Our SEO team at Go Fish Digital analyzed search result pages for 500 non-branded keywords in 50 U.S. states to better understand how search results vary based on the user’s search location. The study includes an analysis of 25,000 search result pages.

We initiated this study after observing increased ranking volatility for non-branded keywords since Google’s March 2024 Core Update. As shown in the screenshot below of the keyword “truck accident lawyer” from Ahrefs, there was a noticeable shift in search results that returned regional landing pages. The study addressed the outcome of the post-March 2024 Core update for location-based search result pages.

Keyword with Strong Volatility July 2024 vs Jan 2024 

“Truck accident lawyer” (28,000 MSV)

Source: Ahrefs

Key Findings: 

1. The number of domains that rank on page 1 of Google search results for a short tail industry keyword can be as many as 354 in all 50 states, with the most appearing for legal industry keywords.  
2. The ranking positions of large national brands, such as Liberty Mutual, and Yelp,  vary significantly across states.
3. Certain industries (e.g. Restaurant, Legal) have increased competition as local results are given preference even for short tail keywords (e.g. lawyers for car accidents). 
4. Rank tracking software that excludes tracking at multiple locations may not accurately reflect your site’s ranking position. 
5. Industries like legal services and venues prioritize regionalized SEO best practices by including state names in meta tags in landing pages.

Our findings indicate that national brands (Liberty Mutual, Yelp, etc.) are ranking across the United States, with some non-service-oriented websites also appearing across the United States including Wikipedia and Reddit. Overall, certain industries have a vastly greater amount of competition geographically with restaurant and legal/lawyer keywords showing a higher likelihood of competitors.

Regional brands have a strong likelihood to rank for their given geographic region, especially if they have their region’s name in the metadata (title tag and meta description). We strongly recommend considering the industry you’re in to determine your SEO strategy and using service pages when applicable to rank across various regions. We hope our exploratory research opens a wider discussion on the nuances of search rankings and their visibility across regions. 

If you would like to download the CSV of the data, please click here:  → Total SERP Results

Problem Overview — Increased Volatility Based on Location

Localization refers to the likelihood that a search result will appear closer to its geographic origin. Recently, we’ve observed more ranking variability for non-branded keywords since Google’s March 2024 Core Update. Sites that historically received consistent organic traffic for short tail keywords had suddenly experienced increased volatility even though many rank tracking tools showed their ranking position remained stable.. 

While Google’s March 2024 Core update did not specifically address localization, we suspect the algorithm rewarded local results in an effort to be more helpful to searchers.  Our hypothesis for this study was search results for short tail keywords include an increased volume of local results on page one.

Study Approach

To explore the wider implications of the ranking variability after the March Core update, our team at Go Fish Digital analyzed the search results for 25,000 queries to determine the breadth of localization across a subset of industry keywords in the United States. 

The study’s goal was not to demonstrate causality, but to document trends we are seeing, both regionally and nationally in search result pages. We hope our exploratory research opens a wider discussion on the nuances of search ranking, the impact localization has on search results, and how SEOs can develop strategies around creating content that can rank for both the keywords and the users in the regions their businesses serve. 

Our end goal is to provide actionable tips and guidance for three specific entities that may be affected by greater localization and tougher competition: 

• National brands
• Regional brands 
• SEO professionals

Research Questions 

Below we have three primary research questions driving our exploratory research: 

Research Question #1 

Which industries have the highest and lowest competition in localized search results?

Research Question #2

What trends are we seeing from state-level data about localized search results?

Research Question #3

What should national brands, regional brands, and SEOs take from these findings?

Data & Sampling 

Our dataset was collected by conducting a search for 50 keywords from 10 different industries in all 50 US states. This resulted in data for 25,000 search queries.  We utilized SERP AI to help pull search results for a specific state location for each keyword.  

To ensure there was consistency across our data, we only selected:

• Non-branded keywords 
• No mention of location in the keyword (truck accident lawyer vs truck accident lawyer in NYC).  
• No “near me” queries which typically result in a more localized search. Lastly, we also only considered keywords with high MSV. 
• Only 50 keywords for each industry. 

The table below highlights examples of keywords that were selected for each category. The total keyword count was 500.

If you would like to download the CSV of the data, please click here → Total SERP Results

Limitations

The study’s primary limitation is the absence of historical keyword data. Rather than establishing causation following the March 2024 Core Update, the study aims to document the current ranking of keywords and their distribution across US states. The data pulled from this study took place around July 7-10.  

Additionally, the study only examined keywords and their rankings within the United States. We recommend that other SEOs should also explore keywords ranking by region for countries outside of the United States. 

Lastly, industry selection is also a limitation. We primarily examined industries that could have an in-person component to purchase a good or service and we wanted a dataset that had some level of variety which we achieved.

Findings

The industry-level and the state-level variability sections break up our findings below. The industry findings provide more context about the types of keywords that appear across the United States to document the concentration of more competitive and diverse SERPs.

Industry Findings

Research Question #1

Which industries have the highest and lowest variability in localized search results?

Based on initial exploratory findings of the industries explored, the data suggests a noticeable difference in unique domains for keywords related to restaurants, lawyers (legal), and venues meaning that restaurant and legal industry websites have more variety in search results which could result in more volatility in search rankings. These industries also show the most difference in ranking distributions with sites like Yelp dominating in SERPs across the US. 

Industries with lower percentages of unique domains like software and insurance have fewer players in the space, and there is generally less competition in the space because it is more difficult for competitors to rank against larger national brands in certain industries like insurance for example (Liberty Mutual, Allstate etc.). 

Our general findings also indicate that certain industries have more unique domains appearing across the US including legal, mechanics, and restaurants. The SERP results of these keywords are generally more localized and return more results from the geographic regions. In the graph below, the legal industry has the maximum number of search results across 50 states with as many as 354 unique domains appearing in SERPs.

What is also apparent from the findings is that competitiveness in search results is not simply tied to the number of search results, but the range of unique domains that can appear for a certain query. As shown in the box charts and tables below, while a page could more likely appear in search results in competitive industries like restaurants, it is much more difficult to compete with larger, national brands in spaces like software and insurance because there is a shorter distance between unique domains for a given keyword.

The tables below show the differences in how search results vary based on state-level data. Top competitors for the Restaurant industry include sites like Tripadvisor and Yelp with social media platforms also appearing in search results. For example, a local Facebook page from Indianapolis, Indiana ranked #9 for fondue restaurants. 

The differences between the most and least variability also show a stronger trend of industry leaders appearing in more search results across the US. For example, the insurance industry is heavily concentrated with major players meaning that it is harder for smaller and regional brands to appear in search results for Insurance keywords.

The difference in variability across industries highlights the competitive landscape within each sector. For example, the restaurant industry has a diverse range of competitors appearing in search results, reflecting a fragmented market where few entities outside Tripadvisor and Yelp have control. Whereas, this contrasts with industries like software and insurance, where a few major companies dominate the SERPs, reflecting a more consolidated market.

The Importance of Meta Tags

We also examined meta tags to determine the extent to which different industries are targeting different locations, namely states. Industries like legal services and venues prioritize regionalized SEO best practices by including state names in meta tags in landing pages.  

For example, the #1 ranking page for “car accident lawyers” has the title tag “Michigan Car Accident Lawyer Near You: Best Auto Injury” and the #1 ranking page for “car accident lawyers” in Minnesota has the title tag “Minnesota Car Accident Lawyers.”

One of the websites that has a regional SEO strategy is a mobile mechanic service company called Wrench. In the example below, they targeted Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Example of Targeting a State Using Meta Tags To Target Albuquerque NM https://wrench.com/cities/albuquerque-nm-mobile-mechanic/

Screenshot from Detailed Chrome Extension

Conversely, industries with lower percentages (E.G., software, health, and beauty) likely have a broader target audience or less reliance on geographic targeting in their SEO strategies. In the table below it shows that there are fewer location-based results than more nationally recognized brands like Sephora, Target, and Walmart. 

State-Level Ranking Variability Findings

Research Question #2

What trends are we seeing from state-level data about localized search results?

Ranking variability refers to the significant differences we see in rankings of keywords for different states. Our general finding is that dominant national brands appear more often in searches across the United States. However, regional brands have a likely chance of outranking larger national brands depending on their geographic location. We additionally discovered that websites that don’t offer a service related to the industry rank can still rank well in search results, namely Wikipedia and Reddit. 

For example, the top results for the keywords below have a similar trend of having larger national brands ranking in 1-3 positions across different industries. The tables below are representative of our sample. 

Reddit has also been a trending topic for SEOs for their continued dominance in SERP and their partnership with Google. Our data also suggests that Reddit has a strong national presence and ranks across the United States, with a strong presence for beauty keywords (“tinted moisturizer”) and local services (“pressure washing”) that are transactional. They generally appear in the discussions and forums section which occurs around the middle of page 1.

Page 1 Result for “Pressure Washing” in Google Search

Page 1 Result for Tinted Moisturizer in Google Search

Research Question #3

What should national brands, regional brands, and SEOs take from these findings?

National Brands 

Companies with a large online national presence still should consider being proactive in their SEO strategies to avoid losing traffic to regional competition. State-level modifiers in the title tag suggest that some keywords will favor a local page from National Brands. If they don’t have those they’re vulnerable to competition from both the National Brands that do and the Regional Brands competing for local results. Wrench has a strong approach where they create their landing pages for cities across the US, which even has outranked Yelp in search results. 

Wrench Using a State-Landing Page Approach to Capture Search Traffic For Various Cities

Regional Brands 

Even though national brands may rank for more keywords, they don’t always rank for keywords where a regional brand may reside. Regional brands with limited resources should focus their efforts on optimizing their local pages to the best of their ability. In this example for the keyword “lawyers for car accidents,” Forbes ranks for several US states. Forbes typically holds a strong position across various industries, even beyond the scope of this study. However, they did not secure a top spot in Alabama. In contrast, a well-ranked website in that state was a law firm named Alabama Injury Lawyer. 

Keyword: “Lawyers for Car Accidents” 

Domain: Forbes 

Go Fish Digital Dataset + Internal Visualization Tool Used for the Screenshot

Keyword: “Lawyers for Car Accidents” 

Domain: Alabama Injury Lawyer

Go Fish Digital Dataset + Internal Visualization Tool Used for the Screenshot

SEOs

SEOs developing a strategy for organic search should consider the industry they are in when they are developing products and landing pages. Having a state landing page is not a one-size-fits-all approach and SEOs should strongly consider their audience and the goals of the business. Ensure that pages are optimized for their region with metadata if they are targeted to a certain region. 

Further Research Needed

As stated before, this study is primarily exploratory. We hope other SEOs also consider the role of localization in search rankings at the state level in their exploration of our dataset or if they want to collect their own data. 

While local SEO strategy is generally about reaching cities and districts, state-level data shows that regional brands can have a greater advantage even against some of the biggest names in the search industry. 

We hope our exploratory research opens a wider discussion on the nuances of search rankings and their visibility across regions. 

References 

• Understand & manage your location when you search on Google – Computer 
• Google Pigeon Algorithm Update For Local Businesses – SERPninja 
• Local SEO ranking factors: Your complete guide 
• What is Local SEO – Semrush
• How to improve your local ranking on Google – Google Business Profile Help 
• The Truth: How to Rank Outside Your Area – BrightLocal

An Exploratory Study of Ranking Variability (State-Level Data) is an original blog post first published on Go Fish Digital.

One of my favorites is Detailed, which displays important metadata like title tags, meta descriptions, and other relevant information. 

With the use of ChatGPT, you can create your own SEO Chrome Extension tool with minimal coding experience. 

I recommend having some working knowledge of HTML and Javascript to understand the differences between the files you’ll need to submit to Chrome For Developers. Additionally, some knowledge of code management tools like Github is useful. 

To help other SEO professionals, I provided a simple guide to help you create your own SEO Chrome Extension with an example of accessing indexed results in Google in incognito mode.

Determine the SEO Problem

Before you begin creating your extension, you need to determine what problem you are trying to solve. Not asking these initial questions can make the whole process less productive leading to wasted time. When determining a problem, it is best to have a more succinct problem rather than a complex problem. Questions you may need to ask yourself during this step: 

• Is there a solution that already exists?
• What data will the extension use?
• Will the extension be public-facing?

For example, a current problem I identified was that Google had recently changed the UI and functionality of Google Search when a user types in “site:[URL]” in Google Search. I recently wrote code with ChatGPT code to make an extension that would site search results automatically without having to click “Tools.” You can view the final code on my company GitHub account. 

Current UI/UX for Site Searches in Google Search

Custom Made Chrome Extension for Site Search

What You’ll Need to Create a Chrome Extension

Before you can create an extension, compile a checklist of different file types and tools you’ll need.

Some of those items are listed below: 

Different Items Needed To Make a Chrome Extension

• ChatGPT
• Chrome Developer Tools
• Basic knowledge of file types like JSON, HTML, and Javascript 
• GitHub, Visual Studio Code, or another programming GUI (graphical user interface).

If you are unsure about what items to include in your project, I recommend starting small with a simpler project and basing it on the tutorial code provided by the Chrome team. As you can see below, the Chrome team used HTML, PNG (images), JSON, and Javascript. 

Tutorial Code From Chrome – GitHub

Different Files Types Used in Chrome Extensions

There are various types of file types you can include in your Chrome extension to add different styles and functionality. I added a few different types below that are essential to the creation of a Chrome Extension. 

The Manifest File (JSON) – This is a required file for every Chrome Extension. It contains essential metadata that is referenced in the overall folder structure with the JSON format. It also includes relevant information like the name of the extension, version, and permissions required. 

HTML/CSS – This file creates the user interface and basic layout for your extension. HTML files can include CSS and Javascript to enhance their appearance and functionality. 

Javascript – Javascript is the code that executes actions on an extension or a webpage. These files add interactivity and functionality to your extension. You can have JavaScript files for various purposes, such as handling events in your popup or content scripts that modify the behavior of web pages the extension interacts with.

Request a Solution From ChatGPT

To properly get the response you want from ChatGPT, I recommend being very clear about what you want in your SEO extension by interacting with ChatGPT. The more detail you can provide to ChatGPT the better.

How To Create Code For Your SEO Chrome Extension

#1 – Determine the Knowledge of ChatGPT By Asking Preliminary Questions 

For the first step, determine if what ChatGPT is describing its knowledge of ChatGPT makes sense to you. It can give you a helpful overview of the process, but it can also act as a way to test whether the output will be trustworthy. 

#2 – Tell ChatGPT direct instructions about what you will need

To get the best result, you need to specify clearly what you want. To continue with the site search example, I provided ChatGPT with the problem, and what I needed, and specified the elements/source code that might interact with the javascript. 

#3 – Review and Copy Output From ChatGPT into a Codespace

Once you submit your detailed prompt into ChatGPT, review it for any possible errors. It will output the various file types needed with the code for each file type. 

To actually use the code that is created in ChatGPT, you need a space to add your code and ready it for export to Google Chrome. I recommend something like GitHub since it is used in the original coding space for the tutorial from the Chrome team. Lastly, it’s a useful tool if you ever plan to pursue web development or software engineering. 

To create a repository to store your code, do the following: 

#1 – Click New Repository and follow the steps for adding details like the name and if a readme file is requested (I recommend this option)

#2- Click “Creating a new file”

#3- Click “Create new file”

#4 – Add a file that corresponds with the files created in ChatGPT after the repository name. 

How To Upload Your Extension Code Locally

There are different ways of uploading your code to Google Chrome. It ultimately depends on who you want to see the extension. There is a local method which means that only you can use your SEO Chrome extension. The other method is uploading to the Chrome Store which requires a $5 fee and a review process. Below I expanded upon how to upload code locally for your personal or internal use. 

Steps To Upload Your SEO Extension Into Google Chrome (Locally) 

1. Open chrome://extensions/ in your Google Chrome Browser. 
2. Turn on “Developer Mode” in the right-hand side of your screen.
3. Select “Load Unpacked” in the top left corner.
4. Import Your ZIP File

The last step is uploading ZIP files locally. As mentioned before, GitHub is a great space to write and store your code. To export your ZIP file for the important into the Chrome browser, select “Download Zip” after clicking the green button that says “<> Code”

Testing Your Chrome Extension For Errors

Once you upload your code to Google Chrome, it may result in errors. If you encounter an error as shown below with the bubble “Errors,” click the Errors button to view the error message.

After you have viewed the error message, ask ChatGPT to diagnose the issue, rework your code, and try again. This step may take a while unless your code is pristine, but it’s still good practice to learn coding by making mistakes and learning what different errors mean.

Uploading Your SEO Extension to the Chrome Store

If you would like to make your extension public, it requires additional steps that take time, most notably the review process. Below are the general steps for uploading your extension. See the Chrome For Developers Guide for additional details. 

#1 – Ensure You Have Your Files Ready To Go 

Once you have tested your Chrome extension locally, prepare your files to be ready to be sent to the store. Ensure that you have the files needed and understand how the files work. 

Are they requesting data from the user, do they need anything that might affect the privacy of the users? Understanding these details will help you in the review process. 

#2 – Create a Developer Account

To create and register for a Developer account, you must sign into Google and pay a $5 registration fee. Afterward, fill in any remaining information about yourself, and then verify your email address. 

#3 – Add a New Item

Once you’re in the Chrome Web Store Developer Dashboard, select “New Item.” You will then be asked to upload the Zip Files.  

#4 – Fill in Details and Click Publish

Once you have submitted your ZIP file, you will need to complete a series of fields to explain the purpose of the extension and how it works. Some of these fields include privacy details. 

Extension Name: The name of your extension.

Detailed Description: A description that explains what your extension does.

Screenshots: Upload screenshots that showcase your extension’s features.

Category: Choose the appropriate category for your extension.

Website URL: Optional, but recommended if your extension has a dedicated website.

Privacy Policy: Required if your extension collects user data.

Contact Email: Your email address for support inquiries.

Countries: Select the countries where you want your extension to be available.

#5 – Wait For Your Extension to Be Reviewed

Once you have uploaded your extension, and filled out the information, your extension must be reviewed and approved. This process can take weeks to complete. Extensions that use user data may take longer to complete. 

The Chrome team writes “If your extension is pending review for more than three weeks, please contact developer support to request assistance.”

Conclusion

Congratulations! 

You made your first SEO Chrome extension. Don’t stop there. Continue developing new ways to create extensions that can solve problems for your business, agency, or organization. If you made your extension in the Chrome Developer Store, share it with the SEO community! 

Reach out if you have any questions or would like to schedule a request for a custom proposal from our SEO team.

How to Create a SEO Chrome Extension with ChatGPT is an original blog post first published on Go Fish Digital.

Mobile-first indexing is a practice adopted by search engines like Google to primarily use the mobile version of a website’s content for indexing and ranking in search results. 

In the past, Google primarily indexed and ranked websites based on the desktop version. However, as mobile usage surpassed desktop usage, Google shifted its focus to prioritize mobile content. With mobile-first indexing, Google’s bots crawl and index the mobile version of a website first. 

Site owners should be aware of the potential impact mobile-first indexing has on a website and the best practices to ensure a website meets the best standards for a mobile experience.

A Short History of Mobile-First Indexing

Google has implemented a sequence of updates since November 2016 to enhance search results’ relevance by focusing on mobile user experiences. Check the Google Search Console Blog to keep up with further developments in mobile indexing. 

• November 2016: Google first announced mobile-first indexing, signaling a significant shift in how the search engine would prioritize mobile content for indexing and ranking.
• March 2018: Google commenced the gradual rollout of mobile-first indexing, marking the beginning of prioritizing mobile versions of websites over desktop versions for indexing and ranking.
• July 2019: Google made mobile-first indexing the default approach for new websites, emphasizing the importance of mobile-friendly design and content presentation from the outset.
• September 2020: Google announced the full implementation of mobile-first indexing across all websites, underscoring the critical importance of optimizing websites for mobile devices to maintain visibility and competitiveness in search results.

Does Mobile-First Indexing Affect My Rankings?

Yes, mobile-first indexing can affect the ranking of a website. Google states that “Google predominantly uses the mobile version of a site’s content, crawled with the smartphone agent, for indexing and ranking. “ 

Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites because of the increasing number of users accessing the internet via mobile devices. So, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial for maintaining or improving search engine rankings, especially considering Google’s mobile-first indexing approach. 

If a website isn’t optimized for mobile devices, it may experience lower rankings, decreased visibility, and potentially reduced traffic from search engines.

Best Practices For Mobile-First Indexing 

Here are some best practices for mobile-first indexing to enhance user experience and search engine visibility.

Ensure Your Content is Mobile-Friendly and Responsive 

For a seamless experience across mobile and desktop platforms, it’s essential to ensure a responsive design that caters to both users and search engines. Key aspects of responsive mobile design include adaptability to various screen sizes, orientations, and devices.

Furthermore, mobile versions of pages should include:

• Consistent on-page information between mobile and desktop versions.
• Clearly defined HTML headers (H1, H2, etc.).
• Structured data for meta information.

Check if You Are Blocking Mobile Resources

For Google to index content from a website, it must request to crawl a website. According to Google, “A page is indexed by Google if it has been visited by the Google crawler (“Googlebot”), analyzed for content and meaning, and stored in the Google index. “  

A Robots.txt File instructs search engines, guiding crawlers like GoogleBot when they navigate your site. It allows you to advise GoogleBot against crawling specific pages or resources.

However, issues can arise if you use a robots.txt file or a meta tag to block crucial mobile resources.

For example, the code below in a robots.txt file would block mobile resources from search engines. 

Another mistake is adding meta tags on a page preventing Google from crawling your webpage. 

If you intend to use meta tags to prevent Google from crawling a page, make sure that tags like “nofollow” and “noindex” are applied consistently across both mobile and desktop versions of the page.

Optimize Images and Other Media for Mobile & Desktop

Images come in vastly different sizes, therefore, image SEO can be troublesome, especially on mobile devices. Ensuring that images are appropriately sized and compressed can significantly improve page load times and overall user experience on mobile devices. 

• Use High-Quality Images: High-quality images enhance the visual appeal of your website and convey professionalism to your audience.
• Don’t Use Unsupported Image Formats: Avoid using image formats that may not be compatible with all browsers or devices to ensure a consistent viewing experience for all users.
• Don’t Use URLs that change as the Page Loads: Stable URLs prevent disruption in loading images and maintain a smooth browsing experience for users as they navigate your site.
• Ensure that the Alt Text is consistent across Mobile and Desktop: Consistent alt text ensures that users, regardless of their device, receive accurate descriptions of images, aiding accessibility and search engine optimization.
• Use Similar titles, captions, and file names across Mobile and Desktop: Consistency in titles, captions, and filenames facilitates seamless navigation and helps users easily identify and understand the content across different devices.

4 Free Mobile-First Indexing Auditing Tools

Here are several cost-effective methods you can use to audit web pages and determine whether they adhere to best practices for mobile-first indexing.

Google Search Console

The most efficient method to determine whether your content is being crawled by Google SmartPhone is by utilizing the Google Search Console Inspection Tool to open a URL.

To determine if Google is crawling your website with Google Smartphone, do the following: 

• Open Google Search Console and Add a URL in the Top Search Bar

• Click on the Dropdown Arrow To the Right of “Page is Indexed.”

• Scroll down to the section that says “Crawl” to view “Crawled as”

Rich Results Test

Google’s Rich Results serves as a valuable tool as it provides insights into how Google interacts with your content. More importantly, it can be used to see how Google views the content of competitors. 

To gain insights into how Google perceives your mobile content using the Rich Results Test, Add a URL in the “Enter a URL to test field. 

Once the test is run, you can explore different aspects of the Rich Results test, including:

• A screenshot of how Google views the Mobile content
• Detected Structured Data 
• Whether indexing is allowed
• Options to view the Desktop Version of a Rich Results Test

Main Rich Results Test Page

Additional Information about Crawling and Indexing

Options for Smartphone and Desktop

Chrome Developer Tools

At first glance, Chrome Developer Tools can appear too technical or overwhelming, but it’s one of the most useful tools for seeing how your website looks on different mobile devices. Chrome Developer Tools is a comprehensive suite of web development and debugging tools that also offer valuable assistance in identifying issues specific to mobile devices.

For example, one of the audits you can run in Google Developer Console is how your page looks on different mobile devices. In the drop-down menu in the top left it includes devices like iPhones, Surface Pros, and a range of other devices to choose from.

PageSpeed Insights

PageSpeed Insights is a powerful tool for not only auditing page speed but also auditing the overall page experience for users. It evaluates both mobile and desktop versions of websites, offering insights into various aspects affecting performance, such as server response times, render-blocking resources, image optimization, and browser caching. 

For example, we ran a mobile PageSpeed test for the Best Buy Computer and Tablets page. Once run, Google provides four different scores to access the performance and experience of mobile and desktop sites. 

Based on the audit, there is room for improvement to improve the page performance of the Computers and Tablets page ranging from javascript issues, render-blocking resources, and not properly sizing images. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, mobile-first indexing represents a significant shift in how search engines prioritize website content, with Google leading the charge by focusing primarily on mobile versions for indexing and ranking. As the dominance of mobile usage continues to rise, understanding and adhering to mobile-first best practices become imperative for website owners. 

By implementing strategies like responsive design, optimizing images and media, and ensuring consistent metadata, site owners can enhance both user experience and search engine visibility. 

Leveraging free and authoritative tools such as Google Search Console, Rich Results Test, Chrome Developer Tools, and PageSpeed Insights can provide invaluable insights into website performance and optimization. Keeping pace with these advancements and best practices is crucial to maintaining competitiveness and visibility in today’s digital landscape.

A Guide To Mobile-First Indexing is an original blog post first published on Go Fish Digital.