Google Search results just became more mobile-friendly

(Originally posted on the Webmaster Central Blog)

As more people use mobile devices to access the Internet, Google Search has adapted its algorithms to help users find mobile-friendly web pages and apps. Recently, Google Search has made it even easier for users to discover multi-screen content with two important changes:

1. More mobile-friendly websites in search results

Starting April 21, Google Search will be expanding its use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in Google Search results. Users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results optimized for their devices.

To make sure your website is ready for this change, check out the guide to mobile-friendly sites and start building your multi-screen website today. You can test out how your site is performing with the following tools:

• To test a few pages of your site, you can use the Mobile-Friendly Test.
• To get a full list of mobile usability issues across your sites, log in to your Webmaster Tools account and use the Mobile Usability Report.

If you already have a multi-screen website, check out our Multi-Screen Implementation Guide to optimize your website for the best user experience and monetization. You can use the Mobile Search Engine Optimization guide to help your site show up in search results.

2. More relevant app content in search results

Recently, Google Search began to use information from indexed apps as a factor in ranking search results displayed to signed-in users who have the app installed. As a result, Google Search may now show content from indexed apps more prominently in search. If you have a mobile app, learn more about App Indexing, and allow Google Search to show this information in search results.

Posted by Inside AdSense Team

(Original post by Takaki Makino, Chaesang Jung, and Doantam Phan)

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Google Consumer Surveys: An additional way to monetize your site

Google Consumer Surveys is a great way for publishers to create an additional revenue stream for their content. When a user visits your site, they will have the option to answer a few survey questions in exchange for access to content. Each time a site visitor answers a survey question, you will earn $.05. Check out how Times Publishing Company generated incremental revenue with Google Consumer Surveys.

Example of Google Consumer Surveys on a news page

Highlights of Google Consumer Surveys include:

• Earn $0.05 or local equivalent for each answered question
• Easy to implement
• You decide where and how surveys are shown
• Survey prompt appears inline as visitor views content 

Join the 700+ sites that are currently using Google Consumer Surveys as a new way to successfully monetize their content.  Use your existing AdSense account and start earning additional revenue for your site. Currently available in the US, UK, and Canada with plans to roll out to more countries soon.

To learn more, check out Google Consumer Surveys website. 

Posted by Amy Adams Harding - Head of Publisher Development

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Grow your multi-screen audience with Google Play Newsstand

If you have a news, sports, lifestyle, entertainment or other article-based site, target a growing mobile audience with Google Play Newsstand. Google Play Newsstand gives users the opportunity to discover more of the content they love in one place, and enables you to reach users through your own customizable Newsstand edition.

Use Google Play Newsstand Producer to create your edition and deliver your content to more mobile users. This tool allows you to customize the look and feel of your content, add branding, and set up ads and subscription streams for your Newsstand edition. Once your edition is live, share it with your users so they can subscribe and enjoy your content online or offline. Your users can share your content with others and bookmark articles they find relevant and interesting.

It's easy to get started, first sign up for Google Play Newsstand Producer and then create your edition.

We'd love to hear from you, tell us in the comments section below this post about your favorite content distribution strategies.

Posted by Jay Castro - Audience Development Specialist
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Get twice the insights with new Google Analytics integration in the Google Publisher Toolbar

If you�re seeking rich insights and key information on your site�s performance or user behavior, it�s likely you�re already using the Google Publisher Toolbar or Google Analytics. Starting today, access more insights directly from your site pages in just one click, with the integration of Google Analytics in the Google Publisher Toolbar.

In addition to giving you blocking controls and up-to-date information on how your site is performing, the Google Publisher Toolbar now offers more insights on user behavior powered by Google Analytics. Understand your users and shape your audience development strategy with more insights into user demographics and traffic sources. Also, find out which sections of your pages are most popular with your users through In-Page Analytics. As with current information from the Google Publisher Toolbar, you can access this new data directly from your pages when viewing them on Chrome.

Google Analytics is now integrated by default in the Google Publisher Toolbar. More information can be found in our Help Center.

If you�re not yet using the Google Publisher Toolbar, download it today from the Chrome Web Store. As always, we�d love to hear your feedback on this new release. Tell us what you think in the comment section below this post.

Posted by: Araceli Checa, Software Engineer

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