Google uses a mobile-first approach; is your website ready?

In 2015, the number of website visits on mobile surpassed desktop visits for the first time. Today, it’s believed that over 70% of website visits are made on mobile.

Google now adopts a mobile-first approach, meaning that they scan the mobile version of your page instead of the desktop version to decide how your page should be indexed. Therefore your ranking is based on your mobile site.

So, when was the last time you viewed your company website on mobile? Do you know if your website is responsive and does it meet the needs of your audience?

Here at WEBPRO we build mobile friendly websites, considering the experience of all users. Here are our tips below:

Is your theme responsive?

First and foremost you need to establish whether the theme you’re using on your site is responsive. If your website is responsive it basically means it’s built on a grid that resizes dependent on the device your website is being viewed on. If your website doesn’t adjust to different screens then it’s not mobile friendly. If it does adjust but doesn’t present in a way you like, then it’s time to rethink the layout of your mobile site.

Does your website load quickly?

It’s so essential that your website is fast to load. Statistics show that more than half of people will leave a site immediately if it takes more than three seconds to load. Therefore think about the images you use, the amount of text and any pop ups that are part of the user experience. Make speed a priority as it’s so essential for keeping people on your site.

Are your menus easy to navigate?

Look at your menus and how they can be accessed on both desktop and mobile. We’ve all been on that website, where the menu or hyperlinked text is so small that you simply can’t select where you want to go. It’s frustrating and more often than not you’ll end up leaving the site for a competitor. Don’t let your customers do the same.

Are your calls to action clear?

Whatever you want people to do on your website, whether it’s complete a form, book an appointment or buy a product it should be completely clear on your mobile site. You have a smaller space to work with so you need to make your call to action prominent and impactful.

Don't be afraid to make them different

You might feel that your website on desktop and mobile should look exactly the same, but that’s simply not the case. Feel confident to adapt your site for mobile, changing the user experience to ensure speed and efficiency without impacting the way your site looks on desktop.

At WEBPRO we ensure that every website we create is mobile friendly, in many cases focussing on the mobile design before we establish the desktop look, to reflect Google’s mobile first approach. If it all seems daunting then don’t worry, our team are here to help. We’ll learn everything we can about your business and your customers, to create a website that gets the response you’re looking for and is as friendly as possible!

PS: Did you know that Google now focusses more on the way your website operates on mobile than it does on desktop? This change can have huge ramifications for the way your company ranks in the search engine, so you need to get mobile-friendly today.