• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Web
  • Creative
  • Mobile
  • IT
  • Code
  • CMS
  • Podcast
  • Memes
  • Resources
  • Newsletter
  • About

ChurchMag

The #1 Resource for Church Technology Creativity & New Thinking

Web Hosting

ChurchMag / Web / Google / Will Google Penalize Your Church Website?

Will Google Penalize Your Church Website?

Will Google Penalize Your Church Website?

April 14, 2015
by Eric Dye

For years we’ve been saying that church, ministry, and nonprofit websites need to be mobile-friendly.

Up until now, we’ve been preaching this kind of web design from a practical perspective. More and more people are accessing the Internet outside of the PC desktop environment by using their smartphones and tablets, so having a mobile-friendly website—or as we often say, responsive—has become more and more important.

What’s the point of having a website if it isn’t accessible?

This makes sense to most, but it hasn’t been quite enough for some organizations to rebuild, redesign, and launch a responsive website.

Until now…

Google Announces “More Mobile-Friendly Search Results”

Google Blog Mobile-Friendly screen

At the end of February, Google announced important changes that would help users search more mobile-friendly content.

From the Google Webmaster blog:

“Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices.”

I’ve taken the liberty to bold the really, really, really important parts.

You can read the finer points on the Google Webmaster blog, but to make sure you’re playing well with Google, I recommend you use their Mobile-Friendly Test.

Test Your Website

Google Webmaster Screen

This is super-duper easy to use. Anybody can check their website—no technical knowledge required.

Copy and paste your church, ministry, or nonprofit website URL (website address) into the Mobile-Friendly Test and click the “Analyze” button:

Test Your Website Analyze

Wait for Google to work their magic…and results!

Test Your Website REsults

Awesome!

If you don’t pass the test, it’s time to make an update—and better a little late than never.

There may be some ways to “cheat” around a website that isn’t mobile-friendly by using some WordPress plugins for those running a WordPress site. However, I strongly recommend you take the redesign and rebuild approach. Chances are, if your website still isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re due for a website refresh, anyway.

Just to be clear, Google won’t penalize your website (yet) if it isn’t mobile-friendly, but promote those that are (slightly, for now). While you’re not directly losing SEO points, you will be missing out on SEO points.

What’s the point of having a website if you’re not doing your best to be found by Google?

[Smartphone image via justusbluemer via Compfight cc]

Eric Dye

Support Lead at Valet, and Proprietor of DYECASTING. Human by day, gamer at night, lover of coffee, and all things spicy.

Category: Google, Mobile, SEO & Search, Web

Level up your inbox.

Free resources, top posts, and more!

Reader Interactions

There are 8 comments already... Come join us!

  1. Jonathan Ober says

    April 14, 2015

    My church website fails at this. I have been pestering for a re-design for two years now to move to mobile-friendly…here’s to hoping they finally listen and I get the job.

    Reply
    • Eric Dye says

      April 14, 2015

      I hope this does it!

      Reply
  2. Gangai Victor says

    April 15, 2015

    Thanks for this info, just checked my blog, it passed… yay!

    Reply
    • Eric Dye says

      April 15, 2015

      WOOT!

      Reply
  3. Chris says

    April 17, 2015

    I use Squarespace.com and they take care of this for me so I pass! Woohoo!

    Reply
    • Eric Dye says

      April 21, 2015

      😀

      Reply
  4. Josette says

    April 18, 2015

    Unfortunately our church’s failed. I’m with Jonathan, been asking for a re-do for a while. Hope this changes.

    Reply
    • Eric Dye says

      April 21, 2015

      So do we!

      Reply

Speak your mind... Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar



‹ Previous

By the Numbers: Analysis

Next ›

By the Numbers: Datapoints

Footer

Web Hosting

About

About
Contact
Advertise
Write for Us!
ChurchMag Minecraft Server

We #HEART

Powered by

Member of the ChurchMag Family

ChurchMag Podcast

Tired of Video Conference Calls

Are You Tired of Video Conference Calls? [Podcast #321]

Pick your favorite ways to connect.

Comment Policy / Privacy Policy / Archive / Log in

© 2021 ChurchMag