Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly?
posted on by WebSolutions
What do your customers see when they visit your website?
You probably know the answer to this – at least, as long as your customers are using desktop computers. But what does a customer see when they visit your website using a mobile device?
If this is something you haven't tested, now is the time. Optimizing your website for mobile compatibility is becoming increasingly important with the growing versatility of smart phones and tablets. Mobile devices are already outselling PCs, and this year are poised to surpass PCs in terms of web access.
Why Should I Go Mobile?
Mobile use may be skyrocketing – after all, mobile is responsible for 17.4% of all web traffic – but does your company need a mobile-optimized website? For virtually all businesses – regardless of size, target market or industry – the answer is yes.
Consider this: 70% of all mobile searches result in action within one hour. So whether you’re selling a product, offering a service or recruiting new employees or volunteers, going mobile will help you tap your target audience just as they're ready to act. Mobile optimization can also boost your visibility, help you connect with visitors and portray your organization as relevant.
Going mobile is even more important if you rely on local business: about half of all local searches are now being done from mobile devices. Here's a great opportunity to drive traffic not only to your website, but to your business location! A website that is difficult to navigate on a mobile device could be the cause of countless missed connections.
The good news? Mobile optimization isn't as scary as it may sound. Keep reading to see just how easy it can be.
Best Practices for Mobile Websites
Mobile sites don't require all the bells and whistles of your website – just think simple and solid, and emphasize function over features.
- Optimize Files & Formats. Avoiding Flash is a given, as most mobile devices don't support it. Make sure your content comes through by using HTML5 and CSS3 or JavaScript instead. Also be sure to optimize any necessary audio and video files for size, and turn autoplay off to save bandwidth.
- Less is More. Your mobile homepage doesn't have to (and shouldn't) include everything from your website. Instead, focus on prioritizing your hottest content. Analytics can provide insight into the content that really drives mobile traffic to your site – perhaps hours and directions, a daily menu, or a news feed. Make this information easy to find on the homepage with a noticeable button or call-to-action.
- Don’t Cram Content. Along the same lines, design with what will actually benefit the user in mind. Keep the navigation paths simple and direct, and ensure links are large enough and spaced far enough apart for a finger to accurately target.
Moving Forward in a Mobile World
Some businesses have balked at mobile optimization because they fear the process will require a huge investment of time, resources and effort. But those fears are unfounded, because mobile optimization doesn't always require the development of a brand new website. At Web Solutions, for example, we design mobile-optimized templates based on clients' current websites, resizing the content and streamlining the navigation system. The mobile-friendly version displays when a user visits the site from a mobile device.
One lesson that you should carry over from your website? Your mobile strategy should always revolve around your audience. Take any consistent feedback into account when redesigning or upgrading your mobile site, and focus on maximizing the user experience.
Are you ready to move your online presence – and your business – forward? Then it's time to go mobile! Give the mobile experts at Web Solutions a call – we'd be happy to take those next steps with you.