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Unread 22nd Jan 2012, 02:31 PM   #1
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Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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There are several ways to redirect to a mobile site.

For example: javscript redirects based on screen resolution, php redirects, user-agent redirects, .htaccess redirects, WP plugins.

I am not sure the pros and cons of the different methods.

I was wondering what other people are using and why, for both HTML and Worpdress sites.

Thanks

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Unread 22nd Jan 2012, 04:02 PM   #2
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I would recommend useragent based redirect because in my experience it has been the most accurate


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Unread 22nd Jan 2012, 04:54 PM   #3
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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I have used the screen resolution redirection in the past and it's worked well but I must say, I am looking more towards user agent redirection now. The reason being that newer mobile phones are coming out with large screen resolutions and you get to the point where if you were to include all the mobile devices out there, you would end up redirecting half of the PCs as well.

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Unread 22nd Jan 2012, 09:46 PM   #4
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Thanks Sylarr and Will!

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Unread 22nd Jan 2012, 10:55 PM   #5
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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If you see my other other posts you will I have always been an advocate for user agent based redirect - additionally if you read up on googles new mobile bot - user agent detection will help aide google find your mobile sites.

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Unread 23rd Jan 2012, 12:30 AM   #6
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Hi Jay - I have actually bought your redirect plugin, but haven't installed it on my Wordpress websites yet. It looks great.

How do you handle HTML sites? I have a couple of new clients who have HTML sites so I was mainly concerned about those.

Thanks

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Unread 23rd Jan 2012, 02:18 AM   #7
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Originally Posted by WillR View Post

I have used the screen resolution redirection in the past and it's worked well but I must say, I am looking more towards user agent redirection now. The reason being that newer mobile phones are coming out with large screen resolutions and you get to the point where if you were to include all the mobile devices out there, you would end up redirecting half of the PCs as well.
Yes, you are correct. New Android 4.0 devices have resolution up to 1280x720 (it is almost the same resolution my first PC had )

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Unread 23rd Jan 2012, 08:57 AM   #8
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Originally Posted by KaylaB View Post

Hi Jay - I have actually bought your redirect plugin, but haven't installed it on my Wordpress websites yet. It looks great.

How do you handle HTML sites? I have a couple of new clients who have HTML sites so I was mainly concerned about those.

Thanks
Hi Kayla you could use user agent detection via .htacess. You can use JavaScript user agent detection too JavaScript isn't just limited to screen size detection. Without thoroughly testing I am thinking that google would still ignore it since its JavaScript based.

If the sites small enough you can always rename the files to have .php extensions so you can use php user agent detection - if the site is established and the HTML pages already ranked in google then you would need to add 301 redirects or mod rewrite functionality to ensure no 404 page not found errors.

Hope that helps sorry if it got a little technical towards the end there lol

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Unread 24th Jan 2012, 06:46 PM   #9
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Thanks Jay. Not sure I understood all that, but will need to check my notes and discuss with my programmer - who just happens to be my son!

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Unread 24th Jan 2012, 09:57 PM   #10
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Originally Posted by KaylaB View Post

Thanks Jay. Not sure I understood all that, but will need to check my notes and discuss with my programmer - who just happens to be my son!
Kayla feel free to pm if you or your son have any other mobile related questions, we are super busy right now but i will try and get get back to you ASAP

Cheers

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Unread 24th Jan 2012, 10:59 PM   #11
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Thanks Jay!

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Unread 27th Jan 2012, 06:51 PM   #12
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Kayla,

You might want to check out this site: Mobile Boilerplate

They've got an .htaccess script that is killer. FREE of charge.

Enjoy.
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Unread 1st Feb 2012, 12:47 AM   #13
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Thanks - I will check it out.

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Unread 10th Feb 2012, 11:12 AM   #14
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Originally Posted by T1J2Marketing View Post

Kayla,

You might want to check out this site: Mobile Boilerplate

They've got an .htaccess script that is killer. FREE of charge.

Enjoy.
Thanks but it doesn't let you redirect back to the full version on a mobile phone. Does anyone know of any .htacess code to use that includes a redirect to the full version? I've been looking online for days. Thanks!

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Unread 10th Feb 2012, 12:29 PM   #15
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Which solution is turn key? With little involvement from web admin who may host their current site or who designed their main site
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Unread 10th Feb 2012, 01:37 PM   #16
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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I don't think there is one. They'll either have to add code to the current site or edit the .htaccess file. You could come up with instructions and tell the this is what needs to be done in order for the mobile site to work.

I actually just played around with this script, Redirect Mobile Site in 3 Easy Steps (wrote about it on my blog) and it works really good to go back to a full site. Just put the link on your mobile page and it will redirect to the full version if clicked.

When testing on a smartphone, make sure to clear the cookies before you retry it. Took a couple of times for me to figure that one out.

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Unread 10th Feb 2012, 05:16 PM   #17
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Originally Posted by lint631 View Post

I don't think there is one. They'll either have to add code to the current site or edit the .htaccess file. You could come up with instructions and tell the this is what needs to be done in order for the mobile site to work.

I actually just played around with this script, Redirect Mobile Site in 3 Easy Steps (wrote about it on my blog) and it works really good to go back to a full site. Just put the link on your mobile page and it will redirect to the full version if clicked.

When testing on a smartphone, make sure to clear the cookies before you retry it. Took a couple of times for me to figure that one out.
thats all good but its still javascript based - the google mobile bot just like the regular google bot is not going to see that script as it doesnt follow javascript - so in this instance wont find/rank your mobile site.

if you do use the above script than you really should make sure you submit a mobile site map, obviously if your not bothered about Google that script rocks! lol

The best way to deploy this strategy is via php using user agent detection and having php drop the cookie... its the same principle method we use in our wp redirect plugin to enable users to return back to the main site

cheers

jay

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Unread 10th Feb 2012, 05:32 PM   #18
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Originally Posted by Jay Moreno View Post

thats all good but its still javascript based - the google mobile bot just like the regular google bot is not going to see that script as it doesnt follow javascript - so in this instance wont find/rank your mobile site.

if you do use the above script than you really should make sure you submit a mobile site map, obviously if your not bothered about Google that script rocks! lol

The best way to deploy this strategy is via php using user agent detection and having php drop the cookie... its the same principle method we use in our wp redirect plugin to enable users to return back to the main site

cheers

jay
Thanks Jay good to know. I'm really looking for a solution that you can either put in the .htaccess file or something server side so I don't have to touch any of the sites files.

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Unread 10th Feb 2012, 06:09 PM   #19
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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k i thought of a process but then after typing it out it realized it was fatally flawed! lol

take a look at this:

http://www.askapache.com/htaccess/ht...ect_Cookie_Set

try adding in a similar condifitonal statement into your htaccess file... i wasnt aware until right now you could do that, additionally a little further on that page you will see how to set a cookie too when what isnt present...

basically you want to use the following logic:

1) if no cookie present redirect
2) if cookie present dont redirect

i dont particularly like using htaccess files but in your scenario i think this could work out well...

HTH

jay

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Unread 10th Feb 2012, 08:21 PM   #20
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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The crowd favorite mobile plugin for one of my personal wordpress blogs has worked well for me.

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Unread 15th Feb 2012, 07:43 AM   #21
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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@Jay @Morpheus - thanks for the suggestions. I'll try out those solutions.

@Jay - You said you don't like redirects from a .htaccess file. Just wondering why and what do you think is the best solution? Thanks!

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Unread 15th Feb 2012, 08:50 AM   #22
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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@lint361 - For me I prefer PHP User Agent detection i just find it's much more flexible. We don't use user agent detection just for redirecting mobile devices but instead we use it for a whole bunch of things, namely for delivering the most compatible content to the correct devices.

Additionally it's been in my experience that noobs often get lost with dot files in general since they are not always visible in certain ftp scenarios.

Additionally if not deployed properly you can really mess up the access to your site! lol

It's just personal preference - however i would use a .htaccess file in the particular scenario you are in.

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Unread 15th Feb 2012, 07:13 PM   #23
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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@Jay Your so right. Messing with the .htaccess file can screw things up royally. I did it once and now backup the file before I touch it! A horrible lesson to learn.

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Unread 15th Feb 2012, 10:56 PM   #24
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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Originally Posted by lint631 View Post

@Jay Your so right. Messing with the .htaccess file can screw things up royally. I did it once and now backup the file before I touch it! A horrible lesson to learn.
Can't beat learning the hard way! LOL

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Unread 16th Feb 2012, 02:09 AM   #25
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Re: Mobile Redirects - pros and cons of different methods?
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I use the MobileESP project (The MobileESP Project: Easily detect mobile web site visitors) for mobile redirection...their scripts work flawlessly...they have a PHP version of the script and its updated regularly...highly recommended and very easy to use.

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