Does mobile usability issues reduce your ranking in desktop search results?

navidash

Google has been sending emails out about usability errors. Do they have an effect on the rankings for desktop search results?

RyanPurkey

The general consensus is that no they shouldn't affect desktop rankings, but the move towards making sure your site has mobile usability is one that should take place regardless because Google is definitely emphasizing it.

navidash

Thanks Ryan. Is there a place where this is actually confirmed by Google (it having no effect)?

RyanPurkey

Here's one example: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-mobile-seo-desktop-18271.html

Really though, you should get your site both mobile and desktop friendly as possible.

Fuel

I am not sure by your question what types of usability issues you are getting notifications about but if it is mobile-friendly related then you will definitely want to get those resolved. Google recently announced that they are going to take mobile usability into consideration for rank - here are a few sources:

http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2015/02/finding-more-mobile-friendly-search.html

http://searchengineland.com/google-mobile-friendly-ranking-factor-runs-real-time-page-page-basis-216100

http://searchengineland.com/much-traffic-will-lose-upcoming-mobile-seo-pocalypse-216564