Are You Mobile?
The latest statistic (August 2014 from StatCounter) is that mobile viewing accounts for 30% of internet usage. At the rate it’s been growing, it will soon surpass desktop viewing. It’s worth understanding the difference between Mobile Optimized and Mobile Responsive here too.
A mobile optimized site is a far more advanced website. Mobile optimized means that the site will reformat itself for a list of handheld or tablet devices. Larger navigation buttons, reformatted content, and differently optimized images appear when the user is on an iPhone or other device.
What are some good formatting elements that go into a mobile optimized site?
- Simplified navigation that is “thumb” friendly with large touchpoints, especially for critical contact information
- Reduced graphics that don’t interrupt the quest for critical information such as product listings or commoditized content
- Avoid making users type unless absolutely necessary
- Give users the option to view the desktop version of your site
Responsive design is a method of developing a site that is completely flexible regardless of device. Rather than detecting a specific browser type or device type, the website automatically orientates itself based on the screen size of the device. A combination of reformatting and re-optimizing the site as a whole give a practical flexibility beyond imagination.
If your website isn’t easy to use on a mobile device, let’s discuss a strategy. WordPress clients also have a mobile plugin that allows you to create specific menus and pages just for the mobile experience.
