On April 21, 2015, Google introduced its mobile-friendly algorithm. What this means is that Google will cause websites that aren’t “mobile-friendly” to be less prominent within its search algorithm.
In layman’s terms, if you don’t have a mobile-friendly website, your website will be less likely to be displayed when individuals search for related content that would typically pull up your website.
This doesn’t mean that you have to have an app for your club. Luckily it’s much simpler than having to design a mobile app. Instead, all you need to have is a mobile-friendly website. If you are reading this blog on your iPhone, ClubSolutionsMagazine.com is mobile-friendly and you’ll see a difference from when you access our website on your desktop.
In an Inc.com article about the adjustment that I read, it stated that a lot of the top-searched sites on Google weren’t mobile-friendly. However, I did a quick search of a lot of the major fitness clubs in the U.S. and they were already set for mobile-friendly.
If you’re curious whether your website is considered mobile-friendly or not, you can use a Google website to plug in your URL and test to see if your site is mobile-friendly.
Of course at this point it’s uncertain how this change could affect your business. However, when adjustments do occur to major search engines, it’s important to take notice and change right along with them. It’s better that you do your due diligence on the front end than lose some of your searchability and get left in the dust by your competitors.
Tyler Montgomery is the Editor-in-Chief of Club Solutions Magazine. For thoughts on his blog or the industry, reach out to him at tyler@peakemedia.com.
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Tyler Montgomery is a former writer for Club Solutions Magazine.
