By 2013, more people will access the Internet via mobile devices rather than through desktop and laptop computers. It’s clear that smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of our lives and have revolutionized the way we communicate and get informed.
I remember when businesses were first starting to embrace the Internet. It was a chore to get the “old-school” set to understand that you were actually losing business by not having a web presence. Well… that’s exactly where we are right now with mobile websites.
It doesn’t cut it anymore to just have a website for your business. These days it’s got to look really good on a smartphone. So I ask the question: “Is your website merely mobile-friendly or is it mobile-optimized?”
What’s the Difference?
Mobile-Friendly
Simply, this means you website is displaying and scaling correctly on a mobile device. If a user accesses your site from an iPhone, for instance, they will see a smaller version of your website with all the elements accessible through the touch interface. At Jacob Tyler, we make sure all of the websites we create are “mobile-friendly”.
Mobile-Optimized
This takes your mobile presence a giant leap forward and means that your website is specifically designed to adapt to the small screen. When someone uses their mobile device, they will be taken to a different version of your website that is fully optimized for the touch experience. This version of your website will tend to have:
- A different, more compact layout
- Streamlined navigation
- Less copy and more use of bullet points
- Less use of images
- No Flash
- No hover actions
These optimizations ensure a high-quality user experience on smartphones and other mobile devices.
Conclusion
At the very least, your business should have a mobile-friendly website. But if you really want to engage with the audience of now and the future, we recommend creating a mobile-optimized version of your website. Either way, we can help you communicate with your customers.