New Google Update on 21st April

[Andy-Halliday]

Hi

We all know that the mobile update is coming on the 21st April and if your site isnt mobile friendly in Googles eye you will be removed from the mobile index.

Will this affect tablets.

Most of our pages are mobile friendly but there are a few which arent. However these are tablet friendly.

I havent heard Google mention about tablet rankings.

Thanks

Andy

[Andy-Halliday]

Hi

Gary illyes from Google confirmed today at BrightonSEO that its just mobile that will be affected - tablet rankings WILL not be affected.

He also confirmed this wont in the April 21st update it wont affect Google Business listings.

Thought I would let you all know.

Thanks

Andy

[RafalJ]

Damn. I have been proven wrong. Apologies!

[Alick300]

Hi Andy-Halliday,

Now Google confirms that "Google Mobile-Friendly Algorithm Will Not Impact Tablet Searches".

Proof @ --- https://www.seroundtable.com/google-mobile-friendly-algorithm-smartphone-only-20094.html

Thanks

[Eslam-yosef]

Check this: http://moz.com/community/q/the-upcoming-mobile-friendly-change-is-for-mobile-users-not-tablet-users

[Eslam-yosef]

hmmmmmm, ok!

Me: Does Google new update for tablets and mobiles, Or just mobiles only?

John Mueller: Smartphones. If it works there, it'll generally also work on tablets anyway.

Screenshot: http://www.jumzle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/001.jpg

[Christy-Correll]

Hi Andy,

This is a great question for the thread Dr. Pete started at http://moz.com/community/q/google-s-mobile-update-what-we-know-so-far-updated-3-25.

Christy

[RafalJ]

In Analytics (Audience/Mobile/Overview) it shows 3 Device Categories: Desktops, Mobile (phones) and Tablets. This is true but when you look at Audience/Mobile/Devices, the column Mobile Device Info shows all tablets and mobile phones grouped together (!)

Also in Adwords - when you write an ad copy for mobile (devices) it will be shown on both mobile phones and tablets, ad copy for desktops will be shown on desktops and laptops.

WMT doesn't distinguish between tablets and mobile phones at all, they are all mobile devices.

This is what I meant by grouping them together, not that you can turn on reporting for each device category separately. You could turn on reporting for pretty much anything you want in Analytics so this is really not an argument.

I'm pretty certain (99.9%) this is the case Andy and you should make sure both mobile phone and tablet versions of your site are prepared before 21st April.

[Andy-Halliday]

So basically we are unsure and will have to wait until 21st April to find out.

Thanks for everyones input, been very useful and informative

[MonicaOConnor]

I understand that tablets are mobile devices, all I am saying is that Google sees them differently. The reporting in Analytics, AdWords, and GWT separates Tablets and Mobile. I don't understand it either, but that is the way the cookie crumbles. I am not saying I understand it or that it makes sense, but there is a small separation for some reason.

[RafalJ]

Monica tablets ARE mobile devices! Tablets and mobile phones use the same mobile operating systems and mobile versions of browsers. Also all their tools including Adwords, Analytics and WMT put tablets and mobile phones in the same group - mobile devices so I can't see any reason why they would treat them differently (and have different sets of search results for each?? perhaps I'm wrong but it makes no sense to me!).

I admit I also believe this update will affect desktop search results to some degree but Google certainly claims otherwise. We will just have to wait and see.

[MonicaOConnor]

Tablets are handled slightly differently from Mobile devices. It is not a fair assumption that they will be affected the same as mobile devices.

There is heavy debate on the effects of this update on desktop searches. My theory is that this update cannot exclude desktop search results without there being a mobile index. I believe sites that are responsive will see the greatest benefit of this update.

[MonicaOConnor]

Mobile Friendly will show on all pages that are mobile friendly, whether it is a desktop search or a mobile search. If you are forcing customers to your desktop version for a better user experience I believe that is the right way to do it. As long as you have a mobile version available and Google can see it I think you will be fine. Have you used the developers Mobile friendly tool yet? It could help answer your questions on a page by page basis. I don't know how tablets will be affected by this update as it is specifically targeted to mobile devices.

[RafalJ]

Tablets and mobile phones are both mobile devices and this update will affect them both. What Rand and Barry are discussing on Twitter is whether it will also affect desktop results, so nothing to do with tablets.

[Andy-Halliday]

HI

Thanks for everyones responses - however we have a m. site, but on certain tablets we force people onto the desktop version for a better user experience.

However when I do a search on the ipad I don't see 'Mobile-friendly' labels.

Can anyone confirm if mobile rankings on tablets are part of the mobile index or desktop index.

Thanks

Andy

[Alick300]

Hi,

No what I know that is It is for mobile only according to Google source. There is nothing in public domain so far whether it would affect on desktop site search/Tablet or If affect how would it affect.

I am sharing Google's Zineb Ait Bahajji reply on Rand Fishkin & Barry Schwart's similar question. Please check image.

http://imgur.com/PG5Muxo

Thanks

[Eslam-yosef]

Early days I spoke with some friends from Google and they have three specific requirements. If any website don't have any of these requirements, it will be removed from the mobile index.

1. Responsive.
2. redirect to the mobile version of the site. (ex, from site.com to m.site.com)
3. The site made only for mobile users.

It doesn't matter if the user uses mobile or tablet because in both he/she will browse Google mobile search on the device.