Table of Contents
Why is mobile-first important for my website?
Besides most people consuming the internet on smartphones and tablets, companies should focus on mobile-first design for user experience across all devices. Reasons to focus on mobile-first design include:
- Customer reviews
- Search engine rankings
- Conversions
Customer Reviews: Customers who’ve had a positive experience on a website are more likely to tell others and leave positive reviews, but non-responsive sites will negatively impact your reputation.
Search Engine Rankings: You’re unlikely to see a website without mobile optimization on the first page of Google, and the reason is that user experience is one SEO component. You should consider mobile optimization in your strategy so that your site content is visible to your target audience.
Conversions: Businesses should implement mobile-first design so that customers complete more actions (e.g. buying products). You need to make the actions you want customers to complete clear on all devices.
Does mobile-first design change how my website looks on desktop?
Mobile-first design can change how your website looks on a desktop device because your theme choice and content positioning will likely change. However, you should focus on fast-loading pages and clear calls to action on all devices anyway.
Many modern websites have similar designs across mobile and desktop, and you should either use a website builder (e.g. WordPress, Wix, or Hocoos) or hire a web developer. Use the same brand colors and split-test your designs.
You should also implement the following principles when optimizing sites for mobile.
- Content: You should place key elements at the front and center of your page, such as core pieces of text and product descriptions. These should draw the user’s eyes to those areas.
- Navigation: Show your menus either at the top or on the side of your screen. If you have limited real estate, try using a hamburger icon – but make it clear that users should click on this to see the menu.
- Design: Use white space and clear typography, focusing on both your font choices and the amount of space between letters and words. If you’re in doubt, use a white background with black text. Images and logos should automatically resize for the device they’re being viewed on, which is possible with various website builders.
What is mobile-first vs. content-first?
You should implement both mobile-first and content-first policies for website design, and the two terms are interchangeable. One focuses on design, whereas the other is about what’s on the page. Here’s a summary of both:
- Mobile-First: Understand how content interacts with smaller screens and prioritize the aspects users should interact with first. For example, you should place your products and services close to the top of the page.
- Content-First: You need to focus on quality and relevance for your content, and not just quantitatively push things out. The articles, pages, etc. that appear on your site need to align with the overall theme and your site values. You must clearly show Google what your website is about for search ranking.
Conclusion
Mobile-first design involves designing your website’s pages for smaller screens. Most internet traffic is from smartphones and tablets these days, and all businesses must focus on this aspect when creating their site and populating its pages. Aspects to consider include content and menu bar positioning.
Understanding how images interact with your page is another part of mobile optimization. Consider content when making your site, too.
