Why It Is Critical That Your Website Be Mobile-Friendly
Introduction: Why Your Website Must Be Mobile-Friendly
A mobile-responsive (also known as mobile-friendly) website employs a design technique that changes the style and content to fit different screen sizes, offering an optimal viewing experience for consumers on any device. As mobile devices continue to lead internet usage, the need for a mobile-responsive website has grown increasingly crucial in today's environment.
The rise of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, has altered how individuals access the internet. Because mobile devices account for a substantial amount of internet traffic, businesses must have a website optimized for these devices. More information can be found in the "Mobile Internet Usage Statistics" section below.
The lack of a mobile-responsive website can result in a bad user experience and decreased exposure in search engine rankings, affecting a company's success.
This post will examine why a website must be mobile-responsive and the implications of needing a mobile-friendly design.
A Mobile-Responsive Website Is…
A mobile-responsive website changes the layout and content to match different screen sizes, offering an optimal viewing experience for consumers on any device (i.e., iPhone, iPad, Android tablet, Android phone, or desktop computer). The website dynamically adjusts its look depending on the device's size, ensuring that the content is easily accessible and readable.
The Importance of Mobile-Friendliness
Improved User Experience
Mobile Devices Provide Convenient Access
A mobile-responsive website enables people to view your website from any device, including smartphones and tablets, making it easier for them to quickly and efficiently locate what they are looking for.
Readability and Ease of Navigation
This sort of website resizes and rearranges the content to fit a smartphone's or tablet's smaller screen, removing the need for horizontal scrolling or zooming in to see text or images. This is critical since mobile devices generate significant internet traffic, and customers demand a smooth and flawless experience when accessing a website from their mobile devices. Responsive website design means the material is readable and the navigation is simple. These two attributes improve the overall user experience and keep people on your website longer.
Search Engine Optimization has been enhanced (SEO)
Positive Influence on Search Engine Rankings
Google, Microsoft's Bing, Yahoo, and Duck Duck Go prioritize mobile-friendly and user-friendly websites. A mobile-friendly website can improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for potential clients to find you.
Improved Search Engine Presence and Accessibility
A mobile-responsive website makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your information, hence increasing the exposure and accessibility of your website. This can result in increased visitors and improved rankings for your website.
Crawling Explained: Crawling is similar to a search engine sending robots to visit your site and explore its pages. These robots collect data about your website's content, graphics, links, and other vital aspects. This information is then saved in the memory of the search engine. Crawling assists search engines in discovering new websites or updating current ones.
Indexing Explained: Indexing is the process of organizing all of the information gathered about your website by robots. The search engine stores all this information in an extensive database. The search engine then uses the information in this database to discover the most relevant websites when someone types a search query into it. The higher your website ranks in the search results, the more relevant and high-quality it is.
Data on Mobile Internet Use
Mobile Devices and Internet Usage are Rapidly Expanding
In recent years, the expansion of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, has been exponential. The number of mobile devices is increasing, as is the volume of internet traffic generated by these devices. According to Pew Research Center, smartphone ownership in the United States has increased from 35% in 2011 to over 85% today.
Mobile devices have been the preferred choice for many internet users due to their convenience and accessibility, and the trend toward mobile usage shows no signs of slowing.
Mobile devices currently account for the majority of internet traffic
According to recent research, mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, now account for the vast bulk of internet traffic. This suggests that many internet users access websites through mobile devices. According to statista.com, mobile traffic surpassed desktop traffic for the first time in 2017, with a 50.03% share. As of the writing of this piece, the most recent statista.com numbers are from the fourth quarter of 2022, and they show that this traffic has grown to over 59%.
People's access to information, online shopping, and interactions with businesses have all changed due to the move to mobile usage.
The Significance of Appealing to Mobile Audiences
With most internet users accessing websites through mobile devices, businesses must cater to this audience and deliver a mobile-friendly experience. A mobile-responsive website ensures that your company is addressing the expectations of its mobile audience by offering a convenient and accessible experience to consumers on any device.
Non-Mobile Responsive Websites Have a Negative Impact
Unsatisfactory User Experience
In various ways, poorly designed, non-mobile responsive websites can degrade the user experience. For example, users may have difficulty reading small text or navigating through several options on a small screen. Users are more likely to leave a site if they are unable to readily get the information they require, which can lead to increased irritation and lower engagement. Non-mobile responsive websites may also be slow to load on mobile devices, detracting from the user experience.
Ranking in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is Low
Mobile-responsive websites are critical for SEO. Mobile devices account for a significant amount of web traffic in today's digital landscape, and search engines are taking notice. If a website is not mobile-friendly, it may have a lower rating in search results, making it more difficult for people to find. Users are more inclined to click on search results from sites optimized for mobile devices, which might result in decreased exposure and traffic.
Disability Accessibility
Websites not accessible on mobile devices can be a significant barrier for people with disabilities who need to access information and resources online. For example, users who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers may need help reading the site's content since the small font, and cluttered layout may be challenging for the screen reader to interpret. Furthermore, individuals with mobility limitations may need help using the site on a smaller screen since buttons and links may be too small to click.
Rates of Conversion
A website's conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action, such as filling out a form or purchasing something. Non-mobile responsive websites frequently have lower conversion rates than mobile-responsive sites because consumers may need help to complete site tasks if they are not suited for mobile devices. For example, a user may need help filling out a form on a small screen or be discouraged from completing a purchase if the site takes too long to load on their mobile device.
The Reputation of the Company and the Brand
A poorly designed or difficult-to-use website can harm a brand's reputation. Users, for example, may link a poor user experience with the brand itself, resulting in lower engagement and consumer loyalty. Furthermore, a non-mobile-friendly website can make customers perceive the brand as outdated or technologically illiterate. This is especially harmful to companies or organizations that rely on a solid internet presence to reach their target audience.
Conclusion - Why Is A Mobile-Friendly Website Important?
In conclusion, having a mobile-responsive website is no longer a luxury for businesses in today's digital world but rather a requirement. The extensive usage of mobile devices has altered how people access the internet, and companies must adapt to this growing audience and deliver a mobile-friendly experience. Failure to do so can lead to a poor user experience, worse exposure in search engine rankings, and less credibility and trust in the brand.
Philip Havens Technology LLC uses the Squarespace platform to design websites for clients, and all Squarespace websites are mobile-responsive.