You'll have no doubt noticed that we've has launched a new website recently. I hope you're finding it easier to use and appreciate the new features such as improved resource library, online membership, adding jobs and events quickly to name but a few. We've certainly put in a lot of work to improve it and still take the best bits from our old, well-loved, but sadly ancient site.
So it was with bated breath that I put our new site to the test after seeing a few screaming headlines in the digital news bubble about Google's new strict search rules.
Google has changed its search functionality meaning websites which pass its new mobile-friendly test will be moved up the search rankings and those that fail move down. This is due to more people using mobile devices to browse the internet, and what's the point in showing you a site on your mobile if its not going to appear properly?
Criteria for mobile friendliness includes text size, the amount of space between links and whether content fits across a mobile screen.
Civil Society reviewed the top 100 fundraising charities' websites and found that one in three fail the test. This is alarming for those charities, considering the latest research shows that 15% of donations to charities were carried out online.
Take the test
Fortunately Google has produced a tool to test how mobile friendly your website is.
And our result?.....we passed! Yay!
A big thanks to our website design company Whitefuse who I'd heartly recommend for those looking for a website that integrates membership using the open-source software CiviCRM aimed specifically for charities.
But what if yours hasn't?
I've taken the following advice from a website company which I agree with:
Charities generally need to consider whether to make ‘mobile-friendly’ changes to their existing website or opt for a responsive website design instead (which automatically resizes content according to screen size).
There is no right or wrong answer but much will depend on the budgets available. It is impractical to convert an existing non-response HMTL website into a responsive one and a ‘build it from the ground up’ approach is best. Charities with a limited budget are wise to at least implement the Google-suggested changes for a more mobile friendly site.
In either case charities that are still playing catch-up must review and update their mobile experience, as well as consider how they future proof it for other algorithm changes that are sure to come.