Is there any code to trick Google into thinking an old html site, restored from the archive, is mobile responsive?

[Stones]

Is there a simple bit of code to fool Google into thinking an old html site, restored from the archive is mobile responsive.

I remember some little hack using viewport, but can't chase down the details. Maybe Google is a bit smarter as regards parsing sites nowadays, though.

Any quick and dirty hack would be appreciated whilst I rebuild the site properly.

 

[Ryuzaki]

@Stones, no. I think the old trick you're talking about is <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">, which would just zoom the site out to fit into the viewport, then you'd double tap to zoom into div's, etc.

But you're right that Google is too smart now. They measure font size appearances, the distance between and size of links and buttons, etc. The only thing this will do for you is keep items from sticking out of the viewport, which they also measure. But there's other "mobile indexing errors" they check now.

 

[Stones]

Thanks @Ryuzaki , was hoping I could shortcut the process, apply the hack, test the domain in a couple of months with a solid piece of optimised content and redirect it if it's good. The current version is having issues indexing fully.

 

[CCarter]

Thanks @Ryuzaki , was hoping I could shortcut the process, apply the hack, test the domain in a couple of months with a solid piece of optimised content and redirect it if it's good. The current version is having issues indexing fully.

If you were to trick Google, wouldn't the users that come to your site with mobile simply hit the "back" button and therefore destroy your CTR - which Google measures within it's SERPs. That will then tank your rankings, at least with mobile users for that page. Seems easier to make it mobile responsive instead of attempting to "trick" Google at some level.

 

[GNews]

I have an HTML website up that's not mobile functional.. but it does GREAT in search... and I designed it with Notepad, HTML by hand.

The domain is pretty incredible though too I admit. I'm waiting to rebuild and stack content. I'll do this with WP .

I created the site December 2018. It gets great random traffic whenever certain celebs make a headline story.

 

[Stones]

@CCarter , I see your point. The html version of the archive site Archivarix spit out is really horrible on mobile, but the plan is to 301 the site in January when the needed changes have been made to the target site.

I'll leave it sit for the two months and then redirect it but I think I'll try the piece of optimised content in the next couple of days, it can't hurt and whether the content performs or not probably won't change my plans.

Aside from your example @EyesExist, I can't remember the last time I saw a non-responsive site / mobile friendly site ranking in the SERPs, so I don't have too much confidence in testing whether the site retained it's link equity.