In the past five years, the use of mobile phones has surpassed desktops – according to Statista, mobile website traffic is at 54.8% in 2021. This is a huge step for the web, and it’s a great time to learn about mobile-first design. In this article we’ll cover the history of mobile-first design, its pros and cons, what you should consider before making the move to mobile-first, and which sites can help you get started with it.
What is Mobile-First Design?
Mobile-first design is a term that was coined by Luke Wroblewski in 2010. It’s an approach to building for the web that, instead of designing for desktops and then scaling down to mobile, you design the core layout of your site around the smallest width first. This means prioritizing what’s important on your site for mobile users and adjusting as needed for desktop users.
Why you should consider Mobile-First Design?
Mobile-first design encourages websites to be responsive, which in turn makes them more accessible to users on a variety of devices and platforms. It also makes it easier for developers to create a flexible layout that adapts to a wide range of screen sizes. In addition, mobile-first design is more efficient for users in terms of bandwidth usage. Since mobile is becoming the main way many people use the web, it’s crucial to consider the mobile-first approach.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of Mobile-First Design?
Benefits:
Mobile design can help you meet Google’s responsive guidelines which will improve your website’s search engine ranking. It also encourages you to focus on content as well as usability across multiple devices and screen sizes.
Mobile-first will help your site appear optimized and fast for search engines. This will increase user traffic to your site as well as the time spent on it by users. It will also improve user experience, which can lead to higher conversion rates. You may even increase the number of pages you’re able to see per visit with mobile design, which can lead to more in-depth content consumption.
Drawbacks:
Unfortunately, mobile-first design isn’t always a good fit for every site. If you have a large amount of desktop traffic or desktop revenue, it won’t be worth making the switch from desktop-first design. Additionally, mobile design can be costly and challenging for small businesses and startups to implement. Not only does this strategy require extra time and resources, but it also means you’ll most likely need to redesign your site.
What criteria should you consider before making the switch to Mobile-First Design?
It’s important to do your research when deciding whether or not mobile-first design is right for you. Here are some factors you should evaluate before making the switch:
The ratio of mobile users vs desktop users on your site or in your industry
The costs involved with developing a new site vs upgrading the site you have now The amount of desktop traffic you have
How large your potential customer base is
The level of user engagement you currently receive on your website for desktop users vs mobile users
How important desktop revenue is to your business model
What tips can help you make the switch to Mobile-First Design? In this guide, we’ll give you strategies for making the transition from desktop-first design to mobile-first design. Click Here To Download a Free Step by Step Checklist We created this checklist because we know that implementing a mobile-first design isn’t always easy. We want to make sure that you get all the right tools in place and develop strategies that will lead to long-term success.
Want to learn more about mobile websites? Mobile-Friendly Website Design Tips 2021 showcases design tips for a mobile website in 2021.
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