We never thought it would become possible, but mobile is replacing desktop computers as the platform of choice for accessing the web. It has become the norm now, no longer the fad it used to be.
This brings us to the topic that has been regularly making news in the world of website design: responsive design. In other words, optimising your website for viewing on both desktop and mobile devices.
In short, you have to adapt to the changing times and go mobile or risk missing out on cash-generating opportunities for your business. So, how can you go about making your site more mobile-friendly?
Start with Mobile Design
You have two options when it comes to designing a mobile website. You can build your site to be either adaptive or responsive which means your site will be able to automatically resize for an optimal viewing experience. If you are wondering where to start, you can make use of WordPress, Squarespace, or GoDaddy to access designs optimised for mobile.
The second option involves creating an independent mobile version of your website. Again, if you lack design or coding skills to do it yourself, a site like bMobilized can get you started. It converts existing sites into their mobile versions at a fee.
Get your Content ‘Mobilised’
If you opt for a new mobile website, there are certain key design elements you need to ensure are observed to boost the user experience.
Incorporate your brand: Don’t clip off your content to a point that makes it hard to identify it. Incorporate your brand elements into the mobile site by borrowing the colour schemes, fonts, and icons on your main site. Don’t forget the logo too.
Simplify the content: Screen sizes are getting bigger, but even the largest of them all are just a fraction of the average laptop screen. Offer content in short blocks that can be easily digestible rather than long paragraphs of text. Remember the fact that users are reading on the go, so make it easy for them by cutting down the content on the site and getting rid of the clutter.
Text entry should be kept at a minimum: What we have in mind by this is the fat-finger syndrome. A small digital keyboard can be a pain for anyone suffering from this ‘condition’. The reason you need to curb the amount of required text entries and go with checklist options or drop-down menus instead.
Don’t forget your phone number: Most mobile users visiting your site with their smartphone or tablet have an intention of getting in touch with your business. The reason you need to include your contact info is that includes your phone number as well. Many businesses fall prey to forgetting to list their number or make it hard to find. Have your telephone number placed prominently or include a click-to-call button.
Link to the main site: Your mobile site may be the best out there, but some users still need to access your main website. Include a link to redirect them to the main site instead of having them go through the address again.
Mobile Sites have an Influence on your SEO
Having a mobile site is good when it comes to your overall SEO. The two biggest search engines, Google and Bing, seem to have a knack for an all-in-one responsive design when giving sites a score.
Let it not get lost on you that mobile feeds on local search. Most of the searches from mobile users are trying to identify a business in the locale the searcher is in: somewhere to shop, eat, relax, play you name it. Local searches will be the primary results in this case, and this means having your mobile content focus on ranking for location whenever possible.
Social media is the other aspect you should remember too, given mobile users are more likely to engage on social platforms than their desktop counterparts.
The one thing you should remember is that mobile users are after quick, easy-to-consume pieces of content. This is a group of users who are mostly surfing the web as they engage in other activities such as watching TV, tweeting while they cheer their team, and so on.
Optimise your site for mobile use, and you can be certain you are not turning away potential customers.
