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The Ongoing Mobile SEO Debate

By Julie Ann Ross

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 16Nov2011
Word count: 649
Viewed: 94 time(s)

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The mobile SEO world is deeply divided. They are deeply divided in a way that only the true geeks can deeply divide. Entire church denominations have splintered over much, much less.

What is rocking the mobile SEO world is the question of dedicated mobile websites and domains: are they important, necessary, and valuable, or are they a complete waste of time?

The argument boils down to whether companies need a mobile-specific website and a mobile-specific domain name on the .mobi platform. Should companies purchase a .mobi domain name and then a separate server to store their specially-designed mobile websites.

Mobile SEO Argument #1: Mobile Websites and Domains Are IMPORTANT - Some mobile phones have problems rendering websites, say these proponents. And mobile search engines look at websites differently than regular desktop websites. Even the users visit a website for different reasons, whether they are on a laptop or on their mobile phone.

Generally, a person who is looking at a mobile site only needs basic information, not long blocks of copy, Flash-based movies, or giant graphics that are difficult to read. They want quick information, because they are usually on the move, trying to find an address, look up an item, or decide what they should buy. They do not have the time to sit down, research, investigate, and ponder. This means their web browsing habits are different — they want fast, simple, and easy to use.

Also, a .mobi domain name is important to mobile SEO because it helps the mobile search engines determine whether to include a page in their mobile-only search results. Plus, it makes it easier for mobile SEO professionals to buy a domain that matches their most-frequently searched keywords.

This means mobile SEO professionals need to do what works for both the search engines and the mobile users. They need dedicated pages that are programmed in HTML5. They need pages that only a mobile user will want, like contact information, directions, menu, easy ordering, etc.

The benefit of this approach, say the proponents, is that it boosts mobile SEO rankings, making sure the company's website appears at the top of the mobile search results.

Mobile SEO Argument #2: Mobile Websites and Domains Are NOT NECESSARY - These proponents argue that the modern smartphone is like a mini-computer capable of rendering any website. There is not even a need to create mobile pages on a desktop site, because the site will render beautifully on the smartphone's web browser.

The benefit this has to the mobile SEO professional is that it saves money: no need for extra programming, extra domains, server space, and someone to manage it all. Any money that would have gone into website development and mobile SEO can instead be put into other social media marketing efforts.

The problem with his argument is that not all phones are the most up-to-date smartphones. They do not all render web pages correctly. Of the total cell phone market, only 28% of them are smartphones. And some of those phones are older and still cannot render desktop websites.

The proponents then say that if companies would only program in HTML5, then any device could read it — desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and cell phones — and this would no longer be an issue. Of course, the costs and hassles of redesigning an entire website is going to result in the same extra costs that creating a mobile website and hosting would have in the pro-mobile site argument above.

While this mobile SEO argument is not going to be resolved any time soon — at least not until all websites have begun adopting HTML5 and/or all smartphones are able to render desktop websites no matter the age. Until then, the mobile SEO professionals will hotly debate and discuss this issue for years to come.

Rostin Ventures offers affordable social media marketing services including mobile SEO that are easy to access. Rostin Ventures combines formulas that drive search engine ranking through Social Media Optimization, Online Reputation Management, Social Marketing, web 2.0 communities and resources.

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