Are you considering launching a new mobile website for your business, or perhaps re-coding your existing site to make it responsive and mobile-friendly? If so, we encourage you not to wait too much longer - more people than ever are accessing the web via smartphones and tablets, and they are expected to make up the majority of Internet users within the next few years.
It's important to remember, though, that all mobile websites are not the same, and don't all give the same value to your business and its customers. In fact, if you really want to stand out, there are five things your mobile site should have that visitors will love:
1. A simple, mobile-friendly layout. No one enjoys scrolling, zooming, or turning their smartphone sideways just to read a simple webpage. And yet, many so-called mobile sites aren't designed or configured for small screens. This is where experience, planning, and a lot of testing come into play during the mobile development process.
2. Easy-to-read text. Big blocks of small text can be incredibly difficult to read on mobile devices. Either break text into smaller chunks, or limit the amount of text on your mobile site altogether.
3. No long forms that require lots of typing. In the same way, having to type a lot of information into a box to place an order, get customer service, etc., tends to turn your mobile customers off. Use drop-down menus, click-to-call, and other, more-convenient features whenever possible.
4. Lower resolution images and screens. Although data plans are getting bigger and cheaper, most users don't want to burn a lot of their available data simply viewing your site. Add in the fact that bigger mobile websites take longer to download, and it's easy to see why you don't want dense pages and large images.
5. Apps and tools specifically for mobile users. Very often, your app can be even more valuable to customers than your mobile site itself. So, if you have an idea for something that might bring you more business (or make life easier for your buyers), consider developing it into a downloadable mobile product.
Whether you're making a dedicated mobile site or a responsive version of your existing web presence, these five features should be a priority. That's because they can mean the difference between being mobile-accessible and actually being mobile-friendly. And, as we've seen in recent years, that difference can be worth quite a bit to your bottom line.
To learn more about mobile web design and marketing, contact the HVAC Girl team today!
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