“Do I really need a mobile friendly website?” This is a question that many business owners are now asking of their technology partners. To put it bluntly, absolutely, yes.
Some clients feel that a plain desktop website will work well for the mobile user too. The fact is that the massive reach, coverage, and influence of mobile users provides sufficient impetus for companies to update their web presence so that it works seamlessly on a mobile device, as well as a laptop or desktop.
Have you ever tried to access a website from your smartphone only to be frustrated by the tiny links on a non-responsive website? I think most of us have. It makes most people crazy and doesn’t deliver a great user experience.
What do the trends show?
Mobile moving past desktops in terms of their user base is now an old story. What does remain relevant is that a mobile friendly website is no longer an option for a business that wants to be successful.
Rather, it has become a necessity, proven by this ComScore data that shows more people today use the Internet on mobile devices over desktops:
This should be the fire that fuels your desire to have a mobile friendly website created for your brand and online marketing presence.
Need more compelling reasons to go for a mobile friendly website for your business? Then read on:
1. Competitive edge — As per ING International Survey, almost 6 out of 10 people in the U.S. and Europe have purchased goods using mobile/tablet. A mobile friendly website increases your chances of sales conversion and trust building, thus, helping you to gain an edge over your competition, who may not yet be geared for mobile.
2. Attractive to Google — If your marketing strategy involves search engine optimization (SEO), then Google’s latest algorithm update preferring mobile optimization will work in your favor. Google will give higher ranking in search queries to mobile friendly websites.
3. Lower cost — With mobile centric web development going mainstream, the costs associated with development have declined drastically. One factor is the number of developers in the marketplace has increased the supply of website services. Another reason is the far-reaching evolution of template-based websites that can be uniquely branded by a designer and later edited in-house by the client. Small and medium sized companies benefit from cost cutting by eliminating the need for a developer to make regular updates and this provides the client with greater control over their website in-house.
4. Better User Experience — Utilizing native functionalities like GPS, camera, and accelerometer of smartphones opens up a whole new door of opportunities for businesses. For instance, local businesses gain a tremendous boost in mobile visibility and conversion with the built-in GPS system of mobile. Users can click on QR/bar codes and have attractive deals and discounts immediately show on their mobile friendly websites.
Design considerations for mobile friendly website:
Two of the biggest issues in designing mobile friendly websites is factoring in varying screen sizes from 4 to 8 inches, and different device performance, from OEM powered processors to the latest 5th generation Intel core processor. Other than that, you need only to keep your content fresh and relevant, and banish heavy image files to improve the page load speed of site on mobile. Lastly, making sure that the text is legible and links are visible will also help improve the overall user experience and boost conversion rates through mobile.
Let us know if you need assistance updating your web presence to an effective, mobile empowered website that garners attention from your target customer and industry; we will be happy to help.
