The desktop computer is slowly becoming a thing of the past and as our everyday lives become increasingly mobile, information sources and communication methods have had to adapt rapidly to demands of a constantly on-the-move consumer. Mobile online navigation is no longer a novelty but a way of life, and has forced anyone with an online presence to optimize their traditional websites for the exponentially increasing numbers of mobile Internet users.
The four tips below will help you to create a suitably optimized blog that will provide your visitors with an enjoyable experience combining ease of use and customer satisfaction.
Relevance
When choosing what to include on your optimized mobile site, it is important to ask yourself a simple question: is this relevant? Simplification is essential when constructing a mobile version of your blog, as users will rarely have the time or the desire to browse all the information contained on a traditional website. Identify those aspects of your blog that will be relevant to someone on the go and leave out all other unnecessary content.
Streamlining
Take the limitations of mobile devices into account when constructing mobile version of your blog. This may mean reducing the number of pages you choose to include and streamlining the general layout of the site in order to simplify navigation. An uncluttered site that makes use of smaller images and abandons advertisements should also reduce frustrating loading time and enhance user satisfaction. If parts of your traditional blog make use of Flash or Java, consider removing these for the mobile version, as many devices do not support such programs. Remember that even when supported, these programs can significantly increase loading time.
Branding
Branding should not be neglected when creating your mobile-optimized blog; instead, the mobile version should mirror the branding elements and colour scheme of the traditional version. Transposing these unique elements from one site to the other will help visitors to maintain familiarity with the brand and encourage instant recognition.
Remember the screen size
It is important to remember that your blog’s mobile version will not be viewed on a 17-inch monitor, but a very small screen. Small screens packed with too many links and information invariably cause problems for users who are accessing your blog from a mobile device, so make use of white space and employ large direction buttons where possible to ease the navigation.
The most important thing to remember is that the key to optimizing your website for mobile users is to keep your mobile audience permanently at the forefront of your mind. These four simple tips can be applied not only to blog mobile optimization, but also to any kind of website. Take a look at an example of a successful mobile free classifieds site to get an inspiration. Good luck!
