Mobile Websites Are Now Required

More Mobile vs. Desktop Users

According to comScore, in 2014 the number of mobile users passed up the number of desktop users. That gives you an idea of priorities in the coming months.

As of April 21, 2015, if your website isn’t mobile friendly then Google will penalize your rankings on mobile devices – and we now know that there are more mobile device website users than desktops. Known as Mobilegeddon (among other names), this is the most comprehensive algorithm Google has released to date.

Google’s serious consideration of mobile websites makes sense, but many sites will take a dive if they’re not ready for it. This can kill sales if your website isn’t mobile friendly. You can test your website’s Google mobile friendliness here.

If your website isn’t mobile friendly then you’re currently taking a hit in mobile rankings, and it will only get worse as your competitors are making theirs mobile friendly. You need to fix this now.

What Are Mobile Websites?

So, what is a mobile friendly website? There are 2 kinds:

1. Mobile Responsive websites are desktop websites that modify their layout depending on the width of the screen that is viewing it. For example, on a smart phone the following may occur as the screen width is reduced:
   a. The menus collapse into a “hamburger” icon with 3 horizontal lines that can be tapped to open the menu.
   b. The sidebar content repositions to be below the main body content.
   c. If there are multiple footer columns then they’ll stack up under the sidebar content.If you have a responsive site then you need to be aware of these content layout modifications. If your important buy button, call to action or lead generation form is at the top of the sidebar then it is all of a sudden below the main content and the visitor will have to scroll way down to see your conversion objects. A fix this would be to add a new buy button or form at the top of the page that only shows up on reduced screen widths .This tool from Studiopress shows you the responsiveness of your website – how it looks with different screen sizes.
2. Mobile Dedicated websites are build specifically for mobile devices. They usually contain a lot less information than a desktop website. The content is very focused on what the mobile device user is looking for like a phone number, hours of operation, a map, coupons, etc. They are fast loading, have simpler navigation and take a lot less time to build. Phone numbers can be coded to dial when tapped.

Page Load Time Is Also Important

Since page load time is also a Google ranking factor, you should check your website’s page speed and make changes accordingly. Images can be processed to load faster. There are plugins that can do this automatically if you use a content management system like WordPress.

We’ll Build Your Mobile Website For You

We at 21st have been designing mobile websites since the concept originated, and have provided web development services since the beginning of the Internet. We have received awards as one of the best web design companies around (see sidebar). If your website doesn’t pass mobile muster, then complete the form in the right sidebar or call directly to start the conversation about bringing your company into the mobile online world.

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