Every business owner should recognize that we now live in a mobile-first world. Desktop internet usage now trails mobile use. As a result, web designers have been forced to adapt their practices. Sites today are not only built with responsive web design in mind, but they are also being optimized to enhance the mobile experience.
What is Responsive Web Design?
Responsive web design is the process of creating mobile-friendly websites, which automatically reformats and restructures content for any device, regardless of screen size. It’s currently the best way to guarantee your website will look good to all your visitors.
What is Mobile Optimization?
Mobile optimization is the natural next step in web design. It is the process of providing mobile visitors with an engaging and user-friendly experience. The goal of this web design practice is to examine site design, site structure, page speed and other elements that guide visitors through the buyers’ journey.
A website that is optimized for mobile may include these features:
- Single column layout
- Easy, simple navigation
- Large graphics with white-space borders
- Formatted content that improves readability
- Limited need for typing
- Smaller image files for faster loading speed
- Minimalist, uncluttered design
Mobile Optimization offers a Competitive Advantage
Today, basic responsive web design is not enough to convert a high number of visitors into leads. You also must create an experience that attracts web traffic and keeps users on your pages. Mobile optimization provides the best solution to these common challenges.
Since mobile users are usually in search of quick, easily digestible information, mobile optimization uses these strategies that enhance users’ experience. For example, mobile sites often use larger call-to-action buttons to help increase clicks.
Mobile optimization can also increase your odds of generating leads by streamlining the paths that users can follow. For example, a series of internal links could lead a visitor from a blog to a service page.
Is your Site Optimized?
If you are wondering whether your site is optimized for mobile, ask yourself these questions:
- Does it load in less than three seconds?
- Is the content readable?
- Is the site easy to navigate?
- Does it direct visitors’ eyes to the focal points of each page?
- Are calls-to-action clearly visible?
- Does it deliver a good user experience?
Since Google’s Mobilegeddon algorithm change, responsive sites also receive higher placement on search engine results pages. If you would like to know if your site is mobile-friendly, you can take the Google test here.
Just a short time ago, responsive was the buzzword of choice in digital marketing. Today, it’s all about optimization. If you combine these two marketing practices, your website could become a conversion producing machine.
