Picture this: you’re in a hurry, and you need to access information quickly. So, you whip out your phone (as we all do) and start browsing. If the website you’re trying to access is a jumbled mess on your screen, chances are you’ll quickly move on. This scenario plays out countless times every day. The statistics don’t lie – mobile design is not just important; it’s absolutely essential.
1. The Mobile Majority
As mentioned in the excerpt, more than 60% of web users access websites via their mobile devices. Think about it; that’s over half of your potential audience. If your website isn’t optimised for mobile, you’re essentially locking out the majority of users. That’s like hosting a party and telling most of your guests they can’t come in. Pointless!
Airbnb, the global accommodation platform, understands the importance of mobile design. Their mobile app and website are sleek, user-friendly, and offer an experience as delightful as their properties. Whether you’re booking a vacation rental or a cozy cabin, you’ll find it’s a breeze on their mobile platform. Their website’s experience reflects the customer experience stress-free.
Your website is a reflection of your business and therefore, a reflection of your work, if your website quality is poor, the assumption could be made that so is the quality of your work. You and i both know that’s not the case, so why are you letting potential customers think that?
We have to remember that our website isn’t for us… it’s for our customers, our users. We as the business owner’s are using it a lot less than our customers. We want to give them a reason to stay, not a reason to leave. It’s worth testing your mobile site regularly.
2. Google’s Mobile-First Indexing
I have mentioned this in another blog, discussing web design best practices, and here it is popping up again… seems important!
It’s another compelling reason to prioritise mobile design: Google, the gatekeeper of the internet, gives preference to mobile-friendly websites. In fact, they use mobile-first indexing, which means they primarily use the mobile version of your site for ranking and indexing. You can use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to test how well your site loads on mobile.
Well, how well did you do?
If your site doesn’t play nicely with mobile devices, you’re not only losing visitors but also losing favour with the world’s most influential search engine.
Now I’m not saying to design for mobile and start to neglect desktop, no, not at all. But when designing for desktop, we have to think how it will scale, or what alternative we can use on mobile, if you are one of those people who use a website builder like Wix or SquaerSpace then you have mobile design built right in… utilise it!
3. User Experience and Engagement
Mobile users are on the move. They want information fast, and they want it without zooming in, squinting, or getting lost in a maze of tiny buttons. Mobile-friendly design is all about providing an exceptional user experience, keeping visitors engaged, and reducing bounce rates, you don’t want them bouncing quicker than a kangaroo on a trampoline. After all, the longer people stay on your site, the more likely they are to convert or take the desired action.
Instagram, the photo-sharing giant, knows how to keep users engaged. Their mobile app is a masterclass in intuitive design, making it easy for users to scroll through captivating images and connect with friends on the go.
If you follow me on LinkedIn, you’ll know that I speak a lot about User Experience, I think it should be at the heart of the design. Thinking about what the user goal is and making it as easy as possible for them to do that seems obvious to me, but a lot of people seem to overlook it, focusing on fancy visuals or illustrations – important yes, but not the core. I design with the user in mind, on all creative projects, it’s the best way to connect with your customers.
So, the question remains: Is your website ready for mobile domination? With over half of web users accessing content via their mobile devices, there’s no room for debate. Embrace mobile design, optimise your website, and ensure it looks as good on a smartphone as it does on a desktop. Your users, Google, your business… and your customers will thank you for it. Mobile design isn’t just a trend; it’s a necessity in the digital age.