You know that you need a mobile-friendly website and your patients expect it. Unfortunately, a lot of companies are offering mobile sites that may actually harm your overall search performance in the long-run.
Nearly everyone is aware that their dental practice website needs to be optimized for a mobile device. In fact, in January 2014, according to CNN Money, mobile devices accounted for 55% of total internet usage in the U.S. Further, recent surveys have shown that 30% of mobile users who have a negative website experience will immediately visit a competitors’ website and never return to the one that wasn’t working correctly.
How some companies are doing it wrong.
There are a growing number of new website companies offering mobile websites. Instead of working with your existing website content and coding, their mobile websites are built under a separate domain (website address) which eliminates the need to contact your primary web designer to do anything except set up redirects. It’s easier for them to do it this way because future contact with the website host isn’t required. This creates three major problems.
1. Separate Domains
Two domains are now being ranked with identical or similar content. Google wants one domain to crawl simply because it requires more work on their end to rank your authority as a reputable site from multiple domains. As a result, your link authority is diluted which may negatively affect your overall search rankings.
2. Faulty Redirects
When two domains are set up for the same or similar website, programmers must ensure that each page of content is properly redirected to its copy. This can cause problems when site designers do not let Google know about the other pages that are on your website. For example, if a user searched for a pediatric dentist on Google and came across your “meet the team” page (the full version) rather than your homepage, improper code might redirect that user to the mobile homepage instead of the page they were expecting. This means the user is not presented with the information they clicked on, creating a negative user experience. Google has recently called this a “faulty redirect” as of June 4th, 2014 and warns designers not to do this. Unfortunately, many mobile website companies are apparently unaware of this warning.
3. Inconsistent Content
Since most written content is provided by the website company and protected by copyright laws, the mobile developer is forced to provide different content which may be confusing to patients. Office information, dental topics and educational materials could conflict with one another and lack the consistency necessary for a cohesive internet presence.
What does this mean for you?
You shouldn’t use two companies to get both a desktop and a mobile friendly website. Smile Savvy provides our website customers with mobile websites built on the same servers and using the same domain and written content as your primary website. Our mobile websites take into account the unique needs of the mobile user. Your website needs a design that accommodates smaller screen sizes along with programming for mobile web browsers. Further, patients accessing your website from a mobile device generally have somewhat different expectations than those using a desktop computer. They want the most pertinent information (location, contact information, etc.) front and center. Smile Savvy sites are built with proper coding and best practice techniques.
Smile Savvy’s newest website designs are all responsive, removing the need for a separate mobile website altogether. Responsive websites look great regardless of the device or screen size they are viewed on because they automatically adapt to each device. They are the preferred website choice by Google and will soon be given priority in search results.
Are you ready for a mobile website or a new responsive website design? Please contact Smile Savvy and allow us to show you the options available for your dental practice. We want to make sure you’re getting the best search results possible.
