Is Your Website Mobile Friendly?

It's been about one year since Google released an algorithm update focused on mobile responsiveness. This means that businesses who do not have mobile friendly sites should be concerned as repercussions can include a negative impact to rankings and a drop in organic visits. So, while failure to have a mobile-friendly website can hinder your company's online presence, making sure your site is mobile friendly aligns your company with consumer preferences.

"Over 80% of internet users use smartphones to perform research and to make purchases", said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Serving Central East Texas. "So basically, if you don't have a mobile friendly site, you're probably losing business."

What is Mobile Responsive Web Design?

Mobile responsive web design means that your website scales down to fit on a smartphone, tablet or other hand-held device. It's important for the user experience because the majority of searches are now conducted on mobile devices.  

How do check to see if my site is mobile-friendly?

Test your website by going to Google's Mobile Friendly Test Page (https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/). Enter your website URL into the Googlebot testing box, click "Analyze". You will almost immediately receive verification on whether or not your website is mobile-friendly along with an example of what your current website looks like on a mobile device.

For starters, Google suggests that to be considered mobile-friendly, websites should:

Avoid software that is not common on mobile devices, like Flash;

Use text that is readable without zooming;

Size content to the screen so users do not have to scroll horizontally or zoom;

Place links far enough apart so that the correct one can be easily tapped.

If my site is not mobile friendly, how do I find a trustworthy web developer?

Just as with anyone you will potentially do business with, it's important to do your research. Go to bbb.org to view business profiles and company reviews before making your selections.

But even before looking for someone to create or upgrade your site, it's important to know what you want. Have an idea of what styles and color schemes you prefer. You may even bookmark some websites that you like.

Remember, you get what you pay for. Cheaper is not necessarily better. After you determine what your needs are, get several bids, then compare apples to apples. You can use BBB's Request-a-quote program to receive a quote from BBB Accredited Businesses. 

Review their portfolio. By viewing their work you will have a good idea of whether your taste/style and the web developer(s) you are considering will mesh.

Find out who owns the content. It is important to know who owns all of the intellectual property rights to your site. Keep in mind that if you will not own the design and content, you could experience difficulty if you decide to sell your business.

Find out how future changes will be handled. Will the developer be making all future updates? If so, make sure their rates are included in your contract. If the developer has designed a content management system (CMS) for your staff, make sure those employees are properly trained on how to use the system.

For additional resources on how to build a better business and to find out how to network with other businesses, go to bbb.org.

Mechele Mills is the President|CEO for the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas. Prior to her role at BBB, she led and consulted organizations of all sizes, managing operations, sales marketing, and personnel for both the public and private sector. She holds a Bachelor's in Journalism/PR from the University of Texas at Tyler and a Master's in Business Administration from Baylor University.

 

Source: Is Your Website Mobile Friendly?