- 21.11.24
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- Marketing
Mobile First Design: Why It’s Crucial for Your Website
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Article by
Rosie Rivers
Have you ever tried to navigate a website on your phone, only to find yourself playing a frustrating game of “Where’s the Button?” It’s like trying to read a book with the lights off... lots of squinting and very little progress.
With almost 60% of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s clear that if your website isn’t designed with mobile users in mind, you’re essentially leaving your audience in the dark.
Mobile-first design is an approach that prioritises the design and development of a website for mobile devices before scaling it up for larger screens like tablets and desktops.
The Importance of Mobile-First Design
Growing Mobile Usage
According to recent research, the average person spends 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phone a day. That’s just under 5000 accumulated days over a life time (Yes, you read that right!).
That means more people are visiting your website on their phones than at their desktops. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you might as well be selling ice to Eskimos.
Improved User Experience
A well-designed mobile website offers a smooth user experience, with touch-friendly interfaces and easy navigation.
If your website is clunky, users will bounce faster than a rubber ball in a trampoline park. A delightful experience means happy visitors and better chances of them coming back for seconds!
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
If you think Google is just a search engine, think again. With mobile-first indexing, Google checks your mobile site first before considering the desktop version. If your mobile design isn’t up to snuff, your website is hidden.
Faster Load Times
In the age of instant gratification, if your site takes longer than a minute to load, people will be scrolling away faster than you can say “buffering.”
Mobile-first design encourages speedy load times, meaning users can get what they need. Because let’s face it: nobody has time for slow websites.
How to Implement Mobile-First Design
Begin your design process by creating a mobile prototype. This allows you to focus on the essential features and content that are most important to mobile users. By prioritising these elements, you ensure that your website remains functional and user-friendly.
Responsive design is key to mobile first design. Ensure that your website adapts smoothly to various screen sizes. Use flexible grids, fluid images, and CSS media queries to create a seamless experience across devices.
Keep text concise and easy to read, and ensure that buttons are large enough for users to tap easily. Consider using collapsible menus and expandable sections to keep the interface clean and organised.
Testing is a crucial step in the mobile-first design process. Use real devices to evaluate your website’s performance and usability. This will help you identify any issues that may affect the user experience and ensure that your site is fully optimised.
Once your mobile-first website is live, use analytics tools to monitor user behaviour. Pay attention to metrics like bounce rates, session duration, and conversion rates. This data will help you identify areas for improvement and refine your mobile strategy.
Prioritising mobile design means happier users, better SEO rankings, and a website that’s prepared for whatever the digital future throws at you.
So, don’t wait until your site is buried in the online abyss, invest in mobile-first design, and watch your website thrive like never before!
Is It Time to Step Up Your Game?
At Eighty3 Creative, we build professional websites with mobile first design in mind.
So, if you need an improved mobile first website (or even a whole overturn of your website altogether!) we offer the skills and creativity to get you results.
To discover more about our branding services, feel free to get in touch today with your ideas.
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