How to Start SEO for Smartphones Today: 3 Priority Items for Display Speed, Content, and Operations

Do you feel that your site is hard to see or read on a smartphone? The reason for stagnant search traffic is surprisingly often due to how it looks on mobile.

💬 I'm struggling with low traffic from smartphones.

Many site operators focus on the appearance and SEO of the desktop version, often putting the smartphone experience on the back burner.
Because screen sizes, network environments, and user behavior differ, the same strategies used for desktop often have little effect.

Smartphone users tend to want to achieve their goals in a short amount of time, so display speed, information design in the first view, and the ease of tapping buttons and links are directly linked to search traffic.
Simply improving technical optimizations and content placement that are often overlooked can frequently change access and conversion rates.

📖 What you will learn in this article

In this article, we will explain practical measures to increase search traffic from smartphones from both technical and content perspectives. Please use this as a reference.

Why SEO for smartphones increases search traffic and 3 items to start on immediately

Smartphone user behavior is short-term and operation-oriented. If the display is slow or important information is not visible, they will leave immediately.

To increase traffic from search results, it is effective to prioritize improving three things: loading speed, information placement in the first view, and content design that aligns with search intent.

Here, we will introduce the reasons for each and three items you can implement immediately.

Specific measures to prioritize improving display speed

Display speed is directly linked to bounce rates. First, check your mobile score with PageSpeed Insights and identify the factors causing drops in LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) or FID/INP.

In practice, this involves image optimization (converting to WebP or resizing to necessary dimensions), reducing unnecessary plugins and external scripts, and reviewing hosting to improve server response time (TTFB).

Also, implement settings to prioritize loading important resources using lazy loading, preloading, and prefetching.

Introducing AMP is a case-by-case decision, but it is effective for sites with high content update frequency and strong news value.

As a specific example, for an e-commerce site, simply lightening the top image and prioritizing the display of main product information can significantly improve LCP and reduce bounce rates.

We recommend improving one representative page first and checking the changes in metrics.

How to make main content stand out on smartphones

Because smartphone screens are narrow, it is important to narrow down the information you want to convey and place it at the top.

In the first view, place the title, key points, and CTA in that order, and use images or icons to guide the eye. Avoid long introductions or layouts with too much white space, and focus on a 'summary' that conveys information without scrolling.

In the main text, keep headings short and use bullet points or emphasis to improve visibility.

As a concrete example, for a service introduction page, summarizing 'what you can do,' 'an outline of fees,' and a 'sign-up button' in the first view makes it easier to increase conversions.

Check the click-through rate of the first view using user testing or heat maps, and improve button colors or wording through A/B testing to see clear results.

Redesigning search intent from a smartphone user's perspective

Since smartphone users seek answers in a short time, redesign content to match their search intent (informational, transactional, or navigational).

Beyond just ranking high for keywords, imagine the actual situation where someone searches for that keyword on a smartphone and present the necessary information concisely.

For example, for users looking for 'the fastest way to sign up,' showing the steps first and using collapsible sections for details is effective. Placing FAQs or summary leads at the beginning can reduce bounce rates from the SERP.

Keeping Google's 'mobile-first' approach in mind, consider marking up FAQs or product information with structured data. This can lead to rich result displays, which improves CTR.

Free tools and check methods to verify in the shortest time

First, please grasp the current situation using the following free tools.

Using these, you can understand key metrics and specific improvement points in a short time.

As a check method, select one representative page and list the scores and recommended improvements for each tool.

After that, re-measure after improvements and compare the score changes with actual dwell time and bounce rates. Since effects can be confirmed with simple steps, it is important to start early.

A checklist of technical fixes you can do right now

Now, here is a summary of fixes you can implement immediately.

Prioritize each item and execute them one by one, proceeding while measuring the effects. Images and third-party scripts, in particular, tend to show results quickly, so it is best to start with those.

Smartphone SEO measures to master from the perspectives of display speed and implementation

For smartphone SEO, both display speed and implementation are important. By mastering the technical elements that directly affect user experience and search rankings, you can achieve consistent results.

Here, focusing on Core Web Vitals, I will explain in detail how to handle images and videos, optimize JavaScript, choose delivery methods, and configure CDN and caching.

Priority points for improvement with Core Web Vitals

In Core Web Vitals, LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift), and INP (Interaction to Next Paint) are important.

LCP can be improved by optimizing images and hero elements, and by reducing server response times. CLS is reduced by fixing lazy loading and media without specified sizes, which are causes of layout shifts.

INP is the response speed to input, which can be improved by splitting long JavaScript processes (code-splitting) and reducing the load on the main thread.

First, check the relevant metrics with PageSpeed Insights and start with the items that have the worst scores.

Procedures for image and video compression and lazy loading

Convert images to appropriate formats (WebP or AVIF), prepare multiple sizes to match the view size, and deliver them responsively.

Tools like ImageMagick, Squoosh, or automated conversion during the build process are recommended. For videos, display a thumbnail as a substitute and set up lazy loading to load the player only when necessary.

For lazy loading, utilize native loading="lazy" while increasing the priority of above-the-fold images with preload. Batch processing with CMS or build tool plugins makes management easier.

Practical techniques to reduce JavaScript processing load

When JavaScript processing time is long, it negatively affects INP and FID. Reduce the load by removing unnecessary libraries, splitting code, using deferred execution (defer/async), and keeping only essential functions in the initial load.

Furthermore, using Web Workers to separate heavy processing from the main thread is also effective.

Specifically, there are methods to lazy-load third-party widgets and trigger analytics based on visibility. First, check the Lighthouse diagnostic results to identify long tasks.

How to choose between responsive and dynamic delivery

While responsive design is easy to manage and recommended for SEO, dynamic delivery (returning optimized HTML based on the user agent) can further optimize content.

Responsive design is suitable for small sites or frequently updated content. Consider adopting dynamic delivery for large-scale sites or when optimization of images/scripts is key.

In either case, it is important to provide the same content on the same URL and maintain consistency in structured data and meta information.

How to speed up with CDN and cache settings

CDN is effective for accelerating the delivery of static resources and improving response times by region. Place images, CSS, and JS on a CDN, and utilize browser caching by properly setting cache headers (Cache-Control).

Version control is performed by adding query strings or hashes to file names.

Furthermore, utilizing cache control and image optimization features on the Edge side allows for speed improvements without additional configuration. Do not forget to review your caching strategy according to time of day and traffic.

Content design and intuitive UI improvement measures that resonate with smartphone users

Smartphones require "findability," "readability," and "ease of operation." It is important to make content concise and highly visible, and to be conscious of tap-friendly layouts and sizes for the UI.

Here, I will explain in detail how to write headings and introductions, how to place information in the first view, CTA design, standards for fonts and tap areas, and internal link design.

How to create headings and introductions for smartphones

Smartphone headings should be short and concise. To catch the reader's eye while scrolling, it is effective to include benefits or the problems being solved in the heading.

The introduction should convey the main points in a single paragraph and clearly state "what can be gained from this article" to encourage further reading of the main text.

Keep paragraphs short and use bullet points to reduce eye strain. Highlighting important matters with bold text or emphasis makes them easier to grasp even on smartphones.

The secret to placing key information in the first view

Place information that conveys the page's purpose in the shortest time possible in the first view.

Prioritize the title, a one-line summary, the main CTA, and elements that demonstrate credibility (such as reviews or awards). Keep visuals lightweight and limit their role to reinforcing the content.

Visual signals to encourage scrolling (arrows or short guiding text) are also effective. This allows users to intuitively understand what they should do next.

Tips for reducing bounce rates with CTA and button placement

CTAs should be easy to see in terms of color and size, and should have a width and height that is easy to press with a finger. A general guideline is a height of 44px or more, with sufficient margins on the left and right.

If there are multiple CTAs, prioritize them by placing one main CTA in the first view and placing auxiliary CTAs after scrolling.

Click-through rates improve when the wording is verb-based and specific, and when short supplementary text that provides a sense of security is added.

Optimal size standards for fonts and tap areas

For fonts, prioritize readability, using 16px or larger as the standard for body text, and varying sizes for headings by hierarchy. It is recommended to set line spacing slightly wider for better readability.

Aim for a tap area of at least 44px in both width and height, and ensure sufficient spacing between links and buttons.

Consider adding padding to clickable elements to expand the visual hit area.

Internal Linking and Hierarchy Design for Mobile

Place internal links naturally within the body text to create a structure that allows smooth transitions to important categories and related pages. Since sidebars cannot be used on smartphones, it is effective to group related links at the bottom of the page or at the end of the content.

Avoid making the hierarchy too deep, and utilize breadcrumbs and search functions to improve site navigation. It is important to use specific and meaningful phrases for internal link anchor text.

The Flow of Mobile SEO to Sustain Results Through Performance Measurement and Operations

Improvements are not a one-time task; it is important to perform them continuously through measurement and operations. By monitoring appropriate metrics at fixed points and running an improvement cycle, you can expect stable search traffic.

Here, we introduce major tests and how to use tools, metric management in GA4, how to determine priorities, and points to consider when outsourcing.

Mobile-Friendly Test and Search Console Verification

Google's Mobile-Friendly Test is the first tool you should try. You can check whether a page is mobile-friendly and if there are any visibility issues.

In Search Console, regularly check mobile usability, crawl errors, and indexing status to discover mobile-related issues early.

In particular, mobile errors affect search rankings, so prioritize addressing them if a warning appears.

Metrics to Watch with PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse

PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse provide specific metrics for speed improvement. Since improvement suggestions are presented along with LCP, CLS, and INP values, you can understand which items should be addressed with priority.

Take reports periodically and compare changes before and after improvements to verify effectiveness.

If you perform tests not only on representative pages but also on major templates, you can grasp issues comprehensively.

Mobile Metrics and Fixed-Point Observation Methods in GA4

In GA4, check user behavior by "mobile (device category)" and compare session counts, dwell time, bounce rates, and conversion rates.

Track mobile metrics on a daily or weekly basis and observe changes before and after implementing measures at fixed points.

By introducing event tracking to understand mobile-specific behaviors such as tap rates and scroll depth, improvement points will become clear.

How to Determine Improvement Priorities and Proceed with Operations

　Improvement priorities are determined by 'Impact x Execution Cost.' Start with items that have a high impact and low cost (image optimization, lazy loading, and improvement of main CTAs).

　Next, systematically implement items that have high technical costs but are expected to yield results (server migration, dynamic delivery).

　In operations, it is important to repeat improvements and measurements in short sprints. Clarifying KPIs and creating a system to regularly share the results of improvements will make it easier to continue.

Selection Points and Cost Estimates for Outsourcing

　When outsourcing, choose a company with a track record in mobile optimization. Selection points include specific improvement case studies, experience in improving Core Web Vitals, and proficiency with CMS and technologies used (React/Vue/WordPress, etc.).

　Costs generally range from several hundred thousand yen for small-scale page improvements to hundreds of thousands to millions of yen when including site-wide optimization or server migration.

　You can reduce risk by having them present target metrics and priority items in the estimate, and by paying on a performance basis or in installments.

Smartphone SEO Checklist to Implement Starting Today

　Based on the points covered so far, here is a checklist you can implement right now. Start by measuring representative pages and proceed with improvements in order.

• Measure mobile scores with PageSpeed Insights

• Identify bottlenecks for LCP, CLS, and INP

• Convert and resize main images to WebP or similar formats

• Preload important images and use lazy loading for others

• Disable unnecessary third-party scripts

• Delay JavaScript execution using code-splitting and defer

• Place key information and CTAs in the first view

• Set font size to at least 16px and tap areas to at least 44px

• Regularly check mobile usability in Search Console

• Track mobile metrics (dwell time, bounce rate, CVR) in GA4

　Run this cycle weekly, record the effects of your improvements, and keep the PDCA cycle going. Starting by improving just one representative page makes it easier to verify results and leads more effectively into your next steps.

🎯We will tell you your company's domain rank for free

　　→Apply for Aruru Production's free SEO audit now to sign up immediately

　At Aruru Production, we will conduct a free SEO audit of your company's website.
We will provide you with an easy-to-understand report on key SEO metrics for targeting top search rankings, such as domain power and the number of keywords you have acquired.

　With its comprehensive volume, you are sure to think, Is it really okay to get this much information for free?　Since you can see the important numbers on the web that will drive your future customer acquisition,

what measures to take, how to take them, and how to beat your competitors, the points you need to address for SEO will become clearly visible.

　Please take this opportunity to feel free to apply for Aruru Production's free SEO audit.

　We also provide SEO strategy advice for companies, so please feel free to send a DM on X. →https://x.com/domain_orank