why you need a mobile website
It’s a known fact that Google favors mobile. As they outlined in their mobile index update, their move towards mobile is getting stronger and stronger. By the end of 2016, the number of mobile users surpassed the number of desktop computer users. To keep-up with these changes, you have to make your website mobile-ready. If your customers are most likely to use their mobile devices, you have to update your website to a mobile-friendly. Of course, you don’t want to be ignored by Google. So, as mobile devices are becoming increasingly popular as a way to find your business online, we want to focus on your website. Below you will learn what options you have when it comes to creating a mobile website.

Mobile Websites: Dynamic vs. Separate URL vs. Responsive Site.

1. Dynamic Serving Website.
A dynamic website has different versions of code on the same URL. For example, you many choose to create three version of a website: one for smartphones, one for tablets, and one for desktops. As a device makes a request, the server responds with a different HTML and CSS version. While you have more control over each version, you have to deal with a slower load time and extra expenses for setup and maintenance. Every time you need to make updates, you have to address different versions of your website.

2. Mobile Website with Separate URL.
With this option, you have two versions of your site: one for mobile and one for desktops. The server routes users on phones to one site, formatted for their phone, and desktop users to another. So, this setup allows for completely different user experiences on desktop and mobile. It looks like a good solution, but it has its drawbacks. Now you have to maintain two different pages for every page on your site.

3. A Responsive Mobile Website.
It’s our favorite. A responsive web design adapts the layout according to the user’s screen size. This also means that the content will automatically adjust to fit a browser window when it is expanded or contracted.  As a result, a website looks similar on both mobile and desktop. More so, now you have only one website to create and manage.

Mobile Website Optimization and User Experience.

Here are some mobile design best practices. They will help you streamline your visitor’s user experience as well as rank better in mobile search.
  1. Keep important elements within reach. Most people use only one thumb to interact with your screen. Put your primary interactive content front and center. Make your buttons fit for a thumb.
  2. Convert you phone numbers and addresses to links. This will allow users to click to call or open directions in a map app.
  3. Reduce image file size. As you might already know, images drastically affect load time. If your page is slow to load, your visitors might not be willing to stick around.
  4. Disable popups. They might interfere with user’s ability to access or see content they’ve clicked to reach.
  5. Make filling forms easier. Reducing the number of form fields (less typing) can improve your visitor’s perception of “workload”, thus improving their user experience.
  6. Utilize expandable/collapsable sections (accordions). As your guests navigate through your site, they can access needed content by tapping on a expandable container.
  7. Create high quality local content. Local SEO is a great strategy for businesses and organizations that operate in a local area.

5 Mobile Optimized Website Benefits

  1. Improved User Experience
  2. Increased Average Time on Site
  3. Faster Website Load Speed
  4. Improved Mobile SEO
  5. Competitive Advantage Over Your Competition

So, here it is. Use this information to help you create and high-quality mobile website. If you need help with creating or redesigning a mobile website that ranks in Google, reach out to our team today.