What is mobile-first indexing?

Mobile-first indexing is a search engine indexing and ranking strategy used by Google to better serve mobile users. It involves Google primarily using the mobile version of a website's content for indexing and ranking, rather than the desktop version.

Historically, Google has used the desktop version of a website's content for indexing and ranking. However, with the increasing number of users accessing the web on mobile devices, Google has shifted to a mobile-first indexing approach.

Mobile-first indexing means that Google will look at the mobile version of a website first when determining its search engine ranking. If a website does not have a mobile version, or if the mobile version is of lower quality than the desktop version, it may negatively impact the website's search engine ranking.

To ensure a website is optimized for mobile-first indexing, webmasters should consider the following best practices:

1. Ensure the mobile version of the website is equivalent to the desktop version in terms of content, structure, and markup.
2. Use responsive web design to ensure the website adjusts to different screen sizes and devices.
3. Optimize the website's loading speed for mobile devices.
4. Ensure the website's mobile version is crawlable and indexable by search engines.
5. Use structured data to help search engines understand the content and context of the website.

Overall, mobile-first indexing is an important consideration for webmasters looking to improve their search engine visibility and provide a better user experience for mobile users. By following best practices for mobile-first indexing, webmasters can ensure their website is optimized for both search engines and users.