In today’s digital marketing landscape, having a mobile website that works seamlessly on all types and sizes of devices is essential. With more users accessing the web via smartphones and tablets, optimizing mobile websites is not optional if you wish to market your business successfully.
Before we jump right into some best practices for a mobile-friendly website, in case you are still wondering “why” you need one, here are a few key statistics: [maybe make an infographic?]
- Over 60% of global internet traffic is attributed to mobile devices [source]
- 96.2% of worldwide internet users have accessed the internet from a mobile device [source]
- 40% of consumers are seen to abandon their carts if an app isn’t mobile-friendly [source]
- 63% of people using a mobile device are more likely to purchase from a company that has a mobile site or app that offers valuable recommendations on products or services they would like [source]
- 61% of users have a higher opinion of mobile-friendly websites than they do of non-mobile-friendly ones. [source]
Convinced? We hope so! Fortunately, with the help of a web developer it’s usually not too difficult to get your mobile site optimized.
Mobile Website Tips
Here are some top strategies to take advantage of the above statistics to ensure your website delivers a smooth mobile experience:
1. Use Responsive Design
A responsive website automatically adjusts its layout and content to fit different screen sizes, such as mobile and tablet screens. This ensures that users get a consistent experience across all devices.
2. Simplify Navigation
Mobile websites must keep menus clear and concise. Use collapsible menus or icons (like a hamburger menu) to save space and make it easier for users to find what they need. If you have a deep site (many layers of subpages), you should consider investing some time to ensure that the most vital pages are easy to find and access.
3. Optimize Load Speed
Mobile users expect fast load times. In fact, Google reports that 53% of mobile website visitors abandon a website that takes longer than three seconds to load. Trimming your website to ensure a quick mobile experience might mean using compressed images, streamlining code, and limiting large files or unnecessary plugins to ensure it’s quick and responsive.
4. Prioritize Readability
Choose legible fonts and maintain sufficient contrast between text and background for an enjoyable mobile experience for all users. Avoid small font sizes, and ensure buttons and links are large enough to tap easily with a finger, regardless of the size of the mobile device used.
5. Design for Touch
Further to the above, since mobile users interact with their screens by tapping and swiping, make sure any interactive elements like buttons, forms, or maps are spaced out to prevent accidental clicks. Avoid any hover-only features as they are not intuitive to mobile users.
6. Test Across Devices
Regularly test your site on different screen sizes, operating systems, and browsers to ensure consistent performance and appearance. As new mobile products come to the market, you may need to make adjustments to ensure all users have a positive experience.
7. Leverage Mobile SEO
A mobile-friendly site also helps with search rankings. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool, apply best practices for mobile SEO, and make sure your content is accessible and well-structured.
Ensuring you optimize you website for smaller screens is not just a best practice—it’s a business necessity. A mobile-friendly website should improve usability, drive conversions, and keep your brand competitive in a fast-moving digital landscape.
By implementing the above tips, you’ll create a smoother, more engaging experience that meets your users where they are.
Looking for more customized recommendations to ensure your website is mobile-friendly? Get in touch!