How to optimize your mobile website design
The mobile phone is an adult’s pacifier/dummy.
Like 83.72% of the world’s population, I am attached to my phone because my life, business, work, messages, and photos from family and friends are saved on that handy device.
Because my phone has been an extension of my life, I feel anxious whenever it’s not within my reach. I’m sure you get the same feeling.
I check my phone when I wake up. I use it while on the loo. I listen to podcasts from it when I commute. I take online classes with it. I play lullabies through it to help my children sleep. I’d be lost without my phone.
With this reality, if you own a website and it’s not optimized for mobile, you are missing out on the growing mobile-user market. Only a very patient client with a specific need will gruel over a crappy website – like me, once upon a time.
I had planned to buy a specific, rare food supplement for months. I saw a seller on Instagram and asked how I could purchase it. They insisted that I order through their website. It was not mobile-friendly, much to my horror.
“Can I just tell you my orders, right now, as we chat?” I asked. They politely declined and instructed me to use the dreadful website. I didn’t have a choice.
I was cursing under my breath as I zoomed in and out to tap buttons and tapped back and forth on web pages.
Yes, I still bought from them because I had no choice. I was never going to buy from them again after wasting an hour refreshing and filling out forms (like 5 times).
So, maybe I’m to blame. Why did I not look for a seller who had a mobile-friendly website? I had to go through the ordeal because they were the only legitimate reseller of the supplement I needed.
I would have gladly taken a different route if I had more time to look for someone who could buy it overseas and ship it to me, or if I had enough money to cover the international shipping costs.
That online store was fortunate to have a patient customer with an urgent need like me. Let’s face it: not all customers have the time or patience.
Mobile website user statistics
Did you know that in 2021, a whopping 4.32 billion people, or over 90 percent of the global internet population, used a mobile device to go online?
Furthermore, mobile users account for 55% of web page views, a figure that is expected to rise in the coming years.
People are increasingly reliant on their cellphones for internet access. You must optimize your website for mobile if you want to be visible in this market.
This article will show you how to take advantage of these statistics and optimize your mobile website.
Prioritize responsiveness and design
A responsive website adapts the size and content organization to the mobile device of the user. This makes surfing the website easier and more enjoyable.
Many mobile devices have emerged today. Flip phones are making a comeback. There are now phones as big as tablets, edge-to-edge screens, and even mini versions of phones.
Websites should adapt and function properly no matter the device people are using.
On the other hand, you also consider the system preferences of each user. Some might have larger or smaller fonts, or some might be in dark mode or anti-blue light mode.
Yes, overwhelming, right? But we can create a mobile web design that looks good in dark mode and we can also adjust it to fit the size specification to make the copy readable. Leave it to your Deer Designer.
Users also can use their devices in landscape or portrait mode. So a responsive web design should still operate as it should despite the variety of user preferences.
Aim for easy navigation
Optimizing your website’s navigation menu would also improve the user experience. Since mobile screens are smaller than desktop screens, your website navigation should be simple and easy to use to avoid confusion.
A common strategy for this is the hamburger menu style, which only shows the menu when the user taps the three lines on the upper right or left corner.
This saves up space on the screen and improves functionality. The items on the menu will appear large and clear enough for the users.
Make brief and concise content
Mobile websites should also have shorter content because devices have smaller and narrower screen sizes. It might be difficult for users to read longer texts.
You should minimize your content and ensure each section can be read without scrolling when possible.
You may use graphics, charts, or icons instead of lengthy and tedious texts. These can help readers consume your content by simply scanning.
Increase page speed
Slow websites are a pain. Nobody wants laggy websites, right? In fact, 53% of mobile users will leave the site and switch to another if it takes more than three seconds to load.
Visual elements like photos, icons, and videos are the largest bandwidth consumers on websites. These can slow down the load time, and it’s best to optimize these elements.
Also, make sure that you remove unnecessary images. Simplify your design while maintaining responsiveness.
Mobile Web Design Samples
Optimize for mobile, always
Mobile users have constantly been increasing over the years. People are getting more dependent on their cellphones and on the internet.
The website design should also keep up and adapt to the continually changing user preferences and expectations.
Hopefully, these tips convinced you to up your website game and create a more mobile-friendly and beautifully designed website.
