Mopro Blog

Google uses its search algorithm to rank websites in search results. It’s complex, it’s kept pretty under wraps (Google doesn’t explicitly tell us how it works), and we’re not exaggerating when we say it’s constantly changing — try 500 to 600 times a year. Most of these updates go unnoticed, but every once in a while, Google throws a curveball. Here are the top three changes we saw in 2018 and what we’re expecting to see in the coming year.

1. Introducing mobile-first indexing.

In March, Google announced its slow rollout of mobile-first indexing. Before, Google’s bots primarily crawled desktop versions of sites. But since most users search from mobile devices, Google has started to make the switch by using mobile versions to index content. Mobile-first indexing comes with no ranking advantage and is separate from the mobile-optimization ranking signal, but it reminds us their focus on mobile stills stands.

If you have the same content on your desktop and mobile site, there’s nothing for you to do. If your site gives users different content on desktop vs mobile, read up on these best practices from Google.

2. Adding mobile page speed as a search ranking.

Another update came in July when Google started using mobile speed as a search ranking signal for all users. Page speed has been part of Google’s algorithm for a while, but before this change, they only measured sites on desktop. Google has stated that this update will only affect a small number of super-slow sites. But still, having a fast website is an easy win with Google because it improves user experience on your site.

How fast is your site? Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to measure your load speed on both mobile and desktop.

3. Marking non-https sites as “not secure”.

Perhaps the biggest change this year was in July when Google started marking any website without an SSL certificate as “not secure”. Secure sites mean any information a user gives you stays totally private. It’s a ranking signal and it inspires trust with visitors. This update fits with Google’s “https everywhere” mission. If you don’t want your site’s first impression with visitors to be “not secure”, you have to get on board too. Learn more about SSL certificates here.

If you’re a Mopro client and you don’t have an SSL yet, we can easily add this to your subscription — just email proteam@mopro.com to get started.

So what should we expect in 2019?

Based on the information Google gave us this year, we can expect these to be big players next year too: Mobile, UX, and Security. If your site gives a less than great experience on mobile or if you’re still not part of the https club, don’t wait any longer to pick up on these trends.

If you’re looking for a website solution that’s built with SEO in mind, Mopro can help. Email hello@mopro.com to learn how we build websites that win with search engines.

Google announced on October 8, 2018 that it’s officially pulling the plug on its social media platform, Google+. Google’s social media baby was born in 2011. Call it wrong place, wrong time, but user activity since has been slow going. 90 percent of Google+ user sessions are less than five seconds. But that’s not the top reason why Google is phasing out the platform. They’ve cited a data breach discovered in March 2018 as the main reason. The breach was relatively small, up to 500,000 accounts were affected and they weren’t able to accurately identify the affected users, but it was enough to make Google weigh the pros and cons, and it looks like + came up negative.

What’s next?

Google+ won’t officially shut down until August 2019. During this transition phase, they will provide users with more information, including ways they can download and migrate data. In the meantime, Google has plans to turn the platform into an enterprise tool — a place for coworkers to organize and communicate. They’ve promised details are on the way.

How do I know if I’m on Google+?

If you’re not sure if you have a Google+ account, sign in to your Google account and then go to the Google homepage. Click your profile picture in the top right corner. If you see a “Google+ Profile” link, that means you have an account.

How can I delete my Google+ account?

There’s no rush for you to go delete your account, but you may feel more comfy getting it over with. Keep in mind that deleting your Google+ account won't affect your overall Google or Gmail account. If you want to do it now, make sure you have any information you need, since you’ll no longer have access. If you plan on migrating data from your profile, wait — Google will provide instructions for this in the coming months. If you’re ready to delete your profile now, click that “Google+ Profile” link to visit your Google+ profile and select “Settings” from the menu on the left.

Scroll down to the bottom of the following page and select “Delete Your Google+ Profile”.

Select the checkbox to confirm you’d like to delete your profile, then select “Delete”. You’ll then be taken to a confirmation page.

Need help focusing your social media efforts? Mopro has tools that make managing your social media easy. Email hello@mopro.com for more info.

Ever look at a logo and just feel a certain way? One look and you know you can trust this business with your money. Or one look and you know this is a company that sells elegance. Well, it’s not only the design of a brand’s logo that makes you have the feels. It’s the colors they use. Colors play a big part in giving off a certain vibe and message to your customers. So when it comes to your brand, what are you making people feel?

Red

If you want to catch attention, red is one way to go. Red gives off a powerful, passionate, and even playful vibe. A lot of brands use red since it’s a versatile color, but too much can scare people away since it’s often used to signal “stop”.

Blue

Blue is just as popular as red, but it has a completely different message. Blue gives off a calming, trustworthy vibe. A lot of tech brands use this color to make their customers feel a sense of security, which encourages conversion.

Orange

If you want to set a fun and exciting tone, go with orange. It’s a mix of the passionate red and the happy vibe of yellow, so it gives off an enthusiastic feel to your customers.

Yellow

When we see yellow, we usually think about the sun, and talk about warm feelings… If you want your brand to give off an optimistic feel, using yellow is the way to go. A lot of brands use it to convey happiness and positivity.

Green

Money, nature, health… We usually see green in these things. Green is associated with energy and wealth. It also gives off a very calm and positive vibe.

Purple

A combination of the calming blue and the passionate red, purple signals royalty and luxury. While red gives off a fiery kind of power, purple gives off a royal kind of strength. If you want to show how sophisticated your brand is, purple is your match.

Black

Black gives off a mysterious, authoritative vibe. Black can also feel elegant and modern, but sometimes it can be perceived as aggressive.

White

White gives off light and pure feels. A lot of people associate white with cleanliness and safety.

Ready to give your brand the website it deserves? We’ll build you a beautiful site that incorporates your unique colors, content, and more. Just email hello@mopro.com to connect with one of our digital specialists.