In 2015 more than half of internet users accessed the web from mobile devices, and more than 60 percent of Americans have smartphones. So if your company’s website isn’t optimized for mobile users, you are missing out on a serious potential for customers. Follow these tips to make your website more mobile-friendly and encourage users to stick around and shop.
Improve the Design
Mobile-friendly design is a must for users to stay on your site and come back in the future. If the website is hard to navigate on a phone or tablet, the chances of the user leaving the site out of frustration are high. Use a simple and clean design that won’t require a lot of scrolling or zooming in or out.
Larger text size is always easier to see on a smaller screen, and you should keep text to a minimum. When you add call-to-action buttons, be sure to make them large enough for an easy click on a touch screen.
Change the Checkout Process
Nearly 70 percent of users abandon their online shopping carts, so one way to convert sales is to make your checkout process as easy as possible. Originally launched by Amazon, one-click purchases are ideal, since customers won’t have as much time to think it over and change their minds through multiple pages. Because mobile users are typically more hurried than traditional internet users exactly because they are being mobile, they want to make the purchase and be done.
A long checkout process can cause customers to leave the site for a simpler choice.
Encourage Brand Engagement Through Multiple Devices
A simple and visually appealing mobile website will often connect customers with your brand and encourage them to visit the site again. Since most Americans have multiple devices, many of them move between those devices during the shopping and purchasing process.
If your site translates easily between a phone, computer, and tablet, consumers will have no trouble making a purchase from any of these devices. This will increase the likelihood that they will come back to your website for future needs as well. On the other hand, an ineffective mobile site will lead them directly to competitors.
Decrease Bounce Rates Through Fast Loading and Easy Reading
The bounce rate is the number of people who leave the site without converting to a sale. Pinching to zoom or squinting at screens full of tiny text will often be key reasons why users bounce from your site to another. Another top reason is when a site requires installation of Flash or other programs that won’t load properly on a mobile device.
A mobile site that is easy to navigate and even easier to read will discourage people from leaving the site, so be sure to have a professional analyze the site before it goes live.
Make Sure It Works on All Devices
For a mobile site to achieve success and increase sales, it must be easy to access from all types of mobile devices. Tablets have larger screens than smartphones, so optimize your site for all screen sizes for improved experiences. This means a user can browse better with an iPhone 6S Plus or switch to a tablet without losing information or not being able to read the text.
Checklist for Success
When you are reviewing your mobile site, ask yourself a few simple questions to make sure customers will stick around and view the content.
- Does information load in three seconds or less?
- Is it easy to navigate on all types of mobile devices?
- Can users get through pages with ease?
- Are zooming and scrolling kept to a minimum?
- Do certain selling points draw the eye?
If the site meets these criteria, you can launch it to consumers. Watch for feedback from users and improve on any concerns immediately to lessen the negative buzz about your mobile site.
As you consider ways to make your mobile site better, these tricks can help you realize what users need from their mobile experiences. With a few simple tweaks, you can make sure that potential customers become repeat customers.
