A Beginner’s Guide to Creating A Mobile-Friendly Website | Proven Tips

In the scorching summer of 2015, a technological revolution began as mobile searches surpassed desktops for the first time ever. Since then, this love affair with our smart phones has only grown stronger. With improved battery life and lightning-fast charging, our mobile devices have become loyal companions, fitting snugly in our pockets and keeping us connected, entertained, and informed. It’s like having a magic trick in our hands, powering us up in the blink of an eye. So dive into the treasure hunt of mobile searches, where every click is an adventure, whether you find a gem or end up in a cat video rabbit hole. Get ready to conquer the digital world with a swipe and a smile!

If you’re reading this, you already know how important it is to have a mobile-friendly website. We can help you make yours top-notch for mobile users in India. Let’s dive into make your website mobile-friendly, you’ll need to:

1. Use a mobile-responsive template
2. Optimize your content
3. Compress your CSS and images
4. Don’t use Flash
5. Change placement and Size of button size
6. Spread your links
7. Keep the fonts readable and large
8. Remove pop-ups
9. Keep testing

So, what exactly does it mean to have a mobile-friendly website?

It’s all about providing a top-notch experience to visitors who are browsing your site from their mobile devices. It’s like offering them a customized version of your website that is tailored specifically for their small screens. This way, they can enjoy seamless navigation and content that is optimized for their mobile experience. It’s like having a personal concierge who takes care of every little detail to make your guests feel right at home.

When it comes to making your website mobile-friendly, there are a few options to consider:

1. Responsiveness: This nifty feature allows your website to adapt and adjust its design to fit any screen size. So whether you’re browsing on a desktop, mobile, or tablet, the layout will look snazzy and user-friendly
2. A Separate Mobile app: Sometimes, it’s a good idea to have a separate app exclusively for your mobile users. It’s like having a VIP lounge just for them. But hey, don’t forget about those who prefer to stick to the website make.
3. Dynamic: With dynamic serving, your website serves up a customized version depending on the device your visitor is using. It’s like having a wardrobe full of outfits tailored specifically for each gadget. Fancy, huh?

Sure it’s top-notch for them too!

To ensure your website rocks the mobile world, you have a few options to consider. Responsive design is the baseline, and it’s highly recommended by Google for accessibility. However, don’t settle for just “acceptable.” Aim for a fantastic user experience by further tweaking your mobile site.

But hey, have you ever thought about creating a mobile app? If you believe it could work wonders for your site, reach out to a skilled developer who can make your app dreams a reality. It’s time to conquer the mobile world and leave a lasting impression on your audience!

1. Use a mobile-responsive template

First things first, choosing a mobile-responsive theme or template is a crucial step. Lucky for you, most top website builders have got you covered in this department. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples:

– Wix: All of their templates are mobile-responsive, but keep an eye out when you switch to the mobile view. Sometimes, major changes might need a little tweaking to look seamless.

– Squarespace: Their templates are like mobile responsiveness on steroids. If you’re starting from scratch and want a top-notch mobile experience, Squarespace is the way to go.

If you’re using a CMS system like WordPress, make sure your chosen theme is mobile-responsive. If you’ve already built your site, consider switching to a responsive theme. Just search for ‘responsive theme’ in WordPress’ library

or on sites like Themeforest. Take a look at reviews and check out sites using the theme on your mobile to get a feel for the experience.

There you have it, the first big step to make your website mobile-friendly!

2. Optimize your content

Congratulations on selecting a beautiful and responsive theme or template for your website! But hold your horses, my friend, because you’re not quite done yet. Switching to the right template is a crucial move, but it’s just the beginning of the journey towards creating a flawless mobile experience.

Now, let’s dive into the automated mobile view of your website and start peeling away unnecessary layers. Think of it like stripping back to the essentials, just like peeling off those layers of an onion (minus the tears, hopefully). By streamlining your mobile view, you’re ensuring that your website shines on those small screens. It’s like giving your users a clear path to follow, without any distractions or clutter getting in the way. So, buckle up and get ready to optimize that mobile view, my friend. It’s time to make your website a true mobile marvel!

• Simplify your message

Identify the primary objective of the page you’re focusing on and make it stand out prominently on your mobile version. For example, if your homepage aims to drive users to search for train tickets, highlight this feature front and center on your mobile site. While such a bold approach might seem forceful on desktop, it’s just the right touch for mobile.

• Don’t use large blocks of text

When it comes to your website, less is more, especially on mobile. Say goodbye to long paragraphs and hello to bite-sized content. Think of it as a quick snack rather than a seven-course meal. So, grab your virtual scissors and start trimming those wordy chunks. Your mobile users will thank you for it!

·       Keep it Short

Ditch those lengthy forms! Let’s face it, filling out a never-ending form is already a pain, but doing it on a mobile device while you’re on the move? No way! Long forms are like quicksand for your readers – they’ll sink faster than you can say “required field.” Keep your mobile forms super concise, asking only for the vital information you truly need.

3. Compress your CSS and images

In the world of websites, being as light as a feather is the name of the game. But what does that actually mean? Well, every little thing on your website carries a virtual weight – whether it’s a video or an image with its own file size, or lines of code that need to load whenever someone clicks on your site.

Google has made it crystal clear that website speed is a crucial factor for ranking high on those search engine results pages (SERPs). So if your site is slow and sluggish, it’s like running a marathon wearing lead shoes – you’ll be left behind by the competition. And when it comes to mobile, speed is even more vital. If you’ve ever tried to load a webpage in the middle of nowhere, watching each element crawl onto the screen at a snail’s pace, you know exactly why speed matters. So, what can you do to lighten the load and speed things up?

Compress your images

Hey there, website owners! Quick tip for you: Don’t forget to compress your images before uploading them to your site. It’s like giving your images a digital diet! Use a handy online tool like kraken.io to reduce the file size without sacrificing image quality. Your site will load faster, and your mobile users will thank you!

Host your videos with a third party

By utilizing a third-party platform like Wistia or YouTube to host and embed your videos on your website, you can reduce the burden on your site’s resources. This means that the heavy lifting of video content is handled by the chosen platform rather than weighing down your own site. If you opt for YouTube, just remember to disable autoplay to avoid unrelated videos playing after yours. To accomplish this in WordPress, follow these simple steps:

1. Locate the embedded code in your WordPress page or post.

2. Switch to the ‘text’ tab.

3. Look for the section that says src=”youtubeurlhere”.

4. Add ?autoplay=0&rel=0 after youtubeurlhere.

5. The modified code should now read src=”youtubeurlhere?autoplay=0&rel=0″.

6. Click ‘Update’ and you’re good to go!

4. Don’t use flash:

Skip the Flash! Sure, it’s great for fancy animations, but here’s the deal: most mobile devices aren’t fans of it. So, to keep things smooth and seamless for your mobile users, it’s best to steer clear of Flash altogether. Trust me, your website will thank you for it!

5. Change the placement and Size of button

When it comes to mobile-friendly websites, button size and placement play a crucial role. Just think about how you hold and interact with your phone – most likely, your thumbs are doing all the work. So, if a button is out of reach for your thumbs, it quickly becomes a major annoyance. Make sure your buttons are the right size and located where they can be easily tapped with a thumb. Don’t let your users suffer thumb gymnastics!

6. Spread your links:

When it comes to mobile websites, spacing out your links is key. We all know how challenging it can be to tap accurately with a thumb, unlike using a precise mouse cursor. So, here’s the deal: make sure your hyperlinks on the mobile site are not bunched up too close. This way, you prevent users from mistakenly tapping on the wrong link by accident. Also, ensure that these links direct users to pages that are also optimized for mobile, ensuring a smooth and seamless user experience from start to finish.

7. Keep the Fonts Readable and Large

Go big or go home! When it comes to font size for your mobile-friendly website, think large and in charge. Start with a minimum font size of 14px on desktop, but don’t forget to put it to the test on mobile. You might find that it appears a tad small, so go ahead and give it a boost.

But readability is key here, my friend. While experimenting with fancy fonts might be tempting on a desktop, it’s not the best move for mobile. Stick to fonts that represent your brand and are easy on the eyes across all platforms.

Remember, mobile screens are smaller, so you need to make every word count. On desktop, you can rely on line breaks and images to create space. On mobile, get creative! Try bolding or capitalizing different lines of text to keep them from morphing into one messy blur. Keep it snappy, keep it legible, and your mobile users will thank you.

8. Remove pop-ups:

Ditch the pop-ups! While they may work like magic on desktop websites, they’re a big no-no for mobile users. With a smaller screen and limited flexibility, pop-ups on mobile devices can be a real headache. You can’t customize them to appear at strategic moments, like when someone is about to leave your site. So, let’s bid farewell to those pesky pop-ups and focus on delivering a smooth mobile experience instead.

9.Keep testing

It’s essential to regularly test the mobile-friendliness of your website. Here are three ways to do it:

1. Google’s mobile-friendly tool: Take advantage of Google’s free tool specifically designed to test the mobile-friendliness of URLs. Whether it’s your homepage or any other page on your site, this tool will give you valuable insights.

2. Experiment with different device sizes from your desktop: Have some fun by adjusting the width of your website tab on your desktop. As you make it narrower, observe how your site transforms and adapts into a more mobile-friendly version. It’s like watching a magical shape-shifting act!

3. Grab a mobile device and see for yourself: The best way to experience the true mobile-friendliness of your website is to view it on an actual mobile device. Grab your Smartphone or tablet, load up your website, and interact with it. Tap, swipe, and scroll like a pro to uncover any potential issues or areas for improvement.

By testing your website regularly, you’ll stay ahead of the game and ensure that mobile users have a fantastic experience navigating your digital domain.