It has been nearly two months since Google rolled out their latest algorithm update, unofficially dubbed Mobilegeddon. We all know this update, which was considered to be “bigger” than Panda and Penguin, was designed and deployed to benefit users with a more rewarding mobile experience.

Like most things in Search, the devil is in the details and few people actually understand the fundamentals of how this update works or what it means for their brand’s web presence. There is an endless supply of content on this subject; however, deciphering what is accurate can be a nearly impossible challenge, especially for those who are required to wear many hats day-to-day.

If you ask any Marketing Manager what they think “Mobilegeddon” means, chances are you will hear something like, “Responsive websites will be ranked higher than their non-responsive competitors.”

When taken at face value, this response might seem like a good one. But here are two small details that make a very big difference:

1. This algorithm update is applied at the page-level, not site-level.This means that if a retailer’s website is comprised of 20,000 pages, but only 15,000 of those pages are mobile friendly, then only those 15,000 pages could benefit from the new update.
2. The new algorithm will only affect search queries on mobile devices.This detail is one of the most important and overlooked pieces of the update. Search results that are returned on desktop or tablet devices will not be influenced by the new algorithm.

If you’re unsure whether or not your brand’s website might be impacted by this algorithm update, a good place to start is with Google’s own litmus test, Mobile-Friendly Test.