As a Mobile SEO Expert in Cardiff, it's crucial to understand that measuring the success of mobile SEO efforts requires a slightly different approach compared to desktop SEO. While some metrics overlap, there are specific mobile-centric metrics that provide valuable insights into your mobile SEO performance. Let's explore the most crucial metrics for mobile SEO and how they differ from desktop SEO metrics:
1. Mobile-Specific Rankings
With Google's mobile-first indexing, tracking your mobile rankings is paramount. Use tools that allow you to monitor mobile rankings separately from desktop rankings. In Cardiff, where mobile usage is high, your mobile rankings can significantly impact your local visibility.
2. Mobile Page Speed
Page speed is crucial for both desktop and mobile, but it's even more critical for mobile users. Use Google's PageSpeed Insights or the Mobile-Friendly Test tool to measure:
- First Contentful Paint (FCP)
- Time to Interactive (TTI)
- Speed Index
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Aim for a mobile page speed score of 90+ to ensure your Cardiff audience has a smooth browsing experience.
3. Mobile Usability
Unlike desktop SEO, mobile SEO success heavily relies on usability factors. Monitor the following in Google Search Console's Mobile Usability report:
- Clickable elements too close together
- Content wider than screen
- Text too small to read
- Viewport not set
Addressing these issues is crucial for Cardiff businesses to provide a seamless mobile experience.
4. Mobile-Specific Bounce Rate and Time on Site
While bounce rate and time on site are important for both desktop and mobile, the benchmarks differ. Mobile users typically have shorter sessions, so compare your mobile metrics to mobile-specific industry averages. For Cardiff businesses, aim for a mobile bounce rate below 60% and an average time on site of 2-3 minutes for mobile users.
5. Mobile Conversion Rate
Track mobile-specific conversion rates separately from desktop. In Cardiff, where mobile commerce is growing, your mobile conversion rate should ideally be within 25-30% of your desktop conversion rate. If it's significantly lower, it may indicate issues with your mobile user experience or checkout process.
6. Local SEO Metrics for Mobile
For businesses in Cardiff, local SEO metrics are particularly important for mobile:
- Click-through rate (CTR) from Google My Business on mobile devices
- Direction requests from mobile devices
- Phone calls from mobile search results
These metrics are more relevant for mobile users who are often searching for local businesses on-the-go.
7. Voice Search Performance
With the rise of voice search, especially on mobile devices, tracking voice search queries and performance is becoming increasingly important. While more challenging to measure, you can analyze:
- Long-tail keyword rankings
- Question-based query performance
- Featured snippet acquisition for voice-friendly queries
This is particularly relevant in Cardiff, where the Welsh accent may influence voice search patterns.
8. AMP Performance (if applicable)
If you're using Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), track:
- AMP traffic and engagement metrics
- AMP page speed
- AMP click-through rates from search results
While AMP is not as crucial as it once was, it can still provide benefits for certain types of content in the Cardiff market.
In conclusion, while desktop SEO metrics focus more on overall traffic and rankings, mobile SEO metrics in Cardiff should prioritize user experience, local relevance, and mobile-specific behaviors. By closely monitoring these metrics and understanding how they differ from desktop counterparts, Mobile SEO Experts in Cardiff can fine-tune their strategies to better serve the city's mobile-savvy audience and improve overall search performance.