Your Customers Went Mobile. Can They Reach Your Website?

In case you are beginner looking for information on how to build a blog and make it more mobile friendly, then you have come to the right place. You will learn how to build a blog, properly 'mobilize' it (as recommended by Google) and start benefiting from the mobile traffic coming to the blog.

About Mobile Friendly Blogs

Before we dive straight into it, you first need to understand the meaning of the phrase “mobile friendly.” Basically, a mobile friendly blog or website is that which has been conceptualized, designed, optimized and developed so that every user gets the best surfing experience possible, irrespective of the different types of mobile devices they are using.

Some common characteristics of mobile friendly blogs include:

a) Navigation

The navigation of mobile friendly blogs and websites is simplified. It is also laid out clearly to ensure that post and page selection is easy.

b) Design Elements

The design elements on such blogs are replaced, removed or compressed to simplify the usage of the blog.

c) Content

The content on mobile friendly blogs and websites is properly laid out, for easier viewing and navigation from any given mobile device.

d) Contacts

The phone numbers on these blogs are set up such that they contain the “click to call” functionality. Additionally, the addresses are usually set up such that they sync with the mobile device’s map functionality. Similarly, the designers will set up calls to action so that they work with the email functionality on the device or with simple forms.

Your Blog - Mobile Friendly

There are multiple ways to provide mobile users with the best experience. Although these ways can be used simultaneously, you first need to understand your users, what they are looking for and the strategies available for you to communicate your business to the users. This will help you focus your time, energy and resources on the best option. These options include:

You can hire someone or create mobile applications yourself if you really want to get under the skin of your audience (I for one love cool Apps). Mobile applications are typically referred to as apps. They are internet applications that are used on smartphones and tablets to communicate with others, save information, play games, access web content, and so much more. Apps are a great resource for making blogs more friendly/memorable, especially if your business can afford the ingenuity, time, resources and creativity to conceptualize, design and plan out a mobile app.

That being said, there are basically three ways in which you can reach your audience on desktop and mobile devices just as easily:

Responsive Web Design

Responsive blogs and websites use fluid and flexible layouts that adapt to the screen that the blog is being displayed on. This feature is accomplished through the use of CSS media queries and layouts that change depending on the screen orientation and size of the device you is using.

Since responsive blogs display the best layouts, they are fantastic for ensuring that your blog and website are mobilized. Therefore, they can be seen perfectly on computers, tablets, and smartphones and even on television screens.

Dynamic Serving

Dynamic Serving has been around for some time now. Basically, a mobile blog is a different version of a blog created specifically to give mobile users access to the content contained therein. Most (if not all) of the elements will be stripped out completely, so that very basic aesthetics and links are left.

Therefore, mobile sites and blogs are those that are specifically and solely built for mobile browsers. Typically, they are very simple in design – with basic links and colors, and simple content items. Consequently, you need to understand SEO concepts (or hire a professional SEO expert) to help you get a mobile friendly site or blog.

Separate URLs

Creating Responsive Blogs/Sites

Once you dive into it, you will find building a responsive blog is the most affordable option, depending on the stage of the blog. If you haven’t built the blog yet, then going for the responsive design is highly recommended since it will not cost you anything more than the fee you would typically pay a developer/ designer to build any kind of blog for you. Therefore, when you go the responsive route, you will avoid the need to build a mobile app (unless you really want to) or develop a mobile blog.

If you do not wish to spend your money on a mobile app and would prefer giving users across all computer and mobile devices a consistent experience, then the solution you need is a responsive blog.

Why Go Mobile?

Smartphone and tablet share has reached unexpected heights in the recent past. This means that mobile user traffic has increased. Consequently, you can be sure that you need to make your blog more mobile friendly if you are to get your business strategy in top gear.

Building Responsive Blogs

As stated earlier, responsive blogs automatically adjust the content to the size of the device being used for access. You will have one blog and one set of content. However, the content will be laid out differently, depending on the device that is being used for display.

Imagine that your blog shows 3 columns of information when viewed from a desktop device. This same content would be displayed in 2 columns on tablets, and on a single column when accessed from a smartphone. Consequently, any information that the device cannot display is moved below to eliminate scrolling to the right.

Responsive WordPress Blog Themes

Responsive themes display content in ways that are suited to a specific device. Basically, as a beginner, WordPress is the easiest way to start a perfectly responsive and good looking blog. These themes come with such advantages as:

a) You will have different displays suited to particular devices to ensure users have the best viewing experience

b) Responsive themes ensure that there is only one blog to manage, since there is only one content set. Should it get more complicated than this, you can alter the content on the mobile site without necessarily having to do the same on your desktop. You also have the option of adding such functionality as new menus

c) Responsive themed blogs also allow you to adjust the image sizes automatically so that users do not have to download very large images on their mobile devices

d) Google also recommends the use of responsive blogs and websites. In fact, Google is planning to push non-mobile friendly sites and blogs down the search engine results. Therefore, making your blog responsive means that you are optimizing it for this particular search engine, as well as all others.

In conclusion, mobile friendly blogs and websites are the future seeing as how many people today tend to use their mobile devices to surf the web. To ensure your blog, website and content are readily available to everyone, use the three methods mentioned above. This way you can be certain that you are visible to your users, irrespective of the device they are using to access your content.