Mobile devices are steadily gaining popularity as the primary Internet access device. According to a recently conducted study, the number of mobile Internet users is going to become more than the number of desktop Internet users by the end of 2014. If you believe this report as authentic, then it means that nearly 50% of your customers are already using their mobile devices to surf the Internet. And this is an extremely alarming revelation if your website is still not mobile-friendly.
A mobile-friendly website does not mean a miniature version of a website designed to fit a smaller mobile screen. You need to keep your target customers in mind when your mobile website is getting designed. Let us find out the best practices which will guarantee a satisfactory experience for your mobile visitors:
Simplicity is the Key
Keep your mobile website as simple as possible, especially the homepage. You may have a lot of information, but try not to cram everything up on the mobile website. White space is important to create a clean and professional impression. Only offer the most valuable information which is useful for people on the move, like your address and the contact numbers. Instead of pouring in detailed descriptions, give catchy one-liners which will entice your customers to know more about you. You should also include a link on your mobile website which will take the visitors to the desktop version, where they can find more information about your business.
Don’t Make Mobile Users Wait
Mobile users are more impatient than desktop Internet users. A recent survey reveals that over 58% of mobile Internet users expect a website to load within 3 seconds. In fact, your mobile website should load within 5 seconds if you want to avoid a high bounce rate. If you want your website to load faster, go for flat web design and try to avoid heavy graphical elements. Moreover, you also need to make sure that the developer installs only the required set of CSS and JavaScript files.
Touch is the new Click
People are preferring tablets and smartphones over traditional mobile devices. While touch is taking over typing, you have to accordingly plan the design of your mobile website. Categorically arrange all the important information in tabs and buttons, and introduce checkboxes, drop-down menus, and pre-populated fields – anything which would facilitate a touchscreen mobile user.
Every Device is Important
Do not just think about Android, Windows, and iOS-based smartphones and tablets. There are other mobile devices in the market as well. These mobile devices, in general, are cheaper and have lesser functionality. However, you cannot afford to ignore the customers who will visit your website via these devices. Install a device detection system to understand the type of mobile device used by the end-user. You can plan your strategy based on the result.
Conclusion:
You can create your own strategy once you have got hold of the above-mentioned points. It is very important to please your customers, and the fully functional mobile-friendly website will only act as the major source of lead conversion.
