We all know that the Mobile Web is and has been taking off in a big way. If you don’t have a mobile website, you’re missing out on a ton of opportunities. Unfortunately, many of those with mobile websites fail to provide quality in design, causing a significant dip in usability. The whole point of a mobile website is to give users an enticing experience on the go. Here are a few tips for a well-designed mobile site that doesn’t alienate the user.
Maintain Accessibility
You want a mobile site with optimum usability and accessibility. To achieve that, focus on a design that allows users to move quickly and freely. Do away with drop down menus in favor of toggles for options. Hide features and elements that are rarely used. Don’t force users to fill out long forms via their phones. Keep a good balance of aesthetics and content. Rework the content on your mobile site for accessibility and legibility.
For increased accessibility, your mobile site should either auto detect screen resolutions or redirect users to the optimum mobile site.
Use the Right Colors
It might seem trivial, but color plays a big role in the usability of a mobile site. Bad color combinations are off-putting and can dissuade users from using your mobile site. When used properly, colors offer a visually compelling means of communicating information, allowing you to save precious real estate. For example, maintaining a specific color for your navigation throughout the website helps the user understand that that color means navigation regardless of the page he is on.
Above all, keep in mind that mobile displays are smaller and lack the contrast, depth, and clarity of a full desktop monitor. Test readability by viewing your mobile site in monochrome. Sections of your site that don’t display well in monochrome won’t do well in color.
Stay Minimalist
A good mobile design does away with overcrowded design and replaces it with clean, simple usability. Of course, that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice aesthetics, character, and personal branding, but you may have to kill (or modify) your darlings. Shorten your navigation bar, only use images when necessary, and eliminate excessive hyperlinks per page. Remember: less is definitely more.
Stay Social
Phones, tablets, and other mobile devices were built and designed for Social Media. Users on mobile devices love to share and show off. Integrating social elements into your mobile site is a no brainer. Encourage users to easily share pages and products. Cultivate a fun, interactive community with promotions and contests that make use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. The sky’s the limit.
Maintain Accessibility
You want a mobile site with optimum usability and accessibility. To achieve that, focus on a design that allows users to move quickly and freely. Do away with drop down menus in favor of toggles for options. Hide features and elements that are rarely used. Don’t force users to fill out long forms via their phones. Keep a good balance of aesthetics and content. Rework the content on your mobile site for accessibility and legibility.
For increased accessibility, your mobile site should either auto detect screen resolutions or redirect users to the optimum mobile site.
Use the Right Colors
It might seem trivial, but color plays a big role in the usability of a mobile site. Bad color combinations are off-putting and can dissuade users from using your mobile site. When used properly, colors offer a visually compelling means of communicating information, allowing you to save precious real estate. For example, maintaining a specific color for your navigation throughout the website helps the user understand that that color means navigation regardless of the page he is on.
Above all, keep in mind that mobile displays are smaller and lack the contrast, depth, and clarity of a full desktop monitor. Test readability by viewing your mobile site in monochrome. Sections of your site that don’t display well in monochrome won’t do well in color.
Stay Minimalist
A good mobile design does away with overcrowded design and replaces it with clean, simple usability. Of course, that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice aesthetics, character, and personal branding, but you may have to kill (or modify) your darlings. Shorten your navigation bar, only use images when necessary, and eliminate excessive hyperlinks per page. Remember: less is definitely more.
Stay Social
Phones, tablets, and other mobile devices were built and designed for Social Media. Users on mobile devices love to share and show off. Integrating social elements into your mobile site is a no brainer. Encourage users to easily share pages and products. Cultivate a fun, interactive community with promotions and contests that make use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. The sky’s the limit.
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