The internet is changing. It has been nearly six years since web traffic from mobile devices has surpassed desktop web traffic, with mobile devices now making up more than half of all internet traffic in the world.

This means that your mobile website is just as important as your desktop site. If your mobile website experience isn’t up to customers’ expectations, you stand to lose nearly half of your potential clientele.

What exactly is a mobile web experience? Simply put, it is the customer’s overall experience when using your mobile site.

This means both their first impression, as well as the thoughts they come away with after they are finished looking at your site.

So, what is it that makes a good mobile experience? When customers search online, they have three important needs that must be fulfilled:

A Mobile-Friendly Website  

Navigating mobile websites, unlike desktop, is not a universal experience. People scroll, swipe, and use the phone with their hands in many different ways. This means there are several things to consider when trying to create the perfect mobile version of your website, including:

  • The differences in screen sizes between mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets
  • If the website is ergonomic and easy to scroll through
  • Does your website load quickly?
  • Adapting pictures and other graphic elements to a mobile platform
  • Does the website partner well or match your desktop website?

 

A Mobile-First Website

Having a responsive desktop website that people can use comfortably is no longer enough to stay relevant in search results. Over the past 5 years, search engines have changed to mobile-first indexing.

This means that search engines look at the mobile version of websites when they evaluate whether a page should be ranked highly on users’ search results. Why the change? Because the majority of people who used search engines are now searching from their mobile devices.

In March of 2021, Google took this philosophy even further when they removed desktop-only websites from indexing entirely. This means that if you don’t have a mobile-compatible site, you won’t be shown on search results.

Furthermore, creating a mobile-first website means that your site needs to be intuitive. If it is not designed with mobile users in mind, you run the risk of frustrating customers with unresponsive, hard-to-use sections of your site.

A Content-Filled Website

Many people make the common mistake of assuming that mobile sites ought to have different content than their desktop versions.

Many opt to keep their mobile website simple, thinking that they exist simply to complement their desktop platform. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Since search engines have moved to index mobile websites only, your mobile platform should be your highest priority.

If you want your website to rank in search results, your mobile website should have the exact same content as your desktop site. This means the same headings, same basic navigation, and ideally the same overall browsing experience.

Have questions about how to make your website mobile-first? At Trade Alliance Digital, our web design experts are happy to help. Contact us today for a free consultation about how you can improve your mobile site experience and grow your business.

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