Go Mobile Or Go Home

Mobile internet browsers are storming the planet and changing the landscape of the internet.

Social networking users increased requests from mobile browsers to a popular networking site by 347% in one year. By 2014 there will be more mobile browser users than desktop browser users.

Mobile devices are poised to change the purchasing habits of shoppers around the world. Already, in Japan and Korea, people can use a smartphone as a point-of-sale payment device, eliminating the need to carry debit and credit cards. Online sales from users with mobile devices are forecast to skyrocket in the next few years.

There is a growing storm of demand for websites that meet the needs of mobile browser users. These users want:

 * Compatibility with all devices
 * Visual clarity
 * Ease of use
 * Small download size

If your website visitors come to your site on a mobile browser and cannot get what they want, you lose the conversion. Negative referrals count tenfold in a socially connected world. Here are some guidelines for ensuring your website is ready for mobile visitors:

Trim it down

Mobile browsers use smaller displays. You can't expect mobile users to navigate your site and purchase something from you if they are forced to squint, pinch, slide, and zoom their way into oblivion. Your website must adapt to smaller display sizes. Since desktop displays are generally getting bigger, and mobile displays are inherently limited to pocket or tablet form factors, you might need to have two editions of your website.

Clean out the closet

A cluttered website is never a good idea. Too much information on a single page is a turn-off for site visitors. This design principle holds true for all display sizes, and is even more important for mobile browsers. Simple, clean, organized, and elegant presentation is key to making your site engaging.

Lighten the load

Mobile devices access the Internet using the same cellular network that carries voice calls. This network is usually slower than your typical plug-in or wifi internet connection. In addition, users are charged by the volume of data sent to their device. To make your website mobile-friendly, you need go easy on the graphics, images, ornaments, and other non-essential site frills. At the same time, you need to keep your website engaging and faithful to your brand.

Design for usability

Some websites show an embedded video that starts playing as soon as the user reaches the site. You don't want this to happen for mobile users; it will be unacceptably slow. Redesign your site so that mobile visitors are presented with a simple menu and clear navigation options. Remember that the majority of mobile devices use touch screens, so use large buttons instead of microscopic links. Avoid using fringe user-interface tricks, such as right-clicking and drag-and-drop, which do not work on touch screens.

Test carefully

Web standards are constantly evolving, and all mobile web browsers interpret these standards differently. This means that your website will often need to be programmed with different browsers in mind, and then tested carefully against each one. You don't want to exclude a group of potential customers because they could not access your website on their mobile device.

As a business owner with a commercial website, the biggest mistake you can make is to underestimate the penetration of mobile browsers. It is vital to address this growing market segment. Make sure your website is up-to-date and mobile-friendly.