Mobile First Indexing / SEO Terms Mobile First Indexing Mobile first indexing is the approach used by Google to primarily use the mobile version of a website’s content for indexing and ranking in search results. This shift reflects the fact that most users now access the internet from mobile devices. If your website has different content on its mobile and desktop versions, Google will prioritise what is available on mobile when evaluating relevance and quality. Previously, search engines focused on desktop content as the main source for indexing. With mobile first indexing, the crawler primarily reviews the mobile version. This means that your mobile site must include all critical content, structured data, internal links and metadata. If the mobile experience is stripped down, incomplete or poorly optimised, it can negatively impact your search visibility and rankings. Responsive design is strongly recommended because it serves the same content to all users regardless of device. Optimising for mobile first indexing ensures that your website remains competitive in organic search. Key best practices include using responsive design, keeping content consistent across devices, ensuring fast load times and improving usability on smaller screens. For nonprofits, this helps supporters donate, sign up or access services on the go. For B2B and SaaS brands, it supports lead generation and engagement from mobile-first decision makers. Regular testing with tools such as Google Search Console and PageSpeed Insights can help identify mobile performance issues and guide improvements.