Google's New Rules: Opt-In Forms No Longer Mobile Friendly?
Found an announcement in my inbox and I think it best to share here with EVERYONE. Thrive Themes are a favourite of mine ... they offer top notch themes and they keep me informed well ahead of changes that are about to happen.
Anyway ... below Shane (in a YouTube video) offers a "heads up" Google change that is soon to take place.
"Google have announced a change that could affect your site's ranking in mobile search results if you're using "popup" style opt-in forms on your site..."
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I also heard there are possible fines if you continue using Popups. I heard it on Business Radio.
Sharon
Hey Sharon,
Google "fines" would be in ranking. So ... if we want our sites to rank well then we better comply. To me, this "rule" forces us to be more considerate of mobile viewers.
Trish
This is bad news for a lot of site owners. Here's the silver lining...
If you do web design for a living, you can contact business owners through their contact forms or by phone if the info is on their sites and offer to make their website mobile friendly by converting the overlaying contact forms to ribbons, or any other solutions you can offer. It will be very lucrative for a long time, because there are thousands, maybe millions of sites that Google will be penalizing in January.
You might have to learn how some of the other themes work, but it will be SO worth it.
Thanks, Trish!
Hal
Hey Hal,
I don't feel it is bad news at all. Why shouldn't we (website designers) be more considerate of mobile users. After all, that IS what GREAT web design is all about ... and ... we've got several months to comply.
The internet is changing all of the time. There really has never been a "set it and forget it" when it comes to maintaining a quality website.
Trish
Yes, GREAT news for us, the web designers and and those who maintain their own sites. But, what I was saying is that for many site owners, many who don't maintain their own sites or keep up on these trends, it will be bad news, because unless their webmaster is on top of it, come January, their rankings will change and they'll be clueless as to why.
This presents an opportunity for you and me. If we are proactive; that is, whenever we encounter a popup, we contact the site owner and ask if they'd like us to re-code their opt-in form so that it conforms to the new rules, everyone benefits
For me, it's also a foot in the door when prospecting for new website or video clients.
Hi Hal,
Yes, that is one of the BIG benefit of having someone hired to manage a website for business owners.
Same sort of thing happened when Responsive design was introduced ... and yet there are still business owners with websites that are not device-friendly.
Trish
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That's a useful bit of info Trish, thank you.
You're very welcome Tommy!