Ever since Google announced mobile-first indexing, I’ve watched businesses completely abandon their desktop optimisation. They’ve convinced themselves that if it works on mobile, nothing else matters.

This is complete nonsense.

The Reality Of Mobile-First Indexing

Yes, Google uses the mobile version of your site for indexing. Yes, mobile traffic dominates many sectors. But here’s what many people miss: desktop users still exist, and they often behave very differently from mobile users.

Desktop vs Mobile: The Numbers That Matter

Let’s look at some real data. While mobile dominates overall web traffic:

B2B websites still see 50%+ desktop traffic
Professional services get significant desktop usage during office hours
Complex purchases (like enterprise software) are often researched and finalised on desktop
Technical documentation and in-depth content sees higher desktop engagement

Common Desktop Optimisation Mistakes

I’ve seen businesses make these classic blunders when focusing solely on mobile:

Tiny text on large screens – that perfectly readable 16px font on mobile becomes microscopic on a 27-inch monitor.
Wasted space – all that lovely white space on mobile turns into vast empty deserts on desktop.
Stretched images – images optimised for mobile end up pixelated or distorted on larger screens.
Poor navigation – hamburger menus might work brilliantly on mobile but can frustrate desktop users expecting full navigation options.

The Technical Side

Mobile-first indexing doesn’t mean Google ignores your desktop site. It means:

Google primarily uses your mobile site for indexing
But they still check desktop rendering
Page experience metrics matter for both versions
Core Web Vitals are measured separately for mobile and desktop

User Behaviour Differences

Desktop and mobile users often want different things:

Desktop Users:

Tend to read longer content
More likely to fill out complex forms
Higher conversion rates on B2B sites
Better engagement with detailed content
More likely to comparison shop in multiple tabs

Mobile Users:

Prefer quick, scannable content
Look for immediate information (phone numbers, directions)
Higher engagement with local content
More likely to share on social media
Better response to concise calls-to-action

Finding The Right Balance

Instead of choosing between mobile and desktop, focus on creating experiences that work well for both:

Use responsive design properly

Test across multiple screen sizes
Ensure readability at all resolutions
Optimise images for all devices

Consider context

Provide appropriate navigation options for each device
Adjust content layout based on screen size
Maintain functionality across all devices

Monitor performance

Track Core Web Vitals for both mobile and desktop
Watch user behaviour metrics across devices
Test forms and interactions on all platforms

Mobile-First Doesn’t Mean Mobile-Only

Your website needs to provide a brilliant experience regardless of how users access it.

Stop treating desktop optimisation as optional. Instead, focus on creating websites that work brilliantly everywhere. Your users – and your conversion rates – will thank you for it.

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