Responsive Design, huh? Here is a List of Best Practices for Mobile Optimized Websites
Responsive design. It’s a term anyone interested in the field of computer technology has certainly come upon at one time or another.
Responsive design has been around for a few years now, but it’s not until around 2013 that it came to a peak. This was no surprise; if anything, the concept is even behind its time. See, we’ve been using mobile devices to access the Internet for well over a decade now. And there are those times we have wished the website could load faster, or display every element, or deliver a richer browsing experience like we are used to on the desktop.
And now, that time is here. Today we have smartphones and tablets, the latter of which are replacing the good old laptop for people (not just businessmen) constantly on the move. And having a website that can adapt to these devices as nicely as it does on the desktop makes everything so much easier than sweating about a mobile site on the side: the dream of every business.
A recent study by eMarketer had estimated that the number of smartphone users in the world would total a whopping 1.75 billion in 2014. With such figures, you know what that means, right? Having a mobile optimized site is crucial in getting the most out of your marketing budget. However, simply having a different version of your existing website for mobile users is a mistake. Rather, opt for one tailored to the behavior of mobile users, independent of your main website.
With that said, what should go into your mobile website for those looking to go the responsive way? Below we share the must-haves:
Responsive web design may not always be the answer
Responsive web design is no doubt a great way of having a lovely looking mobile website. However, don’t lie to yourself that it will be sufficient to generate a satisfying mobile experience.
A custom URL for your mobile site might be a good idea to start with, not to mention creating something totally different for your mobile visitors. The good thing with this is it allows us to customize different elements such as the website menu, the call to action, text, and other things as your needs dictate.
Help users navigate through products
For those who sell products online, you don’t need to be reminded the importance of a good first impression – something that has popped up in your mind at some point. With the limited dimensions characteristic of small screens, making users find the product they are looking for right away is of utmost importance.
What will certainly make a noticeable difference is having a comprehensive and effective set of filters. This will automatically offers a great onsite experience.
Integrate mobile traffic with other online and offline activity
Going by the Mobile Playbook from Google, people paying visiting a site using a mobile device (smartphone, phablet, tablet you name it ) are likely to make their purchase afterwards through a desktop device (you can probably bear testimony to this), as well as in store or later on during the day.
The same Google notes that over half (50 percent) of Walgreens’ mobile traffic originates from people already inside one of their stores. Sure, you can read that again…
Don’t let conversion values blind you
Average profit per sale and cost per sale seem to dictate what most companies think of ideal conversion cost. If it is lead generation you’re after, or you’re a one-time sale company, this is definitely right.
There are other factors to consider besides that: average referrals per customer, sales from users converting with a different gadget than where they saw your pay ad, the lifetime customer value.
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