You’ve hear it over and over again – “Mobile is the future.” If you’re part of the minority that still doesn’t believe it, it’s time to wake up, because it’s true. In fact, mobile is the present AND future.
Look around you next time you’re out in a social setting. Whether you’re on the subway, in an elevator, or waiting in line at Chipotle, everybody is on their phone. Mobile devices have changed the way we communicate and consume content. The days of having casual conversations and reading newspapers are over.
Statistics Don’t Lie
Furthermore, the statistics around mobile usage are quite compelling. A Google Study on Multi-screen behavior revealed some very interesting results in favor of mobile:
- 38% of our daily media interactions occur on a smartphone
- Smartphones are the most common starting place for online activities
- 65% of searches start on mobile devices
If this doesn’t grab your attention then you’re clearly in denial. Mobile is becoming more and more powerful as the primary device in our everyday lives. We use our phones to search, shop, talk, text, check-in on social media, take photos, manage our schedule, etc. We use our mobile devices for just about everything.
Mobile Website = Mandatory
As consumers gravitate more towards mobile it’s mandatory to have a mobile website experience. In other words, your website needs to be optimized for mobile devices. People are using mobile apps all day long, so when they visit your website on their smartphone it better deliver the same kind of mobile experience, otherwise they’re leaving and they’re leaving fast.
Below are a few key considerations for mobile websites:
Mobile has to be FAST
Our attention spans on mobile devices are also much shorter than sitting in front of a computer or using a tablet on the couch. So it’s important to consider speed and bandwidth when designing mobile web experiences. People aren’t going to wait more than a few seconds, so keep things light and fast.
Prioritize Content
Sometimes we can get away with stuffing tons of content on a page for desktop and tablet screens. However, on mobile we don’t have that luxury. Your content needs to be prioritized and any extra fluff should be thrown out. Users are willing to scroll, but only to a certain extent, so don’t try to replicate your desktop experience on a more narrow mobile screen size. Keep things prioritized for a better mobile experience.
Streamline Navigation
Navigation on mobile devices should be simple and streamlined. Don’t try to stuff your mega dropdown menu with 60 links into a mobile menu. People don’t have time to learn how your different arrows and transitions work to navigate… and they don’t want tons of options. Give users a navigation menu with a few main options and then offer a search bar if they need a deeper dive into details.
Great. Where do I start?
If you’re in need of a mobile website, or you’d like to learn more, Contact Us today. We’ve built mobile websites for small and large clients with a variety of needs. We’ll help you create a mobile experience to keep your website competitive and optimized.
