Going mobile first

19/07/2018

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Mobile first. That has been the mantra for years now. The Internet is a gold mine for those who are smart enough to exploit it. There are so many opportunities around that you can’t simply miss out. One of them is the proliferation of apps and mobile optimization. You might be already familiar with the term “mobile first.” There’s a reason for that. More and more people are browsing the internet from their smartphones. Just take a look around you: people obsessively using their mobile phones on coffee shops, on the street, at bus stations, etc. While an excessive use of smartphones (or of anything for that matter) may cause long-term harm to our mental health, it is safe to say that there’s no turning back; people will keep using technology no matter what.

There’s no such thing as good or bad technology: there are good and bad people. We want to use technology to benefit humanity as a whole. One of the ways of doing that is building apps that help people lead better lives. So, you might be asking “Is that even possible?” Well, the answer is a resounding YES. How can such a thing as mobile optimization help improve people’s lives? That’s what we’re about to find out.

The app economy, i.e any economic activity revolving around mobile applications, has grown exponentially over the last couple of years. Want to order a taxi? There’s Uber for that. Want to book a room for your weekend? There’s Airbnb for that. Want to watch a TV series? There’s Netflix for that. Want to hook up? There’s Tinder for that. The app economy is poised to reach a staggering $6.3 trillion by 2021. That should tell you something: mobile apps and mobile optimized websites will continue to shape the economy, even our lives. It doesn’t take a clairvoyant to see what the future holds for businesses.

Optimizing your website for mobile browsing is a must. It is estimated that more than 50 % of all searches on Google are made from mobile devices. Mobile search is growing at an exponential rate. That being said, why should you go mobile first? And if you already have a website, why you should optimize it for mobile browsing?

You get immense insight

Since more and more people are browsing from mobile devices, it makes sense to have a website optimized for mobile browsing. So, if you already have a website but don’t want to build an app (at least not yet), make sure it is mobile-friendly. Moreover, your marketing and your sales team will thank you for that. More people searching for your company means more traffic into your website, which in turn translates into more sales. And not just sales. You will get insight in the form of data. For instance, how many people search for a specific keyword? How much time do users spend on the site? Do they look for specific products? These and other questions help you devise a better marketing strategy.

Better user experience for mobile users

When it comes to having a mobile-optimized site, functionality is king. No one wants to read an article on a smartphone or go check a product, only to find out that the link does not work, or it just complete junk. Also, make sure your website is mobile-friendly and everything works as predicted. Take your time and keep tinkering with the website until everything falls into place. Patience and sheer efforts will pay off. After all, you will provide your mobile users with a better browsing experience. And that, my friend, is priceless.

Gain competitive advantage over your competitors

Maybe your competitors have optimized their websites for mobile users, or maybe not. So, does that even matter? You have to play your own game. Above all, make sure to make your website load fast, especially for mobile browsing. Moreover, you have to use the right keywords. Another thing you can do is to study patterns. For example, does a greater number of people visiting your website translate to more sales? Or, do people use specific keywords you might not be using? Do your own research.

To conclude, optimizing your website for mobile browsing is crucial. After all, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.