Hitmetrix - User behavior analytics & recording

Improve Indexing and redirects in mobile search

While shopping over Labor Day weekend, I decided to join some friends in Chicago on a whim. It was about 3:30pm, so I needed to act fast if I was to leave by the end of the day. So, as any mobile savvy person would do in this situation, I pulled out the trusty pocket PC in the middle of the store and headed to Google mobile for rates and schedules from St. Louis.

I started my search with “Megabus”, which had no mobile site. Then, I searched “Amtrak” — again, no mobile site. “Priceline?” Nothing. I started to feel as though travel sites were playing hide and seek with me. At this point, I started to question eMarketer, M:Metrics and other resources on their information about mobile and travel. Last time I checked, travel was one of the top verticals in mobile. So, where are all the mobile sites?

I discovered that all of these travel services offered mobile versions of their site that redirected users when they landed on the standard, .com homepage. So why didn’t I find them from the start? Because I am accustomed to the convenience of Google’s quick links, the pages I wanted were Schedules, Reservations, and Contact Us — not the homepage.

       

Currently, Google and Yahoo have made standard Web results the default for mobile searches until more mobile sites are added to their indexes. Knowing this, all brands should place mobile redirects on the following: homepages, pages listed in quick links, highest trafficked/linked pages and pages ranking for the most important keywords in the traditional organic space.

But, in the meantime, let’s help the mobile engines increase WAP sites indexed by submitting your brand’s mobile sitemap and URL to Google and Yahoo. Click here to go directly to the engines’ pages for more about mobile indexing to get your site on their radar now: Google; Yahoo.

It’s unsure when the engines will give mobile results the default position, but when they do, at least your brand will be present and waving to your audience. Besides, hide and seek gets old once you’re past the sixth grade.

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