Mobile is at the peak of its game right now. Mobile devices have made a huge impact on web development and digital marketing in 2019, hence born the new terms – mobile first website design. In fact, you are probably reading this article on a mobile device.
Yet, many people are still designing their websites optimized for desktop computers, without paying attention to how well they work on mobile devices. So, let’s talk mobile first website design!
It’s best to design your website for the devices most people are using, instead of focusing on a medium that’s left behind. Even Google has made it clear that mobile-first is prioritized in 2019 and will continue to be going in to 2020.
Before we find out how mobile first web design works, you’ll need to know a thing or two about responsive design. Wait, “isn’t responsive design and mobile first design the same”, you may ask? They are certainly not.
Mobile first design and responsive design have entirely different methods, strategies, and approaches despite having some of the same ingredients.
Responsive design is a technical term for coding a website using CSS so that it easily adjusts according to the resolution of the device it is being viewed on. The website is coded for desktop first and then adjusted to other device resolutions. Responsive design has less to do with design, and more to do with the website development.
On the other hand, Mobile first website design is a design strategy.
By using the framework of mobile responsive, it focuses on the needs of mobile users first. The idea is to create a website that, on a desktop, looks very similar to how it will look on a mobile device. This usually involves the use of a hamburger menu style.
Check out these tips to keep your mobile users engaged and make the best experience for them.
Less Content is More
We are not saying your content should only consist of a few words. In fact, longer and deeper text is proven to generate nine times more leads than shorter content.
The thing is, mobile readers are reading your text on smaller screens. Try to stick with a mobile-first design before you start blogging, which means that you need your content to be clear and concise.
We suggest breaking up long information and messages and delivering them as shorter single sentences when possible.
Keeping a Simple Site
The reality is, people are attracted to simplicity. It reduces anxiety and makes everything more clear. This “less is more” reality also applies to web design.
Highlight everything unique about your website and throw out the rest.
Some other simplification tips include reducing the number of pages on your website, improving your search features, reducing a cluttered appearance by adding white lines and making your fonts simpler and larger.
Make Communication Easy
Mobile devices have changed the way we communicate. Text messaging has dominated the communication scene with researchers proving that the rise of text messaging has contributed to an increase in phone call-related anxiety.
People want instant answers and don’t want to call you if they don’t need to. If you haven’t adjusted your contact methods for today’s way of communicating, then you might have left your customers dissatisfied.
Tools and software such as Freshdesk can manage communication for your customers between channels and devices.
Mobile First Website Design
It’s an essential factor for mobile first. A study revealed that companies that focus on graphic design outperformed companies that don’t emphasize on design by 200 percent.
Websites with good designs create better impressions for your visitors, are considered more trustworthy and memorable.
You might be wondering, how should mobile first design look? Well, Venngage states that the trends of 2019 should include some vivid colors with contrasting light & dark schemes, abstract shapes and patterns.
Adding photography and original hand-drawn illustrations is also a plus. Take advantage of white space, making a calm vibe and easing navigation on mobile.
Mobile first is loved by both Google and users.
We don’t suggest you change your entire process, but to reimagine in creating content, CTAs, images and communications while focusing on mobile user’s needs.
Get in touch with our team of experts at Juicebox where redesigning websites for mobile is part of what we do.
