10 Steps to Optimize Your Website for Mobile
Two years ago, we wrote a blog titled “10 Easy Steps to Ensure the Mobile Optimization of Your Website.” We started off that blog with this:
Did you know that more than 75% of all Americans who use the Internet – ages 18 and up – now access the World Wide Web on both desktop and mobile devices, up 7% from last year? More than that, did you know that 21% of Millennials do not use desktop computers at all to go online? (Information courtesy of comScore.)
Well, those stats are outdated. According to the Pew Research Center, 77% of the 95% of Americans who own cell phones have a smartphone. Just over 1 in 10 American adults are “smartphone-only” internet users. Here’s a chart to elucidate my words:
Mobile usage is even more powerful today than it was just two years ago. It’s an elemental factor in the way people use the internet. All this is to make one point: it is vital that your website is optimized for mobile. Is it? Run through these 10 steps to optimize your website for mobile and ensure your website is fully optimized and ready for that 77% of smartphone-using Americans.
10 Steps to Optimize Your Website for Mobile
SEO
1. Responsive Design
Every time we design (or redesign) a website, we do so by using responsive design. Make sure your site is responsive by doing this quick test: click the “window in window” button next to the “x” on the top right of your screen. Now, grab a corner and drag the page smaller and larger. Does your site scale according to the size of the window? If so, you’re probably in the clear for this one.
2. Easily Clickable
Besides making your website responsive, make it easily clickable by remembering the size of human fingers when you create buttons. The bigger, the better (within reason, of course).
3. Page Speed
Make it snappy! Mobile users won’t wait very long for your site to load. Improve your website’s page load speed by:
- Optimizing images to be smaller
- Implementing caching plugins
- Using JavaScript sparingly
4. Local Optimization
Local SEO is important for mobile optimization, too, because if someone is searching your location on mobile, there’s a good chance that he or she is trying to find directions, to contact you, to purchase a product, etc. Thus, you should make that process as easy as possible for him or her. Here’s 3 quick tips for improving local optimization:
- Make sure your name, address and phone number are correct EVERYWHERE.
- Verify your business on Google.
- Start getting reviews from your customers.
5. Title Tags & Meta Descriptions
Be concise – there’s not a whole lot of space on a mobile screen.
Content
6. Brevity
Be concise here, too. Make sure your content can easily be scanned. Break up large paragraphs. Present quality content in small chunks that every mobile user can handle.
7. Imagery
Just like on desktop, great imagery draws readers in. Remember not to make it too large, however, or it’ll slow down loading speeds (see #3).
8. Videos
Videos are a great form of rich media right now. People love to watch videos via mobile. Tip: include captions. That way, users can watch your video with the sound off.
Social Media
9. Social Media Mobile Usage
Think about how many times a day you check your social accounts via mobile. It’s a lot, isn’t it? If you’re doing it, everyone else is, too. Create content for social with your mobile audience in mind.
10. Grab Their Attention
Use visual elements here, too: imagery and videos.
Follow these 10 steps to optimize your website for mobile right now, and you’ll be setting yourself for internet marketing success in the years to come. Don’t delay – mobile usage is only going to get more popular in the years to come. If you’d like help ascertaining the optimization of your website, reach out to us here.