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A: An astounding 87% of all web searches take place on Google's platform. With this level of market share, it's no surprise that Google is setting the rules for how the world does business online. Google has long ago shifted to prioritizing mobile-friendly sites in search results, and today, nearly 60% of all web searches take place on a mobile device. A mobile-friendly website is no longer a nice-to-have, it's a necessity. Here are two key points you should consider:

If your website is not yet mobile-friendly, the best option is to start fresh. Years ago, businesses were adding plug-ins to make their websites mobile-friendly. Plug-ins are notorious for creating more challenges than solutions, and they won't optimize the user experience for your customers and prospects.

Build a website with "responsive design" and create a website experience that's fluid from mobile to tablet to desktop. Google's emphasis on mobile design is its way of rewarding businesses that provide users with a high-quality user experience. When someone visits your website, their experience on your site should be the same regardless of whether they're viewing it on their phone or home computer. "Responsive design" is a design solution that accounts for how the site will respond to your content and graphics at various pixel widths and heights. A good website designer should assess how the site responds to text and images of different sizes throughout the design process, to ensure the site meets Google's mobile requirements.