Why Mobile-First Content Marketing Is Critical Gary Parkinson Oct 16, 2015 Reading time: 1 min Desktop computers, laptop computers, smartphones, tablets, mini tablets and even smartwatches; people use any of these devices to consume content in the modern era. The size of the screens that display content vary depending on the device, and marketers are crafting mobile-first content marketing strategies to provide the best possible user experience on any device.A mobile-first approach means beginning the content marketing lifecycle with the smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch end-user experience at the forefront of your mind. Marketers used to format content originally published for desktop computers and reconfigure the posts for mobile devices as handheld web browsing became the new norm. This responsive strategy became less effective as people used new devices with smaller screens to browse the web. Providing an optimal experience in today’s market requires a mobile-first approach.What Triggered The Need For Mobile-First Content?The shift towards mobile-friendly content dates back to when people began using smartphones to send emails or browse their favourite webpages. However, marketers and web developers were required to make existing content mobile-friendly when Google announced a new mobile-specific algorithm that became effective on April 21, 2015.On this date Google released its mobile-friendly ranking algorithm that was collectively nicknamed “Mobilegeddon” by marketers, web developers, and SEO specialists. The algorithm was applied to make the most mobile-friendly webpages rank near the top of search engine results for specific keywords or queries inputted into Google’s mobile search engine. Sites that passed Google’s mobile friendly test were rewarded with improved rankings. Conversely sites that failed to meet the search engine’s standards were punished with lower rankings.What Was The Purpose Of Mobilegeddon?The mobile-friendly algorithm was Google’s acknowledgment that the amount of mobile web browsing is growing at an incredible rate. The number of global mobile users is increasing at a faster rate than desktop users and people are spending more time on mobile webpages than desktop pages.The data is important for content marketers because the evidence states that people are spending more time browsing the web using their mobile devices. That means you have a better chance of engaging with users and increasing conversions through calls-to-action by optimizing content primarily for mobile users.Is Mobile Content Best For Social Media?Millions of people have registered their own personal social media accounts and many social gurus admittedly spend significant portions of their days browsing their social streams through using their mobile devices.Believe it or not, statistics show that baby boomers are the fastest growing demographic of Facebook users. People born into this generation use social media to share some of their favourite pieces of content with friends or family. Social media networks have worked tirelessly to optimize social streams for mobile-friendly use so that people can easily click or share content that is interesting or entertaining while browsing through social streams on their handheld devices. Expect similar updates from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networks to provide mobile-first social experiences on smartwatches.What Do The Experts Say About Mobile?Two leading influencers have their own strategies to make the most of the mobile-first era.Jeff Bullas, who was named one of the top influential marketers, says it’s time for content marketers to listen to mobile users. According to Bullas, watching the news on TV is no longer how many people get their daily updates. He says the amount of time that people spend on digital platforms has overtaken the amount of time people spend watching TV. Bullas says it’s time to embrace the new era and create content that is easy for mobile users to share.Neil Patel, co-founder of analytics companies like KISSmetrics, Crazy Egg, and Quick Sprout says content marketers must learn how to write for mobile. Patel has a 6-step guide to help marketers learn about mobile copywriting and how to provide the best mobile user experience to increase engagement and eventually conversions. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Join over 100,000 other marketing and sales professionals to get our latest content delivered to your inbox! Thank you! We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared. See how ScribbleLive drives results Schedule a tour to see how ScribbleLive can help your content succeed predictably. Thanks for reaching out! ×
