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Unread 3rd Jul 2012, 02:47 PM   #1
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Is a Separate URL for the Mobile Version Really Necessary?
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Using redirect scripts, a standard website living at company.com can be redirected to m.company.com (or whichever URL) to display the mobile version of the site.

But is it really necessary to redirect to a different URL altogether, when the same "if statement" can be applied to display (rather than redirect) the appropriate version of the website on the very same URL?

We know that a redirect script works as follows, or something along these lines:

If (mobile device detected)
redirect to m.company.com

if (mobile device not detected)
show company.com

But, how about doing this instead:

if (mobile device detected)
show the mobile HTML/PHP code

if (mobile device not detected)
show the standard HTML/PHP code

This can be used for all pages of the website, thereby eliminating the need for 2 separate URLs (without even using CSS media queries). It also makes it easier to automatically update the mobile version (not having to perform the update twice), which could be an additional selling point.

I prefer to use the PHP user agent method for mobile device detection, but I believe the principle would apply to javascript as well.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder why the practice of redirecting to a different URL was even ever used.

Any thoughts on this?

John

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Unread 3rd Jul 2012, 02:52 PM   #2
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Re: Is a Separate URL for the Mobile Version Really Necessary?
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Well, John your thoughts are very similar to what Google have finally come out and said about mobile websites, although they would prefer the html to remain the same and only the css to change.

I don't know if I've got enough posts to add a link but I'll see what happens:
Google Finally Takes A Clear Stance On Mobile SEO Practices
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Unread 3rd Jul 2012, 03:13 PM   #3
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Re: Is a Separate URL for the Mobile Version Really Necessary?
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Hi tryme1,

Thanks for the link.

Yes, Google has been recommending the use of CSS media queries for a little while now, but what is curious to me is the reason why redirecting to a different URL even became a practice, since it was never really necessary - even before the subject of media queries began to be discussed and, to some degree, debated.

John

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Unread 3rd Jul 2012, 03:29 PM   #4
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Re: Is a Separate URL for the Mobile Version Really Necessary?
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this is what I have been doing and telling people about here on WF for the longest time! lol

its what our wordpress mobile theme framework is based on too

useragent detection should be used for adaptive design NOT just for redirection

we use useragent detection to serve the most optimized content for the particular device viewing the content

whilst you can use the same url to display an adaptive design sometimes its the content that will ultimately make you choose between staying on the same url or redirecting... especially if its an existing website

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Unread 3rd Jul 2012, 03:47 PM   #5
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Re: Is a Separate URL for the Mobile Version Really Necessary?
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Hi Jay,

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno View Post

this is what I have been doing and telling people about here on WF for the longest time! lol
I'm just now catching on

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno View Post

whilst you can use the same url to display an adaptive design sometimes its the content that will ultimately make you choose between staying on the same url or redirecting... especially if its an existing website
Could you please expand on this? In what way would the content dictate whether or not to redirect to a separate URL?

John

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Unread 3rd Jul 2012, 05:11 PM   #6
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Re: Is a Separate URL for the Mobile Version Really Necessary?
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Originally Posted by JohnE View Post

Hi Jay,



I'm just now catching on



Could you please expand on this? In what way would the content dictate whether or not to redirect to a separate URL?

John
We do a lot of custom work and find ourselves working with optimizing Joomla and WordPress for mobile - sometimes we find it easier to redirect the mobile user on certain page than trying to hack the actual core files that are delivering the content - am referring more in cases where a site is built perhaps on a CMS or is more complex in its functionality especially if its existing... basically redirect to a mobile friendly page where we can handle pulling in content from the database and format exactly the way we want it, its much cleaner sometimes to do that plus less chance of breaking things.. or at least do the minimum changes to it to get it to do what you want it to

For example when using Wordpress we typically clean and reformat the content and keep the url the same, but if there are additional third party addons, say for example buddypress, or realtor addons its not that easy to do that so in that instance we may perhaps choose to redirect instead and create our own mobile optimized version with the content

Hope that makes sense,

Cheers,

Jay

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Unread 3rd Jul 2012, 05:43 PM   #7
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Re: Is a Separate URL for the Mobile Version Really Necessary?
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I think there is 1 BIG advantage for re-directing...

The fact you can make the mobilesite a second footprint on the web and have it SEO optimized for different keywords. With that I mean mainly a keywordrich domainname (short or longtale). This way you can re-direct from the main website to a frame on a m.yourcompanyname.com to the mobilesite on ww.theCOREbusiness.com And offcourse re-direct from the mobilesite to your mainsite if they are non-mobile visitors.

just a thought

I do this to pull mobile website clients in easy since I offer them a mobile website/page on my domains like greekrestaurant.in/TOWN/theirmobilewebsite. Easier to rank than their Antonio's Flying Pizza – Houston Texas and I give them a free listing on the domain since thats it second purpose. So no matter WHY it started, I'm happy it did A lot of backlinks going to the listingsite which adds more value for my customers also in the long run. It's all about relavance linking and content...

BTW if any of you is interested in offering the same for your restaurantclients and clients to be...
mail me at dennis_dmte_nl I promise it won't cost you a dime until you make money with it

Just don't like the way of WSO's and OTO's anymore and refunds if it's nothing. I believe in paying for something after it showed its worth it.
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Unread 3rd Jul 2012, 06:13 PM   #8
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Re: Is a Separate URL for the Mobile Version Really Necessary?
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Originally Posted by Jay Moreno View Post

We do a lot of custom work and find ourselves working with optimizing Joomla and WordPress for mobile - sometimes we find it easier to redirect the mobile user on certain page than trying to hack the actual core files that are delivering the content - am referring more in cases where a site is built perhaps on a CMS or is more complex in its functionality especially if its existing... basically redirect to a mobile friendly page where we can handle pulling in content from the database and format exactly the way we want it, its much cleaner sometimes to do that plus less chance of breaking things.. or at least do the minimum changes to it to get it to do what you want it to

For example when using Wordpress we typically clean and reformat the content and keep the url the same, but if there are additional third party addons, say for example buddypress, or realtor addons its not that easy to do that so in that instance we may perhaps choose to redirect instead and create our own mobile optimized version with the content

Hope that makes sense,

Cheers,

Jay
Yes, it does. Thanks.

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