Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks

Kevin Z · 25th Jul 2013, 01:35 PM

Over the last number of years I’ve had the opportunity to see hundreds if not thousands of mobile website designs.

Trust me I've seen the good , the bad and the horrific!

For anyone just starting out in mobile you may want to take note of some of these tips and tricks to take into consideration when designing your first/next mobile website.

If implemented properly, these tips can help boost your mobile SEO rankings and increase your lead conversions for your mobile campaigns.

#1 KISS - Keep It Short and Sweet

Mobile websites SHOULD NOT be a regurgitation of all the content you see on the desktop site (sorry responsive lovers). Marketers are starting to realize it's all about the mobile user experience and a stand alone mobile site really gives you the ability to define a customized “mobile message”. One of my members recently said something which really resonated with me on the “Stand alone mobile site vs responsive debate"....

"I have yet to see a responsive design which takes the mobile design first approach"

#2 CALL, MAP, LEAD GEN - 3 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS EVERY MOBILE SITE NEEDS

These are the three main things people are looking for when browsing the mobile web looking for local business'. Be sure to include prominent tap-to-call, tap-to-map buttons throughout your mobile designs to make it easy for users to get in touch with the business. Additionally it's well documented that mobile web users are looking to take action. So by providing a tap-to-call, tap-to-map or CTA to a mobile optimized lead gen page will help your conversions, drive more business and improve the mobile user experience.

#3 PAGE TO PAGE SITE REDIRECTION

Google recently came out and said if you do not have page to page site redirection then they will penalize you in mobile search rankings for Mobile SEO. What this means is if you have an about us page on your desktop site. And someone on their smartphone finds a search listing that links to your about us page, then the mobile equivalent should be served up and the user should NOT just be redirected to the home page of the mobile site. If your mobile sites redirects are currently redirecting all mobile traffic to the home page of your mobile site then you better get that fixed ASAP!

#4 MAKE SURE YOUR MOBILE SITES ARE BUILT IN HTML5

To ensure your mobile sites work on all smart phones then you want to make sure your mobile sites are built using HTML5. Sites built in HTML5 have vastly improved user experiences and provides a user rich functionality on the mobile web. It should also be noted that all the major smart phone vendors have bought into HTML 5: Apple, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone. And best of all you NEVER have to worry about not getting approved from the app store because HTML5 mobile sites work on ALL smartphones using the mobile web (sorry app lovers).

#5 OPTIMIZE YOUR MOBILE SITE DESIGN FOR PERFORMANCE

Don’t upload high resolution images to your mobile site as it will bog down performance. Even though in many large cities the 3/4G coverage and performance is pretty good you shouldn't assume that everyone has fast mobile web connections. Bounce rates on mobile websites skyrocket if your content is not served up super fast! Be conscious of file sizes of all images and content you post on your mobile site.

Hope you enjoyed some of these tips. If anyone else has some mobile site design tips and tricks please feel free to post in this thread!

rlhurst · 25th Jul 2013, 04:37 PM

Good points!

WillR · 25th Jul 2013, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by Kevin Z

#3 PAGE TO PAGE SITE REDIRECTION

Google recently came out and said if you do not have page to page site redirection then they will penalize you in mobile search rankings for Mobile SEO. What this means is if you have an about us page on your desktop site. And someone on their smartphone finds a search listing that links to your about us page, then the mobile equivalent should be served up and the user should NOT just be redirected to the home page of the mobile site. If your mobile sites redirects are currently redirecting all mobile traffic to the home page of your mobile site then you better get that fixed ASAP!

I'm not sure Google said they will penalize sites that do not use that linking structure. I think they will just be redoing the algos to give preference to those sites that do follow that structure.

For those who want to read the full article, you can do so right here:

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Changes in rankings of smartphone search results

FitMarketer · 26th Jul 2013, 05:37 AM

Great advice.

Here is one more thing I would add.

Make sure the customer knows how to utilize the mobile site.

How to get customers aware of it by offering marketing materials. Business cards. Or incentives.
Place your details on them too for free and easy referrals.

Hope that helps

Kevin Z · 28th Jul 2013, 08:22 PM

Google also wants to see Canocial links along with switch to desktop links as these two things can effect your mobile rankings.

Kevin Z · 29th Jul 2013, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by mfred90

Great points and quite more helpful. Can you brief the concept of what sitewide links are? and how they are poisonous to any website? I know I am being a bit more confusing but I want to know about sitewide links. Any help would be appreciated.

Site wide links typically refers to the usage of links across every page of a website. For example having a number of links in your footer

Home | About Us | Service |Contact us etc...

Google has been known to penalize sites in the past who used "link backs" to their own design sites.

You can alsways add a rel=”nofollow” attribute to the <a> tag linked back to your website. Or you can set up your robots.txt on the landing domain to work around this.

Hope this helps!

mediamarket · 29th Jul 2013, 05:50 PM

Don't forget the mainpage to add a call to action tab.

DexterGallagher · 31st Jul 2013, 12:27 AM

You would have that on the tap to call button-correct? Or are you talking about mainpage of desktop website - this should redirect to mobile site for mobile users.

Originally Posted by mediamarket

Don't forget the mainpage to add a call to action tab.

PLRwithAlex · 1st Aug 2013, 09:03 AM

Excellent points! Thank you

Kevin Z · 7th Aug 2013, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by DexterGallagher

You would have that on the tap to call button-correct? Or are you talking about mainpage of desktop website - this should redirect to mobile site for mobile users.

Tap-to-call is an essential element to almost every mobile website design. Remember people using their mobile phones to search are looking to take action!

DexterGallagher · 12th Aug 2013, 05:28 AM

You would be amazed at how many mobile sites still do not have a tap to call button!

David G 247 · 12th Aug 2013, 05:45 AM

nice post . And don't use google sites to build your site.(its not hard to build but loading slow).

digo · 18th Aug 2013, 03:12 PM

Great point. Thanks for sharing.

DexterGallagher · 25th Aug 2013, 05:47 AM

Yes, designers who are not knowledgeable about mobile try to pack as much content into a mobile site as on a desktop that causes the site to load very slowly, so simple is best and provide the necessary information for a prospect to become a customer

.

Dexter

AdscendMichael · 16th Nov 2015, 05:53 PM

Great feedback/information Kevin Z - thank you. I fully agree on #1 and find this can be tricky to figure out. I agree thinking from the perspective of the user is important especially on mobile - users are on the go and want access to quick and legible content. Keeping it super simple I think can go a long way. Great point about going stand-alone Vs. Responsive for certain pages.

25th Jul 2013, 01:35 PM	#1
Kevin Z brickandmobile.com War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 309 Thanks: 60 Thanked 106 Times in 64 Posts	Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Over the last number of years I’ve had the opportunity to see hundreds if not thousands of mobile website designs. Trust me I've seen the good , the bad and the horrific! For anyone just starting out in mobile you may want to take note of some of these tips and tricks to take into consideration when designing your first/next mobile website. If implemented properly, these tips can help boost your mobile SEO rankings and increase your lead conversions for your mobile campaigns. #1 KISS - Keep It Short and Sweet Mobile websites SHOULD NOT be a regurgitation of all the content you see on the desktop site (sorry responsive lovers). Marketers are starting to realize it's all about the mobile user experience and a stand alone mobile site really gives you the ability to define a customized “mobile message”. One of my members recently said something which really resonated with me on the “Stand alone mobile site vs responsive debate".... "I have yet to see a responsive design which takes the mobile design first approach" #2 CALL, MAP, LEAD GEN - 3 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS EVERY MOBILE SITE NEEDS These are the three main things people are looking for when browsing the mobile web looking for local business'. Be sure to include prominent tap-to-call, tap-to-map buttons throughout your mobile designs to make it easy for users to get in touch with the business. Additionally it's well documented that mobile web users are looking to take action. So by providing a tap-to-call, tap-to-map or CTA to a mobile optimized lead gen page will help your conversions, drive more business and improve the mobile user experience. #3 PAGE TO PAGE SITE REDIRECTION Google recently came out and said if you do not have page to page site redirection then they will penalize you in mobile search rankings for Mobile SEO. What this means is if you have an about us page on your desktop site. And someone on their smartphone finds a search listing that links to your about us page, then the mobile equivalent should be served up and the user should NOT just be redirected to the home page of the mobile site. If your mobile sites redirects are currently redirecting all mobile traffic to the home page of your mobile site then you better get that fixed ASAP! #4 MAKE SURE YOUR MOBILE SITES ARE BUILT IN HTML5 To ensure your mobile sites work on all smart phones then you want to make sure your mobile sites are built using HTML5. Sites built in HTML5 have vastly improved user experiences and provides a user rich functionality on the mobile web. It should also be noted that all the major smart phone vendors have bought into HTML 5: Apple, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone. And best of all you NEVER have to worry about not getting approved from the app store because HTML5 mobile sites work on ALL smartphones using the mobile web (sorry app lovers). #5 OPTIMIZE YOUR MOBILE SITE DESIGN FOR PERFORMANCE Don’t upload high resolution images to your mobile site as it will bog down performance. Even though in many large cities the 3/4G coverage and performance is pretty good you shouldn't assume that everyone has fast mobile web connections. Bounce rates on mobile websites skyrocket if your content is not served up super fast! Be conscious of file sizes of all images and content you post on your mobile site. Hope you enjoyed some of these tips. If anyone else has some mobile site design tips and tricks please feel free to post in this thread!
	[ brick&mobile Click here to start your Mobile Marketing business

25th Jul 2013, 04:37 PM	#2
rlhurst I Do Voice Over Work War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 581 Thanks: 34 Thanked 129 Times in 96 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Good points!
	I do voice over work... here's a SAMPLE

26th Jul 2013, 05:37 AM	#4
FitMarketer Advanced Warrior Registered Member War Room Member Join Date: 2013 Posts: 586 Thanks: 129 Thanked 70 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Great advice. Here is one more thing I would add. Make sure the customer knows how to utilize the mobile site. How to get customers aware of it by offering marketing materials. Business cards. Or incentives. Place your details on them too for free and easy referrals. Hope that helps
	Undercover Solo Ads Coaching One on One Coaching at an AFFORDABLE price Make Money from First Week with ZERO Subscribers!

28th Jul 2013, 08:22 PM	#5
Kevin Z brickandmobile.com War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 309 Thanks: 60 Thanked 106 Times in 64 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Google also wants to see Canocial links along with switch to desktop links as these two things can effect your mobile rankings.
	[ brick&mobile Click here to start your Mobile Marketing business

29th Jul 2013, 05:50 PM	#7
mediamarket HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2013 Posts: 342 Thanks: 1 Thanked 45 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Don't forget the mainpage to add a call to action tab.

1st Aug 2013, 09:03 AM	#9
PLRwithAlex Capable Of Amazing Things War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Posts: 431 Thanks: 48 Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Excellent points! Thank you
	OnlineMarketingServicesLLC.com

12th Aug 2013, 05:28 AM	#11
DexterGallagher Advanced Warrior Join Date: 2012 Location: Living in Cambridge UK for 2-3 years. Posts: 645 Thanks: 78 Thanked 143 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: You would be amazed at how many mobile sites still do not have a tap to call button!

12th Aug 2013, 05:45 AM	#12
David G 247 David G Join Date: 2011 Posts: 35 Thanks: 1 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: nice post . And don't use google sites to build your site.(its not hard to build but loading slow).

18th Aug 2013, 03:12 PM	#13
digo Mobile Marketer War Room Member Join Date: 2010 Location: MobyMobi.com Posts: 21 Thanks: 12 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Great point. Thanks for sharing.

25th Aug 2013, 05:47 AM	#14
DexterGallagher Advanced Warrior Join Date: 2012 Location: Living in Cambridge UK for 2-3 years. Posts: 645 Thanks: 78 Thanked 143 Times in 103 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Yes, designers who are not knowledgeable about mobile try to pack as much content into a mobile site as on a desktop that causes the site to load very slowly, so simple is best and provide the necessary information for a prospect to become a customer . Dexter
	We offer mobile optimized websites at http://mobilewebsitecreationltd.co.uk/

16th Nov 2015, 05:53 PM	#15
AdscendMichael Warrior Member Join Date: 2015 Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Mobile Website Design - Newbie Tips & Tricks Share on: Great feedback/information Kevin Z - thank you. I fully agree on #1 and find this can be tricky to figure out. I agree thinking from the perspective of the user is important especially on mobile - users are on the go and want access to quick and legible content. Keeping it super simple I think can go a long way. Great point about going stand-alone Vs. Responsive for certain pages.
	Michael Thompson Adscend Media Skype - Michael.Adscend