24th Dec 2018

What Does it Mean to Have a “Mobile Friendly” Website

In an age defined by wireless connection and the power of free-flowing information, mobile phones are king. Every day new mobile creations are invented with the purpose of keeping us connected. As such, search engines and websites are an essential aspect of modern marketing. As a website owner, the comfort and ease of all your customers should be taken into account when designing your website. This means you should invest in a mobile friendly website.

Due to the trend of users accessing the Internet via mobile phone, it is essential that you create a website that is functional on smartphones. A mobile friendly website is one that is designed to appear the same or adapt to each device that it is accessed on. Regardless of whether your website is accessed on a mobile phone or a desktop, its key features will adapt to any given device and screen size.

Features of a Mobile Friendly Website

Simplified Mode of Navigation:

Simple navigation is a key aspect of a mobile friendly webiste. On a computer, one might use the scroll key to go up or down and move sideways. While on a mobile phone, the same might apply unless the user wishes to manipulate the screen to his or her liking. Simple navigation may also include a simple toolbar that allows users to access different areas of the website. The toolbar would simply adapt to the user’s screen size.

Image Adaptation:

The size of the pictures and images being displayed on the website will be reduced in other to fit the mobile screen. A mobile-friendly website would easily adapt based on the device used to open the site. Your website should be designed in a way that images are appealing and high-quality regardless of screen size. This will offer the best user experience.

Larger Text and static Content:

The size and layout of your web site’s text should change with the size of the screen. A large, bold text may look great on a desktop but appear cramped and overpowering on a mobile phone. Make design choices that will look great regardless of the layout! It is important to note that you should still remain true to your branding regardless of screen size.

Importance of Having a Mobile Friendly Website

In the end, the goal of every manufacturer is to ensure that its consumer or user has the most enjoyable experience with the product. It is the same with Internet users and website designers and owners. In 2015, April 21st, the popular search engine Google issued an algorithm update for ranking. In a statement, the emphasized the need for website owners to customize and make their sites mobile-friendly, in order to increase the ease of access for mobile users. With this, they would base the ranking and visibility of websites on their search engine according to the level of mobile-friendliness.  There are other reasons why a mobile-friendly website is advisable, a few include:

Customer or User Loyalty:

If you have a mobile friendly website, you are likely to have larger user traffic, a larger amount of satisfied users, who would be willing to serve as ambassadors to the brand. When users find the mobile experience with your website enjoyable, they are more likely to visit again and again. In a case where a website is difficult to navigate and not user-friendly enough, mobile users are likely to clear out and choose another website and brand to serve their needs.

Recognition and Visibility:

Most major search engines like Google are likely to recognize mobile-friendly websites that have a large amount of traffic and in return placing them at the top of a search list. This benefits the website owner as being at the top equals’ visibility, this means that more users will be able to view and enter such websites. Giving them a higher level of patronage and advantage over their counterparts and other websites.

Advertising and Marketing:

When a website has been recognized as successful with the huge amount of user traffic and mobile-friendly design, advertising agencies consider them a gold mine for targeting their specific audience and in return, the owner of the website gains profit. The high level of users also means that such advert campaigns are likely to be successful with lots of users who may buy on impulse or develop interest toward the product being advertised.

All in all, developing a mobile-friendly website is beneficial to you and the user. Invest in your brand by making changes that will pay off the in long run!

Need help making your website mobile friendly? We can help with that. Click here to learn more.