Website Mobile Optimization Check-up

2016 is the year that the number of smartphone users worldwide has exceeded 2 billion, up from 1.5 billion users only two years ago. What does this mean for your business? It is no longer enough to have a good website; it is now increasingly important to pay close attention to your company website’s mobile optimization. Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, is now the standard with mobile searches exceeding desktop searches. An easy way to determine if your website is ready for today’s mobile internet users is to perform a self-check-up.

If possible, visit your business website on a couple of different devices and platforms. For example, check it out on an Android smartphone using a Chrome browser and on an iPad using a Safari browser. Pull up your website on a desktop at the same time as a reference – testing your website as a potential customer and check these factors:

  • Readability: Is the text too small and are the links tiny? Do you have to squint, zoom, or scroll to the right to see everything? Are links arranged so closely that you cannot accurately tap the link you want? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, this is the first indication that your website is not mobile optimized. Properly responsive website design ensures that all content is easily visible.
  • Graphics: Are the pictures on your website taking too long to load? This can be an indication that the graphics files themselves are too large. You want to find a good balance of resolution and upload speed, even if someone has low bandwidth. Ideally set a goal for load speeds of 3 seconds or less.
  • Videos: Do video links on your website load and play properly? Keep in mind that some website elements are not supported cross-platform—a good example is that Safari does not support Flash video. Also consider that some popular video sources have issues with throttling speed and buffering.
  • Featured Areas: When navigating your website on mobile devices, what draws your eye? Are your website’s key selling points and calls to action obvious? Sometimes these elements may appear fine on a desktop, but viewing the website on a mobile device makes deficiencies more obvious. It is like the difference between looking in a regular mirror and a magnifying mirror.
  • Shopping Cart Usability: If your website has a shopping cart, be sure to test it on mobile devices as well. Is it easily navigated? Is user registration forced or invited? If someone is purchasing something on a mobile device, they are likely in a hurry or on-the-go. You are also more likely to see mobile purchases if you have flexible payment methods.
  • Bottom Line: If this was not your website, would you want to continue exploring it after the first 5 seconds, or would you look for alternative businesses?

A quantitative way to assess your website’s mobile optimization is to use Google’s Mobile Friendly Test, although this test simply yields a yes or no answer to whether or not your website is mobile optimized.

If your website mobile optimization check-up yielded less than stellar results, it is likely dated enough that you need a new website. As an added benefit, new website design will also refresh and address your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Fusion Group USA offers professional website design, and all websites that we design are mobile optimized and include SEO. Call us today or use our contact form to get started on your new and improved website design!

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