Until recent years, businesses could get away with having websites which weren’t designed to be read on mobile devices, because at that time most people used their desktop or laptop computer to browse and buy and do other tasks online. However, today things have changed significantly and it’s now no longer an option not to have a mobile-friendly site.
Consumers are savvier than ever and have very high expectations when it comes to websites and dealing with companies online. To ensure shoppers have the best customer experience possible, easily find the information they’re after, get answers to their questions, and finalize transactions, you must have a mobile site that can effectively handle all functions.
Remember: shoppers are actually more likely to browse websites on their smartphones and other mobile gadgets than they are to do so on desktops and laptops. In fact, as noted by some reports, most digital sales growth is actually stemming from mobile, while desktop has been relegated to being a secondary avenue for U.S. consumers.
No matter whether you’re selling online, or using your website more as a tool to showcase information and expertise and to capture customer details, you must ensure it’s doing its job well on mobile devices. Read on for some top tips to make sure your website is mobile-friendly and achieving the best results possible.
Have a Responsive Layout
For starters, the most crucial element is having a website that boasts a response layout. Sites which use a responsive technology framework are set out in such a way that all key information displays properly, no matter what device people are using, whether cell phones, tablets, or larger computers. In the past it was expensive to have this kind of functionality, but today,because of advancements in tech many open source frameworks automatically make their sites responsive.
A responsive layout happens because websites designed this way are set out using elements in a grid. These can shift around depending on the screen size people are viewing sites through. This way of doing things keeps consistency across gadgets for consumers, with the different elements spaced out as needed for each different size tool used.
Make it Work with Thumb Clicks Only
Next, keep in mind that another key factor in good mobile websites is that they work with thumb clicks only. When people check out sites on their smartphones, they usually navigate through pages using only their particular “phone hand”. Most people don’t use both hands to hold a device, but rather a single, dominant one. As such, you want your website to be totally navigable with simple clicks that can be done with a single digit.
In particular, shoppers want to use their thumb to click on links instead of having to use two or more fingers to “pinch” data on the screen to zoom in or select options. It pays to get some users who aren’t familiar with your site to go through each page on their mobile device. Take note and see if they have to zoom in at any point. If they do, your website could do with further optimization.
Keep Things Simple and Fast
Lastly, remember the idea of KISS – that is, keep it simple, stupid! For content to be displayed properly, and easy and effective for consumers to check out on small devices, websites must be streamlined, uncluttered, and as simple as possible. You don’t want to inundate people with a huge mess of graphics that end up looking unprofessional and also makes it hard for them to spot the information they’re actually looking for.
If you’re like most people, you will outsource the work to a developer or to a software-as-a-source provider. Either way, make sure the people working on your website have significant experience in user experience (UX) design so they know how to keep things as simple as possible. Look for people who have a Master’s in UX Design online or some other similar type of qualification.
Always cut out any unnecessary elements on your mobile site. For instance, steer clear of having lots of photographs, videos, illustrations, site seals, big blocks of text and the like. Keep in mind, too, that you need your site to load quickly, or else people will get frustrated and click away to shop elsewhere. Large files such as photos and videos slow sites down, so can be a real issue in this regard. The more streamlined you can make things, the better.
