Why Your Business Needs A Mobile Website

2012-02-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

Establishing your online presence through an impressive website complete with animated images and showy effects is one way of attracting and engaging customers. Almost a basic for every business, even brick and mortar ones are compelled to build their online presence. And that's not for no good reason. More and more people tend to use the Internet for almost everything. At present, with smartphones and web enabled mobile devices becoming overwhelmingly prominent, it does not stop with just creating a website for the desktop Internet surfer. Businesses need to have websites also designed for the mobile web.

Display size, navigation, and speed: these are the primary usability factors to consider why in addition to having a traditional website, a mobile version also needs to be created. The device used to view your websites spells the difference. Bear in mind that while it’s the same kind of customers you are targeting, a flashy website that requires fast Internet connection wouldn’t work as well being loaded or viewed on a mobile device.

Smaller display. So you already have a nice-looking website for your business—one with a neat look, conservatively designed to work well even at an 800x600 resolution on a 15” monitor. You’ve tested all sections and they’re all working well. Working well on a desktop display that is. Imagine loading and viewing that site on a screen smaller than half your palm size. Can you even read what’s written on the site without having to do multiple zooming-in and screen dragging? Look at how your graphics get misplaced. Where did that company logo go? Indeed, you need to scale down, redesign, and optimize.

Navigation. You know how different and somewhat inconvenient surfing the web is on a mobile phone if you’re a regular Internet surfer. Inputting web addresses is done differently. Moving around a page with just arrow keys or even with a responsive capacitative touchscreen just doesn’t compare to navigating website on a desktop computer. Going mobile means redesigning your website to ensure ease of navigation and a user friendly interface. How do you expect to sell if your prospective customer does not even understand how to go around your website properly.

Speed. Don’t expect Internet connection through a mobile phone to be as fast as how your DSL-connected PC accesses the web. A mobile website should use less graphics or other heavy elements. Flash animations and decorative effects not only (typically) require a bigger display, they also take time to load.

Of course every business would want to penetrate and introduce itself to prospective buyers hooked to the Internet through any kind of platform or device. A recent study claims that by 2012, more smartphones will be connected to the Internet than desktop computers. In the US alone, about 34 million people get driving and restaurant information through a mobile device. Imagine how much missed opportunity that means if you don’t consider creating a site optimized for the mobile web audience.

Build a mobile website now lest you miss the chance to better reach and entice prospective buyers surfing the mobile web. Want a service for building one with social media integration and optimized Google Places submission?
Try Finger Marketing.

What Are The Best Design Elements Of A Mobile Website?

2012-02-04T11:11:00.000-08:00

When deciding on the design elements of mobile websites, the first thing to consider is the user. Where are they when they're searching on their phones? Why are they searching? What are they looking for? What do they expect to find on a mobile website?

The answers to those questions will determine the design elements of mobile websites. Probably the number one rule should be, "Simple is best!" A mobile site is not a mini version of your main website. You do not want to cram all the videos, pictures, and text into the mobile website. Your mobile site should be an entirely different site that provides easy access to only the most essential information.

Think about it. Many times people are walking or driving when they're looking for your business. They mainly want to know where you are, how to get there, how to call you, and a short summary of what you offer,

In practice, each of these things can be represented by an icon - a small picture that can be tapped with their finger. Therefore, icons are one of the most important design elements of a mobile website.

Typical Icons available are...

Phone
Address
Map
Contact Us
Services
Menu
Offers or Coupons

Another important element you'll want to include, of course, will be your company logo. Usually you will have to make a smaller version because you don't want your logo to take up a large amount of space on the small screen of a cell phone. It shouldn't require more than about one fourth of the vertical height.

Using icons and buttons also allows your site to load, or appear, on the screen very quickly. People paying for Internet access will really appreciate that. Plus, if all of your icons are right there they can immediately choose the information they're looking for and won't have to fumble around trying to find it.

As you can see, the design elements of mobile websites are primarily chosen from the user's perspective. Your main website is probably designed to look great, and has videos, fancy graphics, pictures, and lots of information, but that is not the purpose of your mobile website.

A few more choices you can offer people on their phones are links to an About Us page, your Facebook page, Twitter, and even your main website. Again, these choices will depend on your particular business and how you think your mobile viewers are using their mobile devices.

When you use our mobile website builder, you will find that we provide all the necessary design elements of mobile websites, and do not offer fancy designs that are impractical. Remember, a mobile website is all about functionality - not beauty. And that's what makes us your best choice.

Our website builder is easy to use and easy on your budget because we don't distract you from the business at hand with a bunch of unnecessary "bells and whistles". The result is a mobile website that your viewers will appreciate and return to again and again - growing your bottom line.

Mobile Website Builder

Why Your Business Needs A Mobile Website

What Are The Best Design Elements Of A Mobile Website?