Google is changing the way they rank pages. Is your foodservice company prepared?

Let's start with the important question. Is your current website mobile friendly? If it is, don't waste your time reading this article. If it's not and you want to take advantage of Google's changing rules, read on. Not sure if your website is mobile friendly? Let's find out now.

Ok, now that everyone knows if their current site is mobile friendly or not, let's get into the details. Google is changing the way we do business. Literally. Beginning on April 21, their new algorithm will start rewarding websites that are mobile-friendly and responsive. In their February 26 announcement, Google made years of speculation official by stating they will place "more mobile friendly websites in search results."

According to a recent article in Inc., these changes will only impact mobile search results in the beginning – that is, results someone receives when searching Google on a mobile device. But reputable sources have mentioned mobile-friendly websites will also be rewarded on desktop searches in the near future, as well.

The fact is, more people are using mobile devices to surf the web then ever before. Google's own statistics show that, even when at home or in the workplace, 77 percent of searches are conducted on mobile devices. And these are even in places where desktop computers are likely to be accessible.

So if building a responsive website in today's foodservice industry is a necessity if you want your website to get found, what are the next steps according to Google?

Google's Top Three Considerations When Building a Mobile-Friendly Website for Your Foodservice Business

1) Make it easy for your customers to navigate your site and achieve their goals. If you want your users to take a certain action, make it clear and easy for them to do so. The main purpose of your website should be to make your customers' lives easier by providing clear access to the foodservice equipment you sell.

2) Measure your site's effectiveness by how easy a mobile user can complete a common task. Always begin with the most common and most important tasks your users will complete on your site, and make those tasks the easiest to complete. If you're a rep and want your users to read information about your lines, make that information accessible.

3) Select a template, theme, or design that's consistent on all devices. Make sure the processes behind accomplishing the common tasks on your website are responsive on all devices (desktop, tablet, or mobile phone). Not only will this provide seamless navigation for your users, but using responsive web design also gives developers and owners the convenience of only maintaining one site versus two. 

Build the Site Yourself or Work with a Developer?

Building a website can be a tedious task, but if your foodservice operation has the capabilities, it's something you should consider. Ask yourself a few important questions: Do I have the time? Do I have the knowledge? Do I have the desire to build my company's website?

For many foodservice equipment companies, one or more of these answers is "no." And for those who prefer to work with a developer or marketing company to create a mobile-friendly website design, Google suggests six points to consider of any potential candidate.