requirements.

Conclusion

Presently, understanding Google’s July 5th update is crucial for any business aiming to maintain a robust online presence in an increasingly mobile-first world. The essence of Google’s update underscores a significant shift towards prioritizing mobile friendly websites. This makes it it imperative for website owners to ensure their sites are accessible on mobile devices.

In navigating these changes, it’s essential to take proactive steps in preparing your website. Ensuring your site is optimized for mobile users now will position your website competitively for future updates. For businesses looking to adapt to these changes, partnering with a skilled website design firm that understands the intricacies of Google’s algorithms can be a pivotal step. As we are currently accepting website redesigns on a limited basis to help you stay ahead, now is the time to book a website consultation. Therefore, you can ensure your site not only meets but exceeds the new standards set by Google’s latest update, safeguarding your online presence in the digital era.

FAQs

1. How soon will my website appear on Google after creation or indexing request?
After creating a page or requesting indexing, it typically takes about a week for Google to index your page. If you’ve submitted a sitemap or a request to index, wait at least one week before assuming there’s an issue. If there have been recent changes to your page or site, check again after a week to see if it appears on Google.

2. What steps should I take to ensure my website is listed on Google?
To get your website listed on Google, start by informing Google of your site’s existence through a submission. This can be done by submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console. This action helps to prompt Google to index your website more quickly.

3. How can I resubmit my website to Google for indexing?
To resubmit your website to Google, you can either update your existing sitemap with new URLs and resubmit it through your Google Account or by sending a ping (an HTTP request). Alternatively, you can create a new sitemap that includes only the new URLs and submit that separately.

References

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