Here's Why You Need to Make Sure Your Site Is Mobile-Friendly by April 21 Failing to do so will result in a cold shoulder from Google.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

If you've been dragging your feet when it comes to making your website more mobile-friendly, you now have Google to fear. The tech company just served all you procrastinators a concrete deadline: Beginning April 21, it will incorporate a site's mobile-friendliness into its ranking algorithm.

This means that web pages still giving mobile the cold shoulder will be ranked lower by Google. The company is pretty clear about that, noting in a blog post that the change will "have a significant impact in our search results."

The end result, Google says, is to make it easier for users "to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices."

For sites looking to make the update before the April 21 deadline, Google has a guide to creating mobile-friendly sites.

Related: 4 Tips for Passing Google's New Mobile-Friendly Test

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Buying / Investing in Business

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Starting a Business

I Had 'Too Much Experience' to Find a Job. So I Used Facebook to Start a Small Business That's Making About $500,000 a Year.

After Amber Starling moved to Manhattan, Kansas, a frustrating job search led to a life-changing business opportunity.

Side Hustle

She Started a Creative Side Hustle While Working 'Dead-End' Jobs — Then Grew It From $10,000 to Over $50,000 a Month: '[It] Became Magnetic'

Alyssa O'Toole, 35, juggled "mismatched uniforms and odd hours" to turn her passion into a business.

Life Hacks

Turn Downtime Into Personal Growth With Headway Premium

This $60 lifetime subscription to Headway Premium lets you learn in your spare time forever.

Thought Leaders

Why Your Startup's First Hires Matter More Than Your Big Idea

Startup success depends less on ideas and more on assembling a strong, strategically aligned early team that can execute, adapt and scale.