Google Launches Mobile Initiative – Are You Ready To GoMo?

“Millions more people are using mobile devices to get online every day. Does your business have a mobile-friendly site? If not—or if you're not sure—you've come to the right place to get started.” -HowToGoMo.com

In the online world, many take it for granted that there will be a mobile version for the majority of websites. Although it can be argued that by having an App can negate this requirement, but there should always be an option for mobile users to have access from a mobile or computer.

Fortunately, for anyone looking to create a mobile friendly site in the near future, Google have launched HowToGoMo.com. A mobile website training and testing ground for webmasters to view their site as it would appear for anyone viewing the site from a mobile phone. By simply entering in the URL into the GoMoMeter, it provides suggestions and recommendations on how to make the site much more mobile-friendly.

One of the major features of the website, not including the vast array of images and success stories, is the ability to view a list of selected vendors who can help launch your site. Creating a one-stop shop for not only identifying the problems but also discovering the solutions.

To help illustrate why Google has launched such an initiative may be down to businesses are not keeping up with the rise of mobile phone users and according to the latest Conversion Rate Optimization Report produced by Econsultancy, in association with RedEye, has establised that 70% of companies have yet to launch a mobile site. A study that involved more than 700 client-side and agency marketers.

Further evidence from Compuware, Brand Anywhere and Luth Research help display the damage that not providing a mobile-friendly site can have on users, as displayed within Google's GoMo blog post.

“Every day more and more of your customers are looking for you…on mobile devices. If you don’t have a site that works for mobile, you’re missing out. 61% of users are unlikely to return to a site that’s not mobile-friendly.”

“On the other hand, customers embrace sites that are built for mobile--consumer engagement increases by 85% with a website designed for mobile devices.”

In order to get you started, here's '10 Mobile Site Best Practices', as provided by Google:

Feel free to get in touch and let us know how you feel about Google's new initiative and if you think it can help businesses increase their uptake of mobile-friendly websites.