As Statista notes, 4.28 billion people used a mobile device to connect to the internet in 2020. That represents 90% of the total number of people who use the internet.
In short, you will miss out on a lot of business if you do not make your website mobile responsive. That said, transforming a website to a mobile-friendly format can be expensive, and that is where small business loans come in.
This article explains why responsive web design is crucial and highlights all the ways to make your business website mobile-friendly.
What is the difference between a desktop and a mobile website?
There are several differences between a mobile and desktop website, but the fundamental differences are:
- Vertical vs. horizontal navigation: most desktop websites favor horizontal navigation, which is in stark contrast to mobile websites that predominantly use vertical navigation.
- Text and graphics: mobile website web designers typically remove graphics and promotional material due to limited space.
- Precision: a desktop website is fine-tuned for precision as you use a mouse, but mobile experience features tapping zones and a dedicated space for login credentials, sometimes allowing for biometric identification.
Why is it essential for your business to develop a mobile version?
The website layout that works on your desktop will not work on a mobile device since it is such a small screen.
Additionally, optimizing your website for mobile users ensures visitors have the same experience as browsing the main website while gaining relevant information. A well-optimized mobile website can help:
- Increase revenue by tapping into the vast market
- Enhance customer engagement
- Cement brand loyalty
Developing different website formats for varied devices is costly. Website optimization is an asset worth taking small business loans for as it helps maximize your website’s potential.
How to make a mobile-friendly web design
1. Set responsive breakpoints/media query ranges
A responsive breakpoint refers to the spot where a website’s design and content change to adapt to the size of a screen. People access a website using devices with different sized screens, and offering screen adaptation provides the best experience.
The most common device resolutions for mobile gadgets (phones and tablets) include:
- 360×640 (7.28%)
- 414×896 (4.58%)
- 375×667 (3.75%)
2. Fluid grid
In the same breath, you have to optimize the other elements of the webpage, such as header, sidebar, footer, and main page content section, to fit smoothly into each device’s configuration.
This is known as a fluid grid layout where you create and specify how each design will display on a corresponding device.
3. Consider touchscreens
Since mobile responsiveness is a priority, ensure you bake touchscreen functionality to the fluid grid design. To achieve this, make text and menu buttons large enough to detect and select.
4. Responsive content
To dial up the touch responsiveness of your website, include responsive elements into the user experience. That is, responsive text, images, videos, page layout, and navigation while adjusting text size.
5. Intuitive design and layout
To save time, opt for a predesignated theme that is optimized for the mobile user. That will save you hours of coding as you will only have to pick the text, theme, and branding.
6. Test responsiveness
Lastly, responsiveness testing involves loading the website in physical devices to aid the unearthing of kinks in the various formats.
Luckily, responsive design checker apps help gauge the website’s looks and responsiveness on the different devices without loading the website on physical gadgets.
Final words
More than 90% of internet users use mobile devices to browse the internet, so developing a website for these gadgets makes sense. You can achieve this through an intuitive design, responsive content, and testing the website’s responsiveness in mobile gadgets.
For these reasons, you should consider making two website designs, one specifically targeting mobile devices. Even if it is pricey, think about taking small business loans as mobile website optimization is one of the best investments you will ever make.
