Five Mobile Web Design Tips That Will Get Your Site Noticed

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Five Mobile Web Design Tips That Will Get Your Site Noticed
Mobile web design presents a number of unique challenges. As mobile web browsing grows in popularity, it becomes increasingly important to take the needs of mobile users into consideration. These five simple tips will ensure that your site is completely optimized for mobile devices.

1. Consider your audience

When you design your site, take the needs of your audience into consideration. Study your analytics closely, and see what devices people are using when they visit your site. Make those devices the priority when you create your design.

For example, if most people are accessing your device through a tablet, you may want to include touch screen features or design your site for a larger screen. If people are using older or smaller phones to access your site, choose a font that's easy to read even on a small screen. Try to customize your site for your users.

2. Develop a content stacking strategy

Because a mobile screen is far smaller than the screen on a laptop or desktop, you'll have to spend a lot of time thinking about where content should be placed. You'll want to create something that's aesthetically pleasing, but you'll also want to make sure that your most important content is front and center.

Users should never have to scroll down to find the information they need. The most relevant and important information should be in front of them the moment they arrive at the site. Stack the crucial content at the top, and the less important content beneath it.

3. Use short paragraphs

Many writers craft lengthy paragraphs, thinking about how their content will look on a large, wide screen. However, on a narrow mobile device, a long paragraph can be completely overwhelming. Users may back away from your content before they ever read it.

Break up your content as much as possible. Use shorter paragraphs, and include bullet points. Make sure your content feels manageable when it's read on mobile devices.

4. Think about battery life

Some mobile web design features, such as HTML5 and animations, can make a site look impressive, but they can also rapidly drain the battery life of a mobile device. Many people forget to charge their phones in the morning, which means that they have to be cautious about their battery life throughout the day. If your site takes a toll on their battery life, they may stop visiting it entirely.

Try to avoid using battery-draining features, or only use them sparingly. Users should be able to enjoy your site even when their battery is low.

5. Don't ask for text input unless you absolutely need it

Even though many mobile devices come equipped with keyboards and touch screens, entering text on a mobile device can still be a challenge. In addition, a keyboard pop-up on a touch screen will completely obscure your content.

Avoid asking your users for any kind of text input unless it's completely necessary, such as on a log-in page. Text input really disrupts the browsing experience, and can make a site far less pleasant to visit.