Google hinted of this coming algorithm update, and will be rolling it out globally over the next few weeks. In their ever-increasing efforts to provide users with a better search experience Google created criteria for what defines a site as mobile-friendly and provides a testing tool to determine if sites pass the mobile-friendly test. Googlebots will use the factors listed below to determine a site’s mobile friendliness.

1.) The content must not be wider than the screen.
2.) Links must not be too close together to make it easy for users to select the right link.
3.) Text must be large enough to read without zooming.
4.) The site must avoid using software for mobile devices, such as Flash, because Googlebots cannot read its content.
5.) Sites must fit content to the screen device, whether smartphone or tablet, so users do not have to scroll horizontally or zoom.

Websites that do not embrace mobile-friendly practices will suffer the dreaded demotion of their sites in Google’s index. Sites that score high in the mobile-friendly category will be rewarded with increased rank results while sites that score poorly for will be penalized. Sites that pass the mobile-friendly test will receive a special label next to their web pages in search results that indicate its mobile-friendly optimization compliance. Test your website here – https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/