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No argument there. This post is 12 months old, and mobile was already important, now it is essential /critical.


But in the spirit of healthy debate, I completely disagree with the responsive design argument, and am still looking for a site example that will convince me.

Having 2 sites, one optimised for mobile is a pain content wise, but thats the whole point. You are optimising for a small screen audience, so a condensed message to make a better visual experience, but with a view to optimise mobile conversions, not just make the site usable.

The www.authenticstyle.co.uk website is a really good looking site, crisp, fresh, a long scrolling brochure type site, but works really well. But looking on a mobile device, although presentation is spot on, all the same content is on there meaning a long scroll before any call to actions.

Maybe this works really well, and I've no doubt it's specific to a business type. But for a large info directory site, we need to get information across quickly and efficiently, as well as encourage participation, ie editing listings, signing up etc. The desktop design works well on desktop and tablet devices, but there is too much information for a mobile experience.

At least 25% of our traffic comes from a mobile device, with 10% now accounted for by tablets. So with that volume, I think it's worth the time and trouble to design specific experiences.

But I've seen plenty of mobile only designs that confuse tablets, or desktop designs that won't even run on a tablet, so it's certainly a minefield!

I guess it always goes back to your own data, track your analytics, track your conversions, time on site, and this will paint the picture and dictate your requirements.

That said, we're currently rebuilding the forum onto a new platform, and the mobile version is currently up in the air, so maybe we will end up with a responsive design and I'll have to eat my own words (won't be the first time..)

agree totally, though think G+ prominence will be more like an 18/24 month strategy than just 2014. From there, it will be take stock and see where the new landscape lies, in our new semantic and structure data world

Oh my word, I too have excessive playlist OCD... drives my wife nuts. I'm the same with photos as well, everything has to be in a folder strucure, categorised, dated.

Used to be easy when we had a digital camera. Now have to merge photos from different devices, iphones, ipads, camera. Then you get clashing file names... ahhhhh....

sounds like we need a self help group

Well I've already broken my New Years resolution to be more Social Media active, and have gone back to my Social Media Friday

B- must try harder...

Huzzah! After waiting patiently and getting nowhere, I took a leaf out of Clives book and started ranting at 1and1 hosting for a cease and desist for the scammers website. Obviously worked as it's just gone off the air

So moral of the story, persevere, have a moan and you'll get there in the end...

From what I've heard, it's all about sealed bids and there's no gazumping like you get in England, which has to be a good thing! According to Scottish mates, it's supposed to be a fairer system, but never experienced it myself.

Love Scotland, and quite fancy the idea of relocating to Scotland, certainly lots of house for your money (compared to Warwickshire anyway!). But knowing my luck Scotland would go independent and I'll end up having to pay some kind of Englishman immigrant tax

Best of luck on the move, hope it goes smoothly

Horibble, I went back to the old version.. while I still can

I like the default last 7 days view, ie I can see a quick snapshot in seconds of the health of our account. Clicks, CTR, and 7 day estimated earnings which shows straight away if there is an issue or not.

Looked at the new view and all I could see was today and yesterday. Hunted for settings to change it, but couldn't see it.

I think sometimes Google tinker for the sake of tinkering, current screen is uncluttered, obvious and works.. for me anyway

credit to MMG's English blog at PMCurie | Category | HUMOUR

edited your post, assumed you mean webmaster tools.

Fetch tool is a way of checking what response code your page is giving when requested by the google bot, so ca be a way to troubleshoot problems. You can also resubmit any pages you have had issues with.

Here's the google help file for it: Fetch as Google

Is a little odd, but suppose when something seems a bargain.... sell the goat, and scrape the shekels together...


It's no major drama, just a bit of identity theft. Only thing I was worried about was any potential commercial fallout with our name being tarnished.

The dodgy website is still up and running, so be interesting to see if anything actually happens when you log an online crime with Action Fraud. Apparently it's passed onto the cyber crime bods, who no doubt have a back log of stuff, and a dept staffed with interns and part timers

Also filed a cease and desist with the dodgy websites ISP, good old 1and1 and as expected, not even an acknowledgement back. Good to see our online security is taken so seriously.

Barclays made me chuckle, after phoning their specific fraud hotline, and then getting the option "press 1 if you would like to open a bank account..."

The fraudsters are using our name and address details, but taking payments via a Barclays account set up by themselves. After finally getting through to the right dept, I was told that the incident would be logged, but the people who actually had lost their money need to phone them and report it.

Patiently explained that I could tell them of the people who had contacted me, and they were poor English speakers, and wouldn't it make more sense to freeze the account and get the Police involved, and I'm sure they could reverse the fraudulent transactions. But seems to be a minefield of bureaucracy, complacency, with the familiar theme of, "well this happens all the time".

Judging by the lack of seriousness all the agencies I contacted seemed to take it, I'm not surprised it happens all the time

Ah well, another chapter for the book of life