If there’s one thing that today’s entrepreneurs need to know, it’s how much of their visibility and profitability are tied to their internet presence. As the years go by, and as the digital landscape is increasingly transformed by fast and accessible mobile technology, much of that presence will be discovered via mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
According to market and consumer data platform Statista, mobile traffic currently accounts for 59.16 percent, which is more than half of all global web traffic. A speculative study on 6G technology, done by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) researchers Tariq et al estimates that global mobile traffic will grow annually by 55 percent throughout the 2020s. It is projected to reach more than 600 exabytes by 2025, and more than 5000 exabytes by 2030.
In other words, a significant chunk of the customers who will interact with your business in the near future will do so through a mobile screen. It only makes sense to think about how mobile user experience (UX) affects your website’s traffic and, most importantly, how to use your website’s mobile UX to increase your leads.
This is where the topic of mobile first design comes in. Here’s what mobile first design entails, why it’s good for your website, and why it’s worth investing in mobile first professional web design services from a reputable company like SearchWorks.
What Are the Principles That Drive Mobile First Design?
In the past, websites were designed using the “graceful degradation” approach. This entailed designing a website with the desktop user in mind, and then simply subtracting or sizing down design elements as screen sizes got smaller. Thanks to the explosion of the smartphone and tablet era in the 2010s, the graceful degradation approach gave way to the responsive web design philosophy. Responsive web design ensures that a website works on various gadgets, and not just on desktops.
Now we’re in the era of mobile first design, or the exact opposite of graceful degradation. In essence, mobile first design is a design approach that prioritizes the look, feel, and function of a website from a mobile screen, or the smallest possible screen from which a web page can be accessed.
The key principles of mobile first design for websites are the following:
- Reliable loading speed
- Simple, crisp, and clutter-free design
- A readable and user-friendly interface
- Optimization of the website’s content
- A focus on calls to action (CTA)
Why Invest in Mobile First Design for Your Website?
The fact of the matter is that too many business websites are still primarily designed for access on desktops and laptops. If that’s the case for your own business website—especially if it was created before the smartphone boom—it may be getting in the way of your potential to tap your many mobile consumers.
One of the best things that you could do to boost your business’s relevance to your mobile customers, and therefore increase your web traffic and lead conversions, is to invest in mobile first website design. Here are the top benefits of taking a mobile first approach:
Mobile First Design Will Help Your Website Rank Higher on Search Engines
The algorithms of search engines like Google currently reward mobile-friendly websites with higher rankings. Increase your business’s visibility through search engine optimization (SEO), rank higher in mobile searches, and become your online customers’ top option by investing in mobile first design.
Mobile First Design Will Quicken Your Website’s Loading Speed
Customers can easily get turned off by slow websites, and in many cases, this is what drives them to take their business elsewhere. It’s in your best interest to pursue mobile first design that’s lightweight and free of unnecessary elements, as this can improve your loading speed and improve customers’ trust in your website.
Mobile First Design Will Improve Your Website’s UX on Mobile Devices
Capable web designers who are well-versed in mobile-friendly design will work with you to improve your website’s mobile UX. They will also help you identify the most intrusive elements of your current website design, like popups or ads, and address them before they turn off visitors. The end result will be a more navigable website that puts content at the fore, ensuring that customers have easy, immediate, and unobstructed access to the info they need.
Mobile First Design Will Encourage Mobile Users to Spend More Time on Your Website
In the end, what you want is for customers to be interested in what you have to offer, and you’ll want them to spend time getting to know your business’s products and services. If it’s a pleasure to browse through your website on a mobile phone or tablet, that’s an “in” for your customers. Not only will you motivate them to engage with your website; you’ll also make a good impression as a forward-thinking business and strengthen their trust in your brand.
Implement a Mobile First Design with SearchWorks, the Philippines’ Top Full-Service SEO Company
It’s not enough to choose mobile first design and assume that it’ll work out for your business. To achieve web design that will translate into higher engagement and revenues, choose a trustworthy web design company that’s known for its results.
Roll out mobile first design for your website, and future-proof your business for the digital era, with the help of full-service digital agency SearchWorks.PH. Contact SearchWorks now and work with us to grow your returns among your mobile customers.
