Google reads mobile
The phone version is used for indexing and ranking.
Website design · 2026 edition
A mobile-friendly website: the complete checklist
Your customers look you up on their phone first, often in a hurry, sometimes one-handed. Google also looks at your website as a phone does. Here is what a mobile website must do, point by point.
- What Google looks at
- The checklist
- Contact in one tap
Updated October 2026Rules checkedNo jargon
The mobile website in 30 seconds
In short
Google crawls and indexes websites with its smartphone crawler: it is the mobile version of your website that counts. Content that cannot be reached on a phone is no longer indexed. A good mobile website adapts to the screen width, can be read without zooming, loads quickly and offers contact in one tap: call, WhatsApp or a short form. Always test it on a real phone, not just on a computer.
The same content
Nothing should disappear on a small screen.
Fast loading
On a mobile network, every second counts.
Easy buttons
Big enough for a thumb, well spaced.
The mobile checklist in 12 points
Take your phone, open your website and check each point.
Responsive layout
The website adjusts to every width, with no horizontal scrolling.
Text readable without zooming
A body text size of about 16 pixels is a good benchmark.
Large tap targets
Buttons and links big enough and spaced out so people do not tap the wrong one.
Contact in one tap
Tappable number, WhatsApp button, a 3 or 4 field form.
Action visible straight away
What you do and how to reach you, visible without scrolling.
Lighter images
Modern formats and sizes suited to the screen.
No blocking pop-ups
Pop-ups that cover the content get in the way of reading and can be penalised by Google.
Same content as on desktop
Identical text, images and structured data on both versions.
Readable tables
Scrolling inside the table or a card layout.
Simple menu
Few items, an address and phone number that are easy to find.
Accessibility
Sufficient contrast, alt text on images, keyboard navigation.
Tested on real devices
A small screen, a large one, and a slow connection.
The benchmarks to aim for
These values come from recommendations published by Google and from accessibility best practice.
| Item | Benchmark | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Main content displayed | 2.5 s or less | "Good" threshold of Google's Core Web Vitals |
| Response to a tap | 200 ms or less | The website must respond with no noticeable delay |
| Page stability | Layout shift score of 0.1 or less | Nothing moves under your finger while the page loads |
| Body text size | About 16 px | Readable without zooming |
| Form fields | 3 to 5 | Fewer fields, more enquiries sent |
Google assesses these signals on real visits, at the 75th percentile: at least 3 visits out of 4 must reach the threshold.
Make your website mobile-friendly in 5 steps
If your current website is not mobile-friendly, here is the order to follow.
From a one-page site to a website that works for you
Choose the package that fits your business. The price is fixed in advance.
Simple Website · 1 page
A one-page website, simple and professional, to be present online.
- 1 mobile-friendly page
- Your copy and your logo
- WhatsApp button
- 1 round of changes included
- File delivered, ready to publish
Essential Website
For a small business that wants a serious website, fast.
- Up to 5 pages
- Copy written for you
- Basic SEO
- Contact form
- Publishing included
Multilingual Pro Website
To reach customers in several languages.
- 5 to 10 pages
- 2 or 3 languages
- Full SEO
- Form linked to a tracking spreadsheet
- WhatsApp button and direct contact
Website + Automations
For a website that works for you, day and night.
- Everything in the Multilingual Pro Website
- Quotes calculated and sent
- Orders recorded automatically
- Automatic invoices and reminders
Online Presence Pack
Everything you need to exist on Google, set up for you.
- Domain name in your name
- Professional email address
- Business Google account
- Your website registered with Google
Options, for every offer
- €29Domain name purchase and setup
- €49Going live on hosting
- €39Extra page with copywriting
- €59Translation, per language
- €19/monthWebsite monitoring and alerts
The website and the domain name are in your name. Simple Website: text and logo supplied by you, going live as an option. Indicative prices.
On mobile, customers want an answer straight away
The website captures the enquiry from the phone. Automations handle it without delay.
WhatsApp in one tap
Pre-filled message, you reply when you can.
Short form linked to a spreadsheet
The enquiry is recorded and you get notified.
Booking from a phone
The customer picks a slot in a few seconds.
Quote prepared
The form answers fill in your quote template.
Your questions, our answers
How do I know if my website is mobile-friendly?
Open it on a phone: if you have to zoom, if text runs off the screen or if buttons are too small, it is not. Then check with Google's free measurement tool.
Is a website that is not mobile-friendly penalised by Google?
Google now indexes websites with its smartphone crawler. Content that cannot be reached on mobile is no longer indexed, and a poor mobile experience can hurt rankings.
Do you need an app or a mobile website?
For a small business, a mobile-friendly website is almost always enough. An app is only worth it for very frequent use.
How much does a mobile-friendly website cost?
Today, any well-built new website is mobile-friendly by default. All our offers are, starting with the one-page Simple Website at €39.90.
Can the content be different on mobile?
The layout can change, but the content must stay the same. Anything hidden or removed on mobile may not be taken into account by Google.
What text size should you use on mobile?
About 16 pixels for body text is a common benchmark. The simplest test is to check you can read without zooming.
Sources: Google Search Central, mobile-first indexing documentation and Core Web Vitals documentation (developers.google.com) · Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG, W3C).
General information, up to date as of October 2026. It does not replace advice from a professional.
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