Mobile web is the next big marketing challenge, driven by meteoric growth in smart phones and tablets. According to current predictions, one in two Americans now own a “smart phone” device. Mobile website conversions are the future for content delivery. Therefore, we will share a mobile website checklist below.
Even though your current website is most likely viewable on a mobile device, it is NOT mobile optimized. Clicking a link with your finger on a 3.5-inch screen is not ideal. Ultimately, your goal should be to structure your mobile website to be user friendly on each and every mobile device.
Essentially, mobile website conversion means the development of stripped down versions of a larger website. Also, different versions for each mobile operating system. For example, Intel’s mobile website is only 9 pages, while their regular website is over 80,000 pages. Get started with this checklist:
Mobile Website Checklist
Logo: make it attractive but small, no more than 2-KBs in size
Navigation: include links to your main pages, places, and points of interest; reduce the viewer’s need for typing.
Content: make it clear, distinctive, and exact; keep it consistent with the content on your primary website; use snippets when possible
Graphics: use small images (sparingly); use images only where contextually relevant.
Keep the code valid: mobile browsers are not as forgiving as their PC counterparts.
Footer: keep the footer simple and clean; avoid hyper-links.
Focus on fluid layouts: set widths by percentages rather than pixels.
Avoid fancy scripts: many mobile devices will choke on Flash or Javascript code; it may even lock up the viewers phone.
Target specific devices: utilize unique style-sheets for each specific type of handheld device.
Use automatic mobile browser detection: success is in the redirection.
Overall, remember that mobile device interfaces are small, usually limited in speed, and set to pre-defined dimensions. Design your mobile website conversions to meet these restrictions, while still providing the necessary content.
There are several options for mobile website conversion. You can use a content management system, use an online provider, or build it from scratch. Whichever method you decide, it is important to have a skilled developer involved in the process due to the technical nature of a mobile website.
Do you have a mobile website? Can you offer any mobile website conversion tips/suggestions? Let us know in the comment box below and share this checklist with those interested in mobile website marketing!
