This is thanks to a new mobile-focused algorithm introduced by the search engine giant. The expansion of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal comes in response to the growth in smartphone and tablet use. Google estimates around half of all searches are made from mobiles or tablets, and emphasises the importance of providing content that is optimised for the devices used by your customers.

Google has warned this change could have ‘significant impact’ on search results so that businesses could see a drop in website visits, resulting in lost revenue.

Some sources report as many as two thirds of Australian businesses lack a mobile-optimised website, meaning thousands could be affected by this change while consumer reliance on mobile devices to research and purchase products and services continues to increase. The Australian Communications and Media Authority claims mobile commerce (buying goods or services, or doing banking and paying bills online using a mobile phone) increased by 448 per cent between 2010 and 2013. In 2014, 41 per cent of tablet owners used their device for online shopping.

Google has a Mobile-Friendly Test to help businesses assess their web pages, as well as a suite of resources to prepare websites for mobile screens. It is important to remember, however, that other factors such as having a well-structured site containing quality content and good metadata also contribute to high search rankings.