subject: Mobile Website Design and Development [print this page] Mobile Website Design and Development Mobile Website Design and Development
Mobile website development is becoming a must-have and not just an it-would-be-nice-to-have' option. As millions of people take to their phones or PDAs to access the internet, it is imperative that website owners and business keep up. It is estimated that by 2017, there will be over 150 million mobile friendly websites; this can mean huge opportunities for your business with increased traffic and customers.
User demands and expectations have fueled mobile website development efforts. Knowing what users want to access and how they typically use mobile internet is key in making your site mobile friendly. Mobile users typically have different needs than those using a desktop. For instance, they are less likely to want to download a PDF file and more likely to check on how their stocks are performing. Knowing this allows website owners to develop optimal sites for mobile users.
Google has identified three groups of mobile users: "bored now," "urgent now," and "repetitive now." The bored now group uses their mobile device to kill time in airports, waiting rooms, etc. If visitors to your site tend to be casual surfers, it is best to develop content that is short and will keep the user interested. The content should be compact enough for the casual user to check between meetings or while waiting for an appointment.
The repetitive now group is continually checking the same sites such as stock reports or weather. If your site is likely to attract repeat users, don't bury content. Have the information users are interested in be the first things they see. Because mobile devices are highly personalized, this is not a difficult feat. Some sites allow users to customize their own mobile sites from their desktop, so the next time they use their cell phone or PDA to access the site, it will have the relevant and needed information.
The urgent now group is looking for something specific and fast, like driving directions, shipping information on a package, or travel information. These customers are looking for speed and for relevant information to be available without multiple clicks.
Knowing your website's audience can help you with mobile website development strategies. No matter who you are attracting or hope to attract, your content should be streamlined - you can't necessarily fit all the information, text, and graphics of a traditional website into a mobile one, nor should that be your goal. Mobile users have specific needs and concerns, and fast, on-demand, convenient access is the most important.
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