The Importance of Mobile Optimization: Impact on SEO, UX and Conversions

According to statistics, internet users prefer spending half of their activity online on mobile devices.  This means that not having a proper mobile version of a website is like playing a losing game. 

Our fast-paced world requires having a fast, responsive, and efficient mobile version of a website. The quality of your website’s mobile version can determine whether a user turns into a loyal customer or turns to your competitors’ websites. 

In this article, we are diving into the realm of mobile optimization to show you how important it is for businesses and what tips you can implement to make sure your website is efficient and fully operational on mobile phones, tablets, and other mobile devices. 

What is Mobile Optimization? 

Mobile optimization refers to making adjustments to your website so that users on mobile devices can easily and smoothly view and interact with your content. In other words, if you want to optimize your website for mobile devices, you need to make it fully operational and visually appealing on any mobile device. 

Statistics indicate that over half of the website traffic originates from mobile devices.  

Mobile optimization should be based on responsive design. Responsive design refers to adapting a website’s screen to the size of the device screen. 

It is important to differentiate mobile optimization from mobile-friendliness. They are closely related concepts but have certain differences. For example, a mobile-friendly website makes your website appear smoothly on smaller screens.

Mobile optimization goes a step further. It not only helps your website properly display on smaller screens but also makes the website easier to navigate by formatting content, displaying larger buttons, etc. 

Why Is Mobile Optimization Important? 

Any business needs to have a mobile-optimized website as an essential part of its online presence.  

Here are some key factors that point out the importance of mobile optimization. 

• Provides a Better User Experience 

A mobile-optimized website loads faster, is easy to navigate and provides smooth experiences on small screens. It is optimized for smaller screens and is simple to use with a touchscreen. This leads to low website bounce rates and better user experience. 

• Improves Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Rankings 

Mobile optimization helps to increase your website traffic. Google and other search engines index mobile-optimized websites over desktops. Any not properly optimized website may lose traffic because of low visibility.  

• Boosts Conversions and Sales 

A study by Convertica has shown that customers are 37% more likely to buy from a website that is optimized for mobile devices. A seamless and easy mobile experience naturally leads to high conversions and sales. To boost conversion rates through mobile optimization you need to perform loading speed optimization, responsive design implementation, navigation simplification, etc.  

How to Optimize Your Website for Mobile? 

Optimizing your website for mobile opens up a ton of opportunities for your business growth. Here we share some of the most important tips to consider when performing mobile optimization. 

Simplify the Navigation

Mobile users are impatient. They seek a simple and fast experience. Simplification of the navigation of your website will not only provide the users with an easy experience but will also reduce the load time of your website.  

Craft Responsive Design 

According to the 37.1% of web designers, the major reason why visitors abandon a website is unresponsive design. 

If you are wondering how to start mobile optimization for your website, begin by creating a fully responsive mobile design. It considers adapting the website screen for different mobile devices while keeping the quality high. 

 A good trick in keeping your website design responsive is to apply the so-called “breakpoint”. Breakpoint is the point at which the responsive design shifts from one resolution to another. 

Perform Image and Media Optimization 

If you want your website to load faster, think small. The smaller the images the better website loading and performance. 

Avoid uploading images that are larger than 1MB.  

• Keep the image dimension between 1000-2000px. 
• Never rely on the browser for resizing the images. Use image resizing tools instead. 
• Don’t resize images one by one. It’s inefficient and time-consuming. 
• Use image formats that load fast. For example, JPG, PNG, etc.  
• Add a CDN for a large repository of images. It serves as a second server. You can use tools like CDN Planet. 

Use Mobile-Friendly Forms 

Forms are a core element of any website. To gain more leads and have more sales, you should correctly optimize your forms for mobile.  

Don’t use a lot of fields if you don’t want to make your forms complex. 

• Don’t use a lot of fields if you don’t want to make your forms complex. 
• When possible apply drop-down lists. 
• Make submission buttons visible and easy to touch. 
• Track and monitor the forms to ensure they work well and load fast. You can use tools like Formstory to prevent form errors. 

Reduce the Number of Pop-Ups 

Pop-ups are often annoying for website visitors on mobile. They cover the entire screen and make it impossible to navigate it. So, it is better to reduce the number of pop-ups or not use them at all. 

However, if you need to have pop-ups, make sure to make them close easily and take up a small amount of the screen. 

Use Readable and Mobile-Friendly Fonts 

Choose text fonts that are readable on small screens. A good choice is using fonts like Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, Montserrat, and others. 

Compress Website Files 

 It is important to compress all the files on your website to save space and reduce the page load time. Avoid using many plugins. You can also minify the pages on your website with the help of a professional developer.  

Optimize For Voice Search 

Numbers say that over 50% of the world’s adult population uses voice search daily.  

Optimizing for voice search is no longer a nice-to-have but a must strategy. 

Most people use Siti or Alexa to find the information they are interested in through search engines. To optimize your website for voice search: 

• Rely on natural language. 
• Use long-tail keywords. 
• Provide clear answers to the questions. 

Test Your Website  

Don’t forget about testing your website on various mobile devices (Android, IOS). This will let you detect and remove issues before the users encounter them.  

Another key step is following all the  Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure that your website is accessible to people with disabilities who rely on screen readers and other assistive technology. 

This way you can ensure that the mobile version of your website is accessible for everyone. 

To make your website thrive in the mobile-first world, you should keep up with all the latest trends in mobile optimization. For example, keep an eye on technologies like Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), progressive web apps (PWA), etc.  

Collect User Feedback 

Another critical aspect is to consider the user feedback. Your users are the guide to enhancing the functionality of your website. Feedback is direct input from the users about their experience with your website.  

Always listen to what your users say about your website, and optimize it to meet their requests to deliver exceptional services.  

Conclusion 

Today most people rely on mobile phones for daily activities, including shopping, checking the news, playing games, etc. This highlights the importance of mobile optimization. Chances are you may lose potential customers, conversions, and income if your website is not fully optimized for mobile devices of all types.