{"id":9063,"date":"2023-02-06T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sortlist.co.uk\/blog\/?p=9063"},"modified":"2024-07-25T16:41:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T14:41:37","slug":"designing-for-mobile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sortlist.co.uk\/blog\/designing-for-mobile\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing for Mobile: Considerations for Website Redesigns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As mobile usage continues to dominate the digital landscape<\/strong>, it is crucial for businesses to prioritize mobile-responsive design<\/strong> during website redesigns<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will discuss the increasing importance of mobile-responsive design and provide tips for creating a mobile-friendly website during a redesign<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what exactly is mobile-responsive design, and how can businesses ensure that their website is mobile-friendly during a redesign<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The practice of building a website that automatically adjusts its layout and functionality to the size and capabilities of the device being used to access it is simply referred to as mobile-responsive design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that a website designed<\/a><\/strong> with mobile responsiveness<\/strong> will look and function just as well on a desktop computer<\/strong> as on a smartphone or tablet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Up with Mobile Trends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few key things to keep in mind when designing a mobile-responsive website, look out for trends<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, you need to prioritize the needs of the user<\/strong>. Think about the types of tasks and information that mobile users are likely to seek, and ensure they can easily access this content on a small screen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do some user research before redesigning<\/strong> followed by user testing<\/strong>. You may also need to simplify the overall design and layout of the website to make it more user-friendly on mobile devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Businesses must optimize their website for mobile devices<\/strong> because over 52% of global website traffic<\/a> in 2020 came from mobile devices, according to Statista<\/a>, and Google states that mobile-friendliness is a key ranking factor for search engine results<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mobile web page<\/strong> not only improves the user experience<\/strong> for mobile visitors, but it can also have a positive impact on search engine rankings and overall brand image<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So gather the user feedback<\/a> and apply it to your mobile design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Size Matters: Making Your Website Mobile-Friendly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the key considerations in mobile-responsive design is ensuring that the website is easily accessible and user-friendly on small screens<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means taking into account the types of tasks and information that mobile users are likely to be seeking and simplifying the overall design and layout of the website<\/strong> as necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also important to pay attention to the aesthetic of the website on mobile devices<\/strong>, including the use of typography, colour scheme, and overall layout<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, consider the layout of your website on a desktop versus a mobile device<\/strong>. A main navigation menu is displayed at the top of the page on a desktop and additional content and links are displayed in the body of the page, which users may be accustomed to seeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, on a mobile device, this type of layout may be less effective. Mobile screens are typically smaller, so it may be necessary to reorganize the content<\/strong> in a way that is more easily accessible on a small screen<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could involve using a hamburger menu<\/strong> to hide the main navigation, or displaying links in a more vertical layout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speed is Key: Optimizing Your Website for Mobile Performance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the mobile UX design<\/a><\/strong>, it is also important to consider the technical aspects of a mobile-responsive website<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes the loading speed of the website<\/strong>, which is especially important for mobile users who may not have access to a strong or stable connection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a blank or static screen<\/strong> will force users to leave your mobile apps<\/strong>. Optimization techniques such as compressing images and minifying code<\/strong> can help to ensure that the website loads quickly on all devices.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Mobile Mavericks: Examples of Successful Mobile-Responsive Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to these technical considerations, you should also think about the overall aesthetic of the website on mobile devices<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes things like typography, colour scheme, and layout<\/strong>. You may need to make adjustments to these elements to ensure that the website looks and feels cohesive on all devices<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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For example, consider the use of font sizes and styles<\/strong>. On a desktop, users may be able to comfortably read small or medium-sized text. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, on a mobile device, users may have a harder time reading text that is too small. It may be necessary to increase the font size or use a sans-serif font that is easier to read on a small screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designing for Touch: Making Your Website Mobile-Friendly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another important consideration for mobile-responsive design is the use of touch-friendly elements<\/strong>. Mobile users interact with websites differently than desktop users, primarily through the use of touch gestures such as tap, swipe, and pinch-to-zoom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a study by Google, 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site<\/strong> they had trouble accessing and 40% visit a competitor’s site instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, Google also found that users who had a positive experience on a mobile site were 67% more likely to buy a product or service<\/strong> from that company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mobile-Specific Features: Enhancing the User Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, businesses should consider incorporating mobile-specific features such as click-to-call and click-to-map buttons<\/strong>, which make it easy for mobile users to contact the business or find its location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to improving user experience, mobile-responsive design can also have a significant impact on search engine rankings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google has stated that mobile-friendliness is a key ranking factor for search engine results<\/strong>. A study by BrightEdge found that mobile-friendly sites rank 1.8x higher in Google search results than non-mobile-friendly sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structured Data: Improving Search Engine Rankings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another important aspect of the mobile-responsive design is the use of mobile-specific metatags and structured data<\/strong>. These tags and data can help search engines understand the content of a website, which can improve the website’s search engine ranking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of successful mobile-responsive design include Airbnb, which simplifies the booking process on mobile by prominently displaying the search bar and call-to-action buttons<\/strong>, and Amazon, which uses a hamburger menu to hide the main navigation and display links in a more vertical layout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s recap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re planning a website redesign<\/strong> and want to make sure it’s mobile-friendly<\/strong>, here are a few tips to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n