08 Sep Mobile First! Your go-to guide for making your site mobile friendly!
It’s the late 90’s. You’re sitting in front of the family computer, patiently waiting while you listen to the rumbling of your modem connecting to the internet. And then, the wave of frustration which overwhelms you when your Mum picks up the phone, cutting off the connection you’ve only just established.
Would we be showing our age if we admitted that this was a vivid memory, rather than the start of a 90’s teen movie??
Now that it’s a whole THIRTY YEARS LATER, technology has advanced somewhat, and accessing the internet is as easy as pressing a button on your smartphone. In fact just last year, mobile phones were the most popular way to connect to the internet. In the first 6 months of 2021, 93% of Australians used a phone to go online, up from 84% in 2017.
As business owners, we need to make sure our website is just as accessible. With that in mind, here are 10 simple ways you can create a mobile friendly website:
1. Have mobile access front of mind.
Which is exactly as it sounds. When you’re designing your website for mobile access you’re considering all the elements which make this possible, such as responsive design. You can also add UX and location tracking so you can really get to know your client and what they like to do on your site.
2. Use a mobile responsive theme.
This clever website design will ensure that your site adjusts to the width of whichever screen is viewing it. Setting up a mobile responsive business website means that your content and images will be tweaked according to the size of the screen viewing it. None of this painful scrolling with a dysfunctional sidebar, your site will instantly fit the device of your customer.
3. Flash is not your friend.
This one may hit hard for some of you, but it’s the truth. Adobe Flash Player was admittedly, once the gold standard for displaying multimedia online. But, just like the rumbling of our 90’s modems, those days are now a distant memory. Because of Google’s inability to crawl Flash sites for SEO information, they’re essentially wiping them out. If the Google algorithm detects a site designed in Adobe Flash, searchers are now warned and if their device does not support it they’re encouraged not to visit the site.
4. First impressions (aka design) matter.
In this fast-paced world of ours, in which we can access the internet via phones which we carry in our pockets, we need to capture our audience. Fast. When your dream customer lands on your page, they need to be able to find what they’re after and they want it to be easy. Show your community you love them by giving them a great user experience on your business website. Thoughtful additions like a scroll up button to help them get quickly back to the top of the page will always go down a treat. They’ll feel the love, you’ll get the conversions!
5. Be concise.
Even if you’re the wordy-est wordsmith that ever did word, your website is not the place to showcase your eloquent prose. Exactly like with your clever website design, the copy which goes on it must be sharp, to the point and must answer their questions. No matter how much your clients love you, if they can’t get the answers they’re looking for, they’ll find them somewhere else.
6. Create a clutter free environment.
We’re gonna let you in on a little secret. Here at TDO, we’re guilty of the last-minute panic clean before guests arrive. And, we know you know what we mean! No matter how comfortable you are with your guests, there are certain things no one needs to see when they enter your home. Another little secret, your website is the same. Cluttered business websites are those ones with lots of pages and images, they type which leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed. In the world of online marketing, a confusing website = high bounce rates and low conversions.
7. Make it quick!
Now that we know the internet is super fast, that’s what we expect. If your website has a sloooooow load time, we can guarantee that your dream client has moved onto your competitor’s website. There’s some handy tools out there on the internet which can help you measure your load time. If your site is taking more than 4 seconds, it might be time to tweak a few things.
8. Vary your media.
Because after all, variety is the spice of life! Providing mixed media for your customers when they visit your website works in a couple of different ways. Obviously it means that your website is going to look super cool! But, it also means there is something which will appeal to everyone. You’ll keep your customers on your site longer, and ensure they have a great time while they’re there.
9. Optimise clicks and buttons
We have to say, this is the very best, most successful way to make your website convert. Too often, we’ve felt the frustration of not being able to make a purchase or submit a form on a website. And if we, as the customer were frustrated, imagine how the small business owner would feel knowing they lost a customer, ready to make a purchase. To ensure your customers know what to do on your website, tell them with your buttons and make them super easy to find.
10. K.I.S.S
Yup, it’s time to roll out one of the most infamous acronyms for anyone who has ever set a goal or worked in design or, basically almost everyone! Following the design principle of keeping it simple ensures that your site appears simple for the user, which behind it sits clever and intelligent design. Rather than adding unnecessary features which result in system failures and frustrated customers, a cleverly designed website will result in conversions.
Which, as clever website designers, is where we come in!
Get in touch to find out more about creating an unforgettable brand or website for your business. Schedule in a complimentary 15 minute call with Zoe to see whether we would be a good fit together.
You can schedule in your chat here.
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