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5 min read

Why You Should Build Your Website with a Mobile First Approach

Mike Mauricio

Why You Should Consider a Mobile First Approach for Your Website Design

Stop! Before you put your fingers on the keyboard to bang out your next website design, there's a question you need to ask yourself: Is my design mobile-first? If you're not sure why this is important, keep reading, because we're about to delve into the benefits of adopting a mobile-first approach.

Tap into a Larger Audience

It's a fact: more people are using their mobile devices to browse the web than ever before. Mobile devices account for over half of all internet traffic worldwide. By adopting a mobile-first approach, your website can comfortably fit into the palm of their hands.

You're essentially expanding your reach to a broader, more tech-savvy audience.

Skyrocket Your SEO

Google loves mobile-friendly websites. No, really, they do. Google uses mobile-first indexing to rank websites. Which means they prefer websites that look good on mobile.

So, if you want a boost in your SEO rankings, creating a mobile-first website is a big step in the right direction.

Enhance User Experience

No one likes pinching and zooming to read content or click on links. It's frustrating and, frankly, a bit of a mood killer. A mobile-first design ensures your website looks spectacular and functions seamlessly on smaller screens, making your users’ experience a breeze.

Remember: Happy users lead to more engagement, which leads to more conversions. It's a win-win situation!

Prepare for the Future

Adopting a mobile-first approach is like giving your website a crystal ball. It prepares your website for future tech trends, keeping you one step ahead in the digital game. After all, the future is mobile, and that future is now.

Taking a mobile-first approach to your website design is not just a trend, it's a necessity.

It positions your website (and your business) for greater success. Now, are you ready to go mobile-first?

How Mobile First Design Impacts User Experience

If you've ever lived in a major city you've probably experienced the feeling of being crammed into a subway car, elbow to elbow with a sea of commuters. Most people take out their phone to distract yourself from the lack of personal space.

Now, would you rather squint and zoom to read miniature text on a website clearly not designed for mobile, or effortlessly scroll through a site that fits perfectly on your screen?

That's the power of mobile first design on user experience.

Mobile first design is like a golden ticket – it guarantees a smooth, enjoyable experience for users on smaller screens. These days, more people are accessing the internet via their phones than on desktop computers. If your website is mobile-first, you're meeting your audience where they are.

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” - Steve Jobs

So, what makes a mobile first design user-friendly?

  • Simple Navigation: A mobile-first approach means simplifying your site's navigation. No one wants to wrestle with complex menus on a small screen!
  • Fast Loading Times: Mobile users are often on-the-go, and time is of the essence. Make sure your site loads quickly to keep them engaged.
  • Clear, Legible Text: Your content should be easy to read on a small screen - no squinting required!

It's like hitting the user experience jackpot. But that's not all. Mobile first design also carries significant SEO benefits. Google, the king of search engines, prioritizes mobile responsive websites. So, going mobile-first could help your site climb the search rankings. Win-win, right?

Ultimately, adopting a mobile-first design approach isn't just about keeping up with trends. It's about putting your users first. It's about ensuring they can interact with your website in a seamless, enjoyable way, regardless of the device they're using.

Why Mobile Traffic Should Influence Your Website Design Decisions

Ever peeked at your website's traffic analytics? If so, you've likely noticed a trend that can't be ignored: a massive chunk of your traffic comes from mobile devices. In this era of smartphones and tablets, this should come as no surprise.

Now, you may be asking yourself, "What does this have to do with my website design?" Well, I'm glad you asked! The answer is - absolutely everything.

Mobile Users Rule the Web

Today, mobile users outnumber desktop users. This seismic shift in web usage patterns sends a clear message: if your website isn't designed with a mobile-first approach, you could be missing out on a whole lot of action.

The Rise of the Mobile-First Index

Did you know that Google and other major search engines now prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their search results? It's a fact! This move reflects the growing influence of mobile traffic in today's digital landscape.

Speed and Performance Matter

Now, let's talk speed. Mobile users are a busy bunch, and they expect websites to load at lightning speed. If your site takes ages to load on a mobile device, your visitors are likely to bounce faster than a rubber ball on a trampoline.

Improved User Experience

Designing your website with a mobile-first approach isn't just about racking up points with search engines. It's also about providing a stellar user experience for your visitors. After all, a happy visitor is a potential customer.

Unhappy visitors don't tend to turn into customers. And 57% of users say they won't recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site.

A mobile-first website design is a crucial business strategy. Embrace it, and watch your online presence grow.

The Benefits of Prioritizing Mobile in Your Website Design

Let's cast our minds back to the good old 90s, where a desktop was our only gateway to the magical world of the internet. Fast forward to today, and our smartphones have become our pocket-sized supercomputers, giving us access to the internet from anywhere, anytime. The times have changed, haven’t they?

It's a smartphone era. In 2020 alone, 50.88% of the web traffic worldwide was generated through mobile phones. Impressive, right?

But here's the kicker: if your website isn’t designed with a mobile-first approach, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of potential customers. And trust me, that's the last thing you want.

More People Use Mobile than Desktop

Almost everyone over the age of 18 has a cell phone in todays day and age. And more and more of them prefer accessing the internet via their phone instead of their laptop. Ever tried loading a desktop-designed website on your mobile?

It's like trying to fit an elephant into a Mini Cooper.

With a mobile-first design, your website will fit perfectly on small screens, leading to an enhanced user experience for the majority of people who visit your site.

Improved Search Engine Rankings

Let me let you in on a secret. Google LOVES mobile-friendly websites. Yes, that's right! Google uses mobile-first indexing. That means it looks at your website's mobile version for ranking purposes.

So, if you want to stay in Google's good books, you better adopt a mobile-first approach.

Increased Conversion Rates

A better user experience leads to happier visitors, and happier visitors are more likely to convert into customers. It's as simple as that!

By designing your website with a mobile-first approach, you're not just improving the look and feel of your website, but you're also boosting your conversion rates.

Your customers are already there, waiting for you. It's time you joined them.

The Future of Web Design: Mobile First or Nothing

Got a vision of the future? Is it filled with hoverboards, time travel, and cool tech gadgets? Well, add "Mobile First Web Design" to that list.

It's not just the future, it's the now! (At least until virtual reality becomes the new norm. Maybe.)

Why? Because more than 50% of global web traffic comes from mobile devices. That's right, our handy-dandy smartphones are leading the charge in digital consumption.

Now, let's talk turkey, shall we? What does 'Mobile First' even mean? Well, it's a design strategy that prioritizes designing for mobile devices before desktop. Yup, you read that right, it's mobile before desktop, not the other way around.

Why should you care?

Because your users do! With everyone constantly on their phones, websites that aren't optimized for mobile are becoming as popular as a DVD player in 2022.

And hey, don't just take my word for it. Google has made mobile-first indexing the default for all new websites. So if you want to be in Google's good books (and let's face it, who doesn't?), you've got to start thinking mobile-first.

So, let's recap the benefits.

  • User Experience: A mobile-first approach ensures your site is easy-to-use on smaller screens, resulting in a better user experience.
  • Improved SEO: Google likes mobile-friendly websites, so they rank higher. Want to be on page one? Get mobile-friendly.
  • Increased Conversions: A mobile-friendly site means happier users, and happier users convert more. It's a win-win!

There you have it. The future of web design is mobile, and it's here to stay. So let's embrace it, and build better experiences for everyone on mobile and desktop.

But especially mobile.

You can dive into a wealth of more than 25 resources, checklists and step-by-step instructions in our guide on how to implement simple systems that grow your business.
Ready to take your online presence to the next level? At Fortuna Design Co, we specialize in making it stunningly simple to grow your business online. Contact us today to discuss how our expert services can transform your website into a powerful tool for growth.
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