subject: How To Build A Successful Mobile Strategy For Web Content [print this page] Web applications have come a long way over the past 10 to 15 years, primarily because of the emergence of advanced programming languages like JavaScript and HTML. However, the same cannot be said about browsing of websites on a mobile platform. Most modern websites have launched their mobile versions, but in order to become more usable on a mobile device, much development is required. Slow download speed, unfamiliar browser UIs, and data heavy web pages are some of the challenging a users experience of accessing mobile web content. Since the mobile web offers mobile device users the opportunity to gain access to any information anywhere and anytime, companies that deal with designing & implementation of mobile strategies for web content can reap huge profits from the phenomenon.
Listed below are some ways in which a company can build successful mobile strategies for web content:
Re-Purposing of the Website Content Companies who want to enter the mobile space must remember not to simply transcode their websites to fit on the screen of a mobile device. This practice becomes one of the major problems affecting a mobile website when search engines return website URLs instead of mobile URLs in search results. It is not possible for users to navigate large amounts of information on handheld mobile devices. Line by line scrolling of text cannot be practiced when a user has access to only mobile devices. Therefore, companies must ensure that websites to be accessed on the mobile space have to be concise and usable with clear & short text navigation providing links to useful information.
Ensuring User Experience The size of the medium known as mobile device is to be kept in mind. Cramming of information instead of using bite sized chunks of writing will force a user to scroll endlessly without gaining access to information that he/she requires. This leads to low user experience. Also to be taken into consideration is the connection speed of mobile websites. Since this is very slow, companies must make sure that important information present in the website must appear at its top levels so that they become easily accessible to users. The idea is to create a non cluttered mobile website by using only information relevant for the user in order to enhance user experience.
Techniques Marketers Should Deploy to Build Successful Mobile Strategies for Web Content
Anywhere anytime information as is available on a mobile device can be used as the perfect marketing platform. An integrated mobile strategy that embraces, harnesses, and understands the capabilities of mobile devices is required for building successful web content on these devices. The below listed tools can be used:
1. Location Based Services Locating an ATM, getting an alert when you are close to a Starbucks, or getting directions on a map ensure success of the mobile website.
2. Text Delivery of news headlines, sports, or weather reports enhances user experience.
3. Social Networking Quick uploading of photos & videos to Friendster, Flickr blog, and MySpace make a successful mobile website.
4. Premium Content Some mobile websites allow selling of ringtones, ring back tones, wallpapers, videos, apps, and games. This is an interesting development to keep users hooked.
5. Polling Mobile polls can be arranged to decide what users think on a particular topic. This too generates the attention of users to your mobile website.
The prospect of mobile web content is huge. Therefore every company should use these simple tips & tricks to build a successful mobile strategy for their web content.
