Google’s new mobile-friendly algorithm update is a revamped set of instructions that dictate how websites show up in Google searches conducted on mobile phones. Mobile-friendly websites now rank higher compared with sites that are not deemed to be ‘mobile friendly’ by the search engine. The company says that rankings for searches conducted on PCs or tablets are not affected by the change. Google is now also placing a ‘mobile friendly’ tag under its search results.

A site is judged by Google to be mobile friendly or not, based on over 200 design criteria. Businesses can check their website’s mobile friendliness by going to google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly.

Google has long recommended that companies develop responsive websites that use fluid grids and flexible images that adapt to the dimensions of whatever device it is being viewed on.

Copan, a restaurant and bar in Rathmines in Dublin, unveiled a news responsive website in February 2015 and 75% of bookings are now made online. Designed by web agency nettle.com, the Copan site integrates the booking process with the venue’s back office systems, and the site layout adapts automatically to the type of device it is being viewed on.

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According to general manager Ciaran O’Flynn: “There is much more confidence in booking online, especially with the increased use of smartphones to view web content. The website allows us to update the events calendar and photo galleries ourselves, while providing a sleek, professional online image for Copan.”

Nettl’s Matthew Duffy adds: “If you can’t make a restaurant reservation within a couple of swipes on your phone you’ll move on, it’s as simple as that.”