They're called smartphone zombies (you can call them ‘smartphone walkers’ if you’re into HBO series The Walking Dead). Equipped with a smartphone wired to their brains via earbuds or noise-cancelling headphones, they can stagger into your path at any time, falling down stairs, tripping over curbs and stepping into traffic. If this pandemic-like vent tells you anything, it's that your website needs to be mobile responsive, or you're missing out on a horde of new business.
Research shows that the average New Zealander spends three hours and 13 minutes on their phone each day (two minutes less than the global average), and we check our phones an average of 58 times a day. Taking out sleep time, that's roughly every 15 minutes.
It's very simple, if you want your business to be seen and heard, if you want any kind of engagement at all, your website must be mobile responsive because that's where everybody's attention resides.
Did you know that more than half your website traffic comes from mobile? As of 2024, mobile devices account for approximately 60.67% of global website traffic, and the convenience of 'internet on the go' offered by mobiles is only going to increase.
And it’s not just traffic. Optimising websites for mobile devices ensures better user experience, higher engagement, and improved search engine rankings because Google prioritises mobile-friendly sites in its indexing.
On desktops, navigation menus might be horizontal and expansive, but on mobile devices, they collapse into a hamburger menu to save space and provide easy access.
A three-column layout on a desktop might collapse into a single-column layout on a smartphone, making it easier to scroll through content vertically.
Your website may be 'mobile responsive,' but is it really?
- Some websites load faster than others. If your site is slow to load, visitors will leave within seconds. Techniques like image compression can make a big difference.
- The way your website is designed (user experience) will influence the effectiveness of your website for mobile. For example, appropriately sized touch targets and streamlined content to avoid clutter.
- Does your website ensure that key information is easily accessible without excessive scrolling?
- How accessible is your website to people with disabilities? Features like high contrast options, screen reader compatibility, and keyboard navigation can make a world of difference.
If you find that opening your website is slow to load on mobile, the interface is cluttered, the design is inconsistent and hard to navigate and your site neglects accessibility (very important in Google indexing), it may be time to review the effectiveness of your site’s mobile responsiveness.
