G.R.M.Computing Web-Design

These days, everything is mobile. You can watch movies, talk on the phone, surf the Internet and even shop – all on the go. Mobility is a key aspect for any website. The economy today is very competitive, and your business needs to be able to stand out from the rest. One way to do this is to capitalize on the popularity of mobility. In 2010, an astounding 70 percent of the world’s population had signed up for mobile subscriptions. Researchers believe that mobile access to the Internet will bypass computers within three years or less. That is precisely why creating a mobile-friendly website is so important. It’s not just an extra feature to provide your visitors: it is imperative for the future. If you don’t create a mobile website, then visitors will jump to other businesses that do.

In today’s rough and tough economy, your business needs to be accessible to customers whenever and wherever. Numerous statistics back up this claim. In America, 25 percent of mobile web users don’t even bother with a computer when searching the Internet. In India, 59 percent of people prefer to access the Internet with a mobile device, and in Egypt, the number exceeds 70 percent. Like it or not, the world is becoming a mobile entity. In countries where computer-based Internet connections aren’t that reliable, mobile access is a forgone conclusion. Most people use mobile devices to access the Internet for:

-Financial transactions, ie money transfers and payment.

-Services relating to location.

-Mobile search and browsing.

-Instant messaging.

-Listening to music.

-Marketing.

If you own a business that relies heavily on some of these services (such as product vendors or banks), then it is necessary for you to be mobile. But while you might understand the importance of being mobile, you might not know exactly how to create a mobile-friendly website. Here’s some helpful information to get you started.

Content and layout.

With a non-mobile website, you have more room to expand your layout and include high-bandwith content such as videos and movable graphics. But mobile websites are built to support the same bandwith, and this kind of content can appear jumbled and crowded. In fact, iPhone users can’t access certain websites because they don’t currently support Flash. When designing your mobile-friendly website, it must be, well, mobile-friendly. Be aware of the fact that many mobile devices aren’t currently able to handle certain high-bandwith content with flashy graphics. Also take the size of the mobile device into consideration. Most mobile devices are small and compact, and people use them to access information quickly. If someone is lost in a city they aren’t familiar with, they need to get directions fast. They don’t care about flashy graphics.

Mobilizing your site involves targeting your content. Display the content users came for and forget the extras. This is important because bandwidth is an issue, and your site should be easy to load and access. Make sure your pages:

-Crisp, clean and clear content.

-Lots of text, not a lot of graphics.

-Easily accessible.

-Capable for touchscreen users, with large and visible links.

Mobile-only version. If you want Flash and other flashy items on your non-mobile website, consider designing a mobile-only version. This is important if your regular site depends heavily on graphics, video, and audio elements. This is what Yahoo does: on their non-mobile site, they offer images, video, links, ads, daily deals, and other content. On a mobile device, this would be cluttered, small, and hard to navigate. Yahoo scales back its mobile version and offers users easily accessed material in a clean layout. A mobile-only version does not have to be austere or boring; it just has to be targeted and focused on what users want.

Highlight mobile applications. Expand your user appeal with mobile apps, the current hot topic in the Internet world. Many large corporations offer “apps” or quick and easy tiny version of their website that allow instant access to all of their products. Applications help create a better, and more thrilling experience for visitors. These days, almost every relevant company offers an app.

Test it out. Not all mobile devices are created equal. When you stroll through the aisles of any electronics store, you can easily see that mobile devices range in size, capability and design. That is why it is important to test out your mobile website on a few different devices. The iPhone is the most popular, and you’ll want to make sure your website works well on it. You might want to also consider the Android and Blackberry. See if your mobile website works on different operating systems as well, such as Firefox and Internet Explorer. When you test out your mobile website before introducing it to the public, you risk fewer mishaps and publicity blunders. It can also help you figure out if there are any malfunctions ahead of time.

Business owners are busy and the last thing they want to do is fumble around creating a mobile website. But the success of your business is directly linked to your ability to grow and evolve with the advancement of technology. If you want to keep your current customers and attract new ones, you have no choice but to evolve. At the moment, the next step in evolution is mobility.

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