Is Your Website Optimized For Mobile Devices Such As the iPhone?

With so many people browsing the web on mobile devices these days (45 million iPhone users alone) it’s time to ask if our website-which for many of us is our primary link to our customers-is user-friendly and efficient on small handheld screens.

This information may seem especially useful if you are currently working on a new web design or are ready for a redesign overhaul. Others are probably wondering if they’ll have to redesign their entire website to accomplish optimization for mobile devices. But there are many ways to make sure you are represented well on the small screen. Most methods will not interfere with an existing site, are not too extravagant, and take little time to implement.

Here are a few examples of features to consider on your mobile website:

• Simplify navigation at the top of each page: make each page similar enough that the user won’t have to learn new navigation patterns on each page

• Simplify layout: use one column if possible and limit scrolling to one direction

• Simplify content: reduce content to essential text including SEO keywords

• Simplify visuals: enlarge link buttons and text included on graphics so that it’s readable; remove ads; don’t use flash or pop-ups

As you can tell by now, less is more and KISS (Keep It Super Simple) is the name of this game. It’s a good idea to view your website on many types of mobile devices as you can get your hands on. Recruit friends, family and colleagues to help with this.

For a good example of the difference between a mobile home page verses a standard screen homepage, check out the Food Network on a regular screen and a mobile device.

If you decide it’s time to optimize your website for mobile web, be sure your developer is up to speed on best practices for mobile web optimization/development, or better yet, find someone who specializes in it. He or she can advise you as to which method of optimization is best for your mobile online presence.

Perez-Simons Web Studios provides Web Design, social media marketing, and seo services in the Greensboro / High Point / Winston Salem area