How to improve your Google rankings on phones

Most people looking for a local service search on their phone. Google can show them a different order than someone searching on a computer, so a business that looks strong on a laptop can be lower on phones.

Step 1: Find your gap

Check the same keywords on both phone and computer, from your service area. If you're #3 on a computer but #8 on a phone, that gap is what to fix. A rank tracker that checks phone results separately makes this easy to see each week.

Step 2: Make the page fast on mobile data

Phone users are often on mobile data. Large images and heavy scripts slow pages down. Shrink images, remove plugins you don't use and test the page with our free Website Speed Test.

Step 3: Make it easy to read and tap

• Text readable without zooming.
• Buttons and links big enough to tap, with space between them.
• No pop-ups covering the page when it opens.
• Your phone number as a real tap-to-call link, not an image.

Our free On-Page SEO Checker flags common page problems.

Step 4: Put the next step at the top

Phone searchers usually want to call or book now. Show your service, your area and a "Call now" button near the top. For example, Maple Leaf Plumbing & Heating in Canton, Ohio shows "Furnace repair in Canton · Call now" before anything else.

Step 5: Finish your Google Business Profile

On phones, the map results often show first. Correct hours, categories, photos and recent reviews all help. Check yours with the free Google Business Profile Checker.

Step 6: Recheck in a few weeks

Rankings take time to move. Check phone and computer results again after two to four weeks and compare the trend, not one day.

Want to learn more? Take the free Tracking Your Local Rankings guide, which now includes a lesson on fixing phone rankings.