5 things to consider when making your website mobile

More than ever, people are accessing websites from mobile devices. You’d be hard pressed to find someone with a smart phone that hasn’t viewed a website with it. So the question is: Is your website and web design optimized for mobile viewers?

If you answered no, here are a few things you can do to make your website more accessible to mobile devices.

1. Use a responsive layout
   Some web designs are optimized for mobile devices from the very beginning – they adjust to the size of any screen. If you are thinking about a website redesign or update, consider asking for a responsive design. This assures your website is immediately available to all users.
2. Direct users to a mobile website
   If using a responsive design is not an option, then consider making a completely separate mobile website. You can have your regular website detect what device your users are using, and forward any cell phone users to the mobile version. Mobile users may then have the option of also viewing your full website if screen size is not an issue for them.
3. Make your contact information visible
   Mobile users are more than likely looking for your contact information. They want to call, email and get directions to your business without jumping through hoops.  Make it easy for them and put your contact information on every page, in a visible location.
4. Make your links large and clear
   Clicking on links can be hard on small devices. If your links are large and spaced out correctly, people are less likely to get frustrated trying to click on them. Mobile users are usually “all thumbs”.
5. Aim for a short loading time
   People using mobile devices to browse the web are often in a hurry. Although it is generally good practice to design a website to be fast, it is especially important for your mobile users. Make sure your images and design elements load quickly.

Before you can act on any of these, you should first test your website to see how it looks on mobile devices. You can use Google’s GoMo tool to see how your website looks to mobile users.

Want to see an example of a separate mobile website?  Check out tilpro.com on your phone. We redirect our small screen users to a mobile-friendly version.

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Tags: cell phone, mobile, web design