Convert Wordpress Website into a Mobile Friendly Site

[Phill242]

I was looking to convert my Wordpress website into a mobile friendly site where I came across this Mobile Website Builder for Wordpress by DudaMobile. It works with all wordpress themes. It has three simple steps to follow- installing the dudamobile wordpress plugin, customizing your mobile website or use the site editor and publish!! Absolutely amazing.. thanks DudaMobile. Check it out at
WordPress › DudaMobile « WordPress Plugins

[Allen Lundy]

Here's another site to check out.

http://blog.eukhost.com/webhosting/how-to-convert-a-website-into-mobile-friendly-format/

[Jeffery]

Actually some of those sites that use plugins are blocked by some mobile devices such as WPtouch. WPtouch more or less fixed the problems for new users, but once a device's chip blocks it the user has to update the chip.

The very best solution is a Native Responsive Theme which in he future will make all of those plugins obsolete. So I wouldn't put too much money into developing the plugins, The ROI will be short lived at best.

Jeffery 100% :-)

[jeeskdenny]

Check This , it ll helps u :P

Wordpress Plugins for converting your wordpress site to a forum

[Jay Moreno]

Originally Posted by Jeffery

Actually some of those sites that use plugins are blocked by some mobile devices such as WPtouch. WPtouch more or less fixed the problems for new users, but once a device's chip blocks it the user has to update the chip.

i have seen you post this before - where exactly did you read that?

unless you can back this up with a credible source i call this utter nonsense...

and dont even get my started on the pros and cons of a responsive design over mobile optimized design! lol

Originally Posted by jeeskdenny

Check This , it ll helps u :P

Wordpress Plugins for converting your wordpress site to a forum

Sorry am i missing something? The OP wants to mobilize their Wordpress Site - How on earth would turning their site into a forum even remotely help the OP??

Originally Posted by Allen Lundy

Here's another site to check out.

http://blog.eukhost.com/webhosting/how-to-convert-a-website-into-mobile-friendly-format/

@Allen - Thank you for saving my diminishing sanity! lol


@OP depending on what type of website you have will determine the best path you need to go with mobilizing your site... there really is no silver bullet to your solution but understanding the objectives or what you are trying to present with your mobile site will help get you going in the right path...

ie is your wordpress site more of a blog? or is it a brick and more business?

[Jeffery]

Originally Posted by Jeffery

Actually some of those sites that use plugins are blocked by some mobile devices such as WPtouch. WPtouch more or less fixed the problems for new users, but once a device's chip blocks it the user has to update the chip.

The very best solution is a Native Responsive Theme which in he future will make all of those plugins obsolete. So I wouldn't put too much money into developing the plugins, The ROI will be short lived at best.

Jeffery 100% :-)

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno

i have seen you post this before - where exactly did you read that?

unless you can back this up with a credible source i call this utter nonsense...

and dont even get my started on the pros and cons of a responsive design over mobile optimized design! lol

I am a good source. When earlier versions of WPtouch were added to specific themes some of our client's Blackberry devices and iPhones on MILnet returned the error: Message Blocking Active. We had to remove WPtouch until the problem was fixed and in some cases we had to replace the SIM.

Jeffery 100% :-)

[Jay Moreno]

Originally Posted by Jeffery

I am a good source. When earlier versions of WPtouch were added to specific themes some of our client's Blackberry devices and iPhones on MILnet returned the error: Message Blocking Active. We had to remove WPtouch until the problem was fixed and in some cases we had to replace the SIM.

Jeffery 100% :-)

Thanks for the update Jefferey

Wow Thats crazy - that is a first for me! LOL I have been involved in mobile since days of WAP/WML and thankfully never had to experience anything like that, sounds a nightmare! To me though it actually sounds more service provider orientated. Plus like you mentioned it was an earlier version of WPTouch you where using that appeared to trigger that issue somehow. WPTouch has got to be pushing around +4years old now and been downloaded well over +3million times, in comparison to those numbers am not seeing any references to that particular issue so am guessing its not something to worry about these days...

Jeffrey, I know you prefer responsive design as do many other people. Responsive design is being mobile ready but that's it, its far from being mobile optimized, there is a considerable difference - but each to their own. Corporate doesn't see responsive as the way forward for the best mobile experience, all you got to do is look at Google, Facebook, 98% of the top 350 Alexa sites to see they are not using responsive design.

I really wouldn't write off providing your mobile visitors with an enhanced mobile optimized - for ROI especially! Hopefully the problems you had based on your experience with WPTouch hasn't influenced your preference when it comes to mobile

Cheers again,

Jay

[jwebdd]

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno

Jeffrey, I know you prefer responsive design as do many other people. Responsive design is being mobile ready but that's it, its far from being mobile optimized, there is a considerable difference - but each to their own. Corporate doesn't see responsive as the way forward for the best mobile experience, all you got to do is look at Google, Facebook, 98% of the top 350 Alexa sites to see they are not using responsive design.

Have a buddy who works for Macys.com and they also prefer mobile optimized over responsive design. They do use responsive design for small projects but the bigger more important sites are mobile optimized.

[Jeffery]

Remember, we are discussing PIPS WordPress sites hosted on Linux servers.

Here is my small list of why I recommend responsive themes over mobile ready for PIPS:

1) Mobile ready plugins are additional overhead as they are additional software. Responsive themes have no overhead as there is no additional software.

2) Responsive themes utilize advanced "css" designed to send the text to the browser before images and creates a faster load time for the visitor and search engine data. Mobile ready plugins may conflict with advanced css and create longer load times.

Those two reasons alone are the main reasons, but here are a few more:

3) Plugins often require updates. Responsive themes usually require no additional updates. The average PIPS user does not want to be bothered by updates or website maintenance.

4) Some Plugins cost money and some of those are prone to updates whereas the same or similar feature is included in the cost of a Responsive Theme.

Plus the additional support that PIPS would incur every time a plugin update is required. Pat is stretched very thin as is. Much easier to use Responsive where no additional support is ongoing.

Now, I don't argue the fact that some sites are better off with Mobile Ready.

I do hold that unnecessary time spent on maintenance is better spent on focusing on our business of making money.

Jeffery 100% :-)

[Jay Moreno]

I hear what you are saying - not all mobile solutions need to be heavy on maintenance though

I don't agree that responsive css is better/faster for mobile though since a responsive design is typically bloated and outweighs an optimized design 10 fold.

Would be great to do some A/B split testing and compare results and more importantly ROI

[Patrician]

I found a free mobile app for one of my websites. not great but it will pass for christmas shopping

There is hecka more you can do than what i did - this is 'stock' /off the shelf

Mobile Site:

Mobile Site Preview

Website:

http://www.online-store-reviews.info


http://www.dudamobile.com/

[3Knikkers]

I agree that the use of a plugin is not a good idea. Responsive Design is the way to go. Your design than looks and works the same on all mobile devices.

There are even some free responsive themes out there!

[Jay Moreno]

Originally Posted by 3Knikkers

I agree that the use of a plugin is not a good idea. Responsive Design is the way to go. Your design than looks and works the same on all mobile devices.

There are even some free responsive themes out there!

Perhaps thats because you haven't seen a Wordpress theme/addon that truly is mobile and gives the end user a truly awesome mobile experience!

There are several reasons responsive is great for desktop and tablets but for mobile devices like smart phones and feature phones if you want to offer the best, fatest and most streamlined mobile experience go with adaptive or a standalone mobile optimized. Leave responsive for desktops and tablets...

Some people will understand what i am talking about... each to their own

[Phil_t]

How about this free responsive WP theme?

Funnily enough, it's called Responsive: WordPress › Responsive « Free WordPress Themes

[Adrian John]

I don't agree either that responsive design it's better than an custom-made mobile website simply from the fact that you can't concentrate the exact info that user needs to see in order to take action, call the business, find business hours and close the deal.Sure you can use an responsive design if you're looking for visitors,have them spend the time browsing your content, articles (maybe clicking on your adsense), but if you're looking for clients(as a business owner) than i doubt responsive design it's an wise choice.
I'm talking from my experience with my partners(US mainly, UK and Au) and by the volume of mobile websites requested each week.None of them are responsive cause they rather bring clients than visitors to the business owners.They want to see results, profits, not readers.

[Allen Lundy]

Originally Posted by Jeffery

Remember, we are discussing PIPS WordPress sites hosted on Linux servers.

Here is my small list of why I recommend responsive themes over mobile ready for PIPS:

1) Mobile ready plugins are additional overhead as they are additional software. Responsive themes have no overhead as there is no additional software.

2) Responsive themes utilize advanced "css" designed to send the text to the browser before images and creates a faster load time for the visitor and search engine data. Mobile ready plugins may conflict with advanced css and create longer load times.

Those two reasons alone are the main reasons, but here are a few more:

3) Plugins often require updates. Responsive themes usually require no additional updates. The average PIPS user does not want to be bothered by updates or website maintenance.

4) Some Plugins cost money and some of those are prone to updates whereas the same or similar feature is included in the cost of a Responsive Theme.

Plus the additional support that PIPS would incur every time a plugin update is required. Pat is stretched very thin as is. Much easier to use Responsive where no additional support is ongoing.

Now, I don't argue the fact that some sites are better off with Mobile Ready.

I do hold that unnecessary time spent on maintenance is better spent on focusing on our business of making money.

Jeffery 100% :-)

I think that many are missing the point of this thread. This forum is for PIPS members, and as Jeffery has stated, his point of view for a PIPS SITE is to use responsive.

The majority of PIPS Members are relatively new to internet and affiliate marketing. To burden them with more monetary outlay and to throw a more rigid learning curve at this point in time would take THEM away from what they are attempting to do. MAKE MONEY with THEIR PIPS SITES.

While mobile ready is great for getting customers, most PIPS members are just learning online marketing, learning to use their blogs and learning to drive traffic to their existing sites.

As they progress in their learning curve, mobile is obviously the NEXT step in online success. However, until they all learn the basics, IMHO trying to move them to Mobile before they know the basics could hinder their progress.

Again, just MY opinion.

Besides, Mobile is LESS THAN 2% of all the traffic generated. Spending time trying to get into that 2% could cost most PIPS members more time AND money at this time then they can afford.

Allen

[Patrician]

Hi Dear Allen.

If the Thanks button worked to give DOUBLE Thanks, I would do that.

Since we can only give Thanks once by button, here is the other one.

A BIG THANK YOU for all you contribute here for the benefit of PIPS members!