By this time next year, there will be over 150 million mobile websites on the internet as companies continue to adapt to the trending ways consumers use the internet. More than 3 billion mobile phones are used worldwide, and people are consistently consuming more and more websites from their mobile devices and less from their PCs.  

A mobile-first web design strategy is necessary today, as search engines use search ranking algorithms that give favorable rankings to mobile-friendly websites. Even if your website can be found organically, if it is not responsive, 57% of mobile users will abandon it.  Designing responsive websites needs to be a priority for your website redesign strategy.

Here are some reasons why you should ensure your business has an effective mobile website design to attract customers on all platforms.

Mobile browsing is the new PC

Smartphone users are now engaging with mobile websites and apps even when on their PCs and as they become more affordable, demand for mobile devices continues to rise. A report from The Guardian UK states that around 34% of adults use their smartphones within 5 minutes of waking up, and this figure increases to 49% when you consider people aged 18-24.

With many statistics proving the increase in the levels of mobile browsing among consumers, it only makes sense to switch tactics to adjust to these trends. On the business side, when businesses launch a mobile-friendly e-commerce site, they experience considerable improvements in conversion rates and sales.

Build your brand with mobile web design

There’s a good chance people will find your website through their mobile devices and return to it later on their desktop, so why wait to give them the best possible experience? Giving your customers a mobile experience optimized for functionality and consistency can help build trust and increase your brand reputation. Websites with responsive designs can ensure customers stay committed to your brand rather than look elsewhere for an answer.

SEO

Businesses with mobile-friendly and standard websites enjoy ranking higher in search engines than their competition. Although most of your competition has probably already jumped on the mobile-friendly bandwagon, you can meet requirements set by search engines such as Google to ensure your mobile website is maximized. To find out if your website meets the requirements, Google has created a Mobile-Friendliness tool that will regularly give you a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Although your test results are binary and won’t be given as a percentage (i.e., 60% mobile-friendliness), you can use many other methods to improve your SEO on mobile and standard devices.

Learn more about the importance of mobile optimization and how to build a solid mobile website in our newest ebook. The guide to optimizing your website redesign ebook will walk you through the success steps for developing a website and zeroes in on the importance of mobile-first web design.

Elements of a website redesign