With more and more research and purchases being completed online, it is imperative for every company to have a site that is mobile optimized.
Before delving into the benefits of a mobile-friendly site, lets first talk about what being mobile optimized means.
What does it mean to have a mobile-friendly website?
A mobile site is a site that is modified to fit a user’s mobile device (Tablet, iPad, or smartphone) and is easy to navigate without the user needing to zoom in or adjust their settings manually. The text is easy to read, the site is easy to navigate, and it’s easy for someone to find what they’re looking for.
If a site is not mobile-friendly, what does that look like?
Have you ever clicked on a site and had it barely fit the screen? Have you had to scroll over to see all the page? Maybe the text was way too small to read?
Yes? Well, that’s what a non-mobile friendly site looks like. It’s a pain to navigate, and you’d instead click away and find a competitor than try to search around it.
What is the difference between a mobile website vs a responsive website?
Many people confuse mobile sites with responsive websites. They think that they are the same thing. While they do have one thing in common, they are both set to be optimized for mobile, the way that they get those results are entirely different.
With a mobile website, you have a ‘separate’ website exclusively for mobile devices. This may mean you have two manage two separate websites, or it could mean that the two sites have different content.
With a responsive site, there is an entirely different approach taken. You have one single website that auto-adjusts itself based on the screen size of the user. So no matter what device the user is on, whether it be a large desktop screen, a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, the website will automatically adjust to be optimized on any device.
How about Google rankings?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) plays a big part in all this as well. Did you know that Google ranks a mobile-optimized site higher? Yup. They see the importance of allowing users that are browsing the web on their mobile devices to be able to click on a link in search results and be able to navigate the site with ease.
The benefits of a mobile-friendly website.
According to Google, 94% of American smartphone users “search for local information on their phones” and when most people are searching for a business they are ready to make a purchase or get in touch right then?
A whopping 57% of users won’t recommend a business if the mobile site is not designed well. In addition, 57% of all US online traffic is through smartphones and tablets.
And, lastly, 3 out of every 4 smartphone users will pick up their device first if they are preparing to look for something online.
Final thoughts.
In this day and age, a mobile-friendly website is not an option; it’s a must for every business. If you are looking to see higher search engine rankings, increased site traffic, and make more sales, you need to ensure that your website is as mobile-optimized as possible.
Need help?
CyberOptik, a Chicago web design firm, makes it easy for your business to get a fully mobile-friendly website online. We’re here to help discuss your project, map out a gameplan, and make it happen. Get in touch today for a free consult.