Warren Buffet once wrote, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that you’ll do things differently.” With that in mind, have you considered the impact on your business if you haven’t got a mobile compatible website? If you haven’t, I urge you read on, because what you are about to learn may shock you.
In a recent survey conducted by search engine giant Google, it was found that a poor mobile experience can cost you customers. 61% of those surveyed stated that if they couldn’t find what they were looking for right away, they would move on to another site. That means if you don’t have a mobile ready website, you are effectively handing 6 out of 10 of your customers directly to your competitors.
The good news is that you can turn this around pretty quickly by implementing the following best practices for creating a a mobile-friendly website design. Before you begin, it’s useful to see what your current site looks like on different mobile devices. This handy mobile website tester will allow you to view your website on the most common mobile devices.
Speed is of the Essence
If your site loads quickly and easily on a mobile device, you will have a key element to help increase productivity. Mobile device users do not want to waste time waiting for a site to load. If they have to wait, they will go elsewhere.
Keep it Simple to Order
Keep it as simple as possible for mobile users and potential customers to place an order. If you can reduce the steps needed to make a transaction, do so. It will also be beneficial if you can keep ordering forms as short as possible.
Incorporate Desktop Features When Possible
It will be helpful if you can incorporate features that are on your desktop version into your mobile-friendly version. You want mobile device users to have a pleasant experience when they access your site on their portable unit. If they like what they see, they will come back for more.
Make it Easy on the Eyes
You want your site to be easy on the eyes in more ways than one. Not only should it be appealing to the mobile device user, it should also contain text that is easy to read and will not cause unnecessary eyestrain. If potential customers check out your site while using a mobile device and experience difficulty in reading the text, you can be certain that they will leave your site in frustration.
Make Use of Redirects
Using a mobile site redirect will be very beneficial. It is a code that will automatically redirect visitors who are using a mobile unit to the mobile-friendly version of your site. You might also want to provide a way for your potential customers to switch from the desktop version to the one that is better suited for mobile units so that visitors can have the option of using whichever version will work best for them at any given time.
Compatibility is Key
A mobile-friendly site should load quickly and easily on all types of mobile units, not just certain ones. You want all visitors to your site to be able to access it regardless of the unit they might be using.
Include local information
A visitor to your site wants local information to access. Include contact info such as an address and phone number. It might also be helpful to have maps charting exactly where you are located. Of course, this will not be necessary if your site is strictly an online business. In that case, you will want to have easy accessibility to your inventory so that customers can check what is in stock.
The mobile revolution is gathering unprecedented momentum on a daily basis. The question is, will your company be ready?