The Internet is ever-changing, and it is the best interest of any business to stay compatible with new developments.

Tablets and smartphones are now just as popular as laptops and computers for the average consumer looking to navigate their way through your website. In fact, for many, they’re more popular and the importance of being able to cater to this audience can’t be understated.

The future of technology is completely unknown, which is why it’s crucial for businesses to stay up to date with trends to ensure they don’t fall behind.

The idea of being able to visit a website through your television, or even your watch, would have been unrealistic and unimaginable not too long ago, so who knows what the next ten years will bring.

Samuel Johnson, Director at the Essex-based IT solutions company, Mercury IT Solutions, knows exactly what it takes for any business to be compatible with any smart device.

Samuel has provided us with his insight into the options you have when developing a mobile site and the various benefits your business will find in doing so.

Mobile Website VS. Traditional Website

It is important that your website can be navigated easily and smoothly from a mobile device.

A mobile user will interact with your business’s website in a different way to somebody using a computer or laptop. Therefore, the information on your website will need to be presented differently.

The ergonomics of your website must be adapted to be as straightforward as possible on a phone or tablet, allowing the user to browse with ease.

Improved User Experience

Easy and enjoyable navigation will allow visitors to browse on your business’ website for longer. It will decrease the bounce rate and result in visitors exploring your website and services for a longer period of time.

A bounce occurs when a potential client visits just a single page rather than exploring other pages on that same site.

It has been reported that 60% of mobile users regularly encounter problems when browsing websites from their phones, resulting in them abandoning the site.

Having an optimised website will improve user experience and satisfaction. This can be achieved through simplified navigation and faster loading speeds, for example.

It’s important for mobile devices to comply with these optimisation strategies due to browsing conditions.

Many websites that are visited from a phone are, for the most, accessed whilst on the go. Or, alternatively, a phone may be an individual’s only way of browsing.

It is estimated that if a user has to wait any longer than 6-10 seconds for a website to load on their phone, they are likely to leave the website and look elsewhere.

With mobile browsing on a continuous rise, it is increasingly important to make sure your website is suitable for this modern audience.

Improved Mobile SEO

It is just as important to adhere to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) rules as it is to ensure the user experience is satisfactory. It’s a very time-consuming job, but without it, the traffic driven to your website will be minimal.

Google will collect and utilize data based on how consumers use your website. A well-optimised mobile site will ensure potential customers visit your website for longer, meaning Google will recommend your website to other browsers.

It is rare for browsers to visit as far as page 3 of Google and with poor SEO value, your website would be lucky to feature this high up.

If more people are able to comfortably navigate your website from their mobile or tablet, you’ll be far more likely to reach these indispensable high rankings.

Cheaper than App Development

Many businesses feel the need to develop an app due to how popular it is for people to consume content via their phones. However, optimising a website for mobile is far more cost-effective than developing an app, especially for SMEs and those who need to be incredibly careful with how they budget their time and money.

Once an app has been developed, it still requires a download before a user can access it. A website that is optimised for mobile, on the other hand, is readily available to any smartphone user.

To engage with your target audience more effectively, it is far more worthwhile to mitigate any unnecessary costs and develop a mobile presence through an impressively optimised website.

Whilst developing an app (in many circumstances) certainly isn’t a bad idea, a well-optimised website should certainly be the initial focus.

With more technological advancements in the pipeline, it is important for any business to stay ahead of the game and ensure their website is optimised for mobile users.