Mobile-First Mindsets
Mobile-First Mindsets
““End-users, not technologies, shape the market. Consequently, marketers need to stay abreast not only of technological developments but also of the way people respond to them.””
What is a mobile-first mindset?
By definition, a mobile-first approach involves designing a desktop site (sketching, prototyping and designing) starting with the mobile version, which is then adapted to larger screens (versus the traditional approach of starting with a desktop site and then adapting it to smaller screens). Generally speaking, a mobile-first approach means building your website with your mobile users in mind, with the main goal of improving these mobile users’ experience (UX) on your site.
What are the benefits?
Google Ranking
Google now uses mobile-first indexing for over half of all web pages globally. Mobile-first indexing means that Google will look at the mobile version of a website in order to rank it before the desktop version. By using the mobile-first design strategy web designers can greatly increase the chances of a website ranking higher on Google.
Mobile Conversation
While average conversions on a website are still higher for desktop than that of mobiles globally, with desktops converting at around 3.82% and mobiles at 1.32%, the gap is slowly closing as mobile usage increases.
By following the mobile-first design strategy a business can greatly increase their conversion rate. As the number of people accessing the internet via mobile phones increases and trust starts to build towards mobile websites the number of conversions made is also likely to increase.
Progressive Enhancements
In web design progressive enhancement refers to starting with a strong base of designing and building up to a larger design for desktop. By using the mobile-first design strategy the design of a website starts with only the most important elements providing a strong base to build on. It is far easier in web design to upsize functionality and software than it is to try and downsize what is there already.
As well as providing a strong base for a larger website to be built on, the mobile-first design also provides a strong base for UX design to be built on and improving its effectiveness on all devices. By starting with only the most necessary and important elements of the website you are ensuring the user will have the greatest experience for that screen which will then only be enhanced as they move onto a larger screen.
Why mobile-friendly web design is crucial.
In the last decade, mobile usage have become an integral part of our lives. With the rise of the use of smartphones means the way people access the internet has also evolved away from just desktops, in 2018 alone 52.2% of all global web traffic was via mobile phones.
Consumers prefer mobile over desktop because of the convenience, speed, and ease of use. Providing an easy experience for users on a website is after all the priority, by designing with the user in mind you are ensuring they have a pleasant experience.
According to Business2Community, 52.2% of all online traffic across the globe came from mobile devices last year. Three out of four smartphone users use mobile search first for immediate needs, which means having a mobile-friendly website is essential. Here’s more proof:
80% of mobile users are more likely to buy from companies whose mobile sites quickly address any objections or concerns they have.
89% of users are more likely to recommend a brand after they’ve had a positive experience with that brand on mobile.
46% of buyers said they wouldn’t purchase from a brand again if they had even a single disrupted mobile experience.
How you can implement mobile-first strategy.
Matt Benevento, senior SEO specialist for Geek Powered Studios, says one of the best ways to implement a mobile-first strategy is by testing out your current site on several different mobile devices. Pull up your home page, search for products, click on links, and scroll down to the bottom of the page. Then, ask yourself if it feels like the site was developed with the mobile user in mind (or not).
Below is a short video on how to adopt a mobile first mindset:
References
Importance of Mobile-First Web Design. (2020, January 28). Retrieved February 4, 2020, from https://anglestudios.co.uk/blog/why-mobile-first-web-design-is-becoming-more-important/
McCrea, B. (2019, October 3). Developing a Mobile-First Mindset, Part I. Retrieved February 4, 2020, from https://tedmag.com/developing-a-mobile-first-mindset-part-i/
Nahai, Nathalie. Webs of Influence: the Psychology of Online Persuasion. Pearson Education Limited, 2017.
Sentance, R. (2018, November 28). 28 inspiring mobile marketing quotes. Retrieved February 4, 2020, from https://econsultancy.com/28-inspiring-mobile-marketing-quotes/
Welsh, T. J. (2017, April 24). 5 Mobile Marketing Trends to Watch. Retrieved February 4, 2020, from https://www.jeffbullas.com/5-mobile-marketing-trends-to-watch/
What is a "mobile-first" approach? Definition. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2020, from https://www.atinternet.com/en/glossary/mobile-first/