For many businesses, a large proportion of website visitors now arrive on a mobile phone rather than a desktop computer. That means a website can no longer be designed primarily for a large screen and then simply squeezed down to fit a smaller one.
A good mobile website needs to be clear, fast, easy to navigate and simple to use with a thumb rather than a mouse. If it is awkward to use, visitors are more likely to leave before finding the information they need or making an enquiry.
Your website may be mobile-friendly without being mobile-friendly enough
Many older websites technically adapt to a smaller screen, but that does not necessarily make them pleasant to use. Text may be too small, buttons may sit too close together, forms may be awkward to complete and important information may end up buried beneath long sections of content.
Navigation can also become confusing if a desktop menu has simply been converted into a basic mobile menu without considering how people actually use the site. At Andrew Burdett Design, mobile layouts are treated as an important part of the design process rather than an afterthought.
Mobile visitors are often looking for information quickly
Someone viewing a business website on a phone may be trying to find a telephone number, opening hours, directions, a particular service or a quick way to make an enquiry. Those tasks should be straightforward, with contact details easy to find, forms kept concise and key services clearly signposted.
Pages also need a sensible structure so visitors do not have to scroll through large amounts of unnecessary content before finding what they came for. A well-designed mobile site should make the important things easier to access rather than simply reproducing the desktop page in a narrower format.
Responsive design is about more than changing screen size
Modern responsive design involves more than making a page narrower. Layouts often need to change completely between desktop, tablet and mobile, with columns stacking differently, images changing proportions, headings resizing and some content moving to a more useful position.
Buttons and links also need enough space around them to work comfortably on a touchscreen. Andrew Burdett Design builds responsive websites using WordPress and Elementor, allowing individual layouts to be carefully adjusted for different devices rather than relying entirely on automatic resizing.
A poor mobile experience can damage the impression of your business
Your website is often one of the first interactions a potential customer has with your business, so an awkward or dated mobile experience can quickly affect how professional the company appears.
A clear, well-organised mobile website creates a much better impression and makes it easier for visitors to understand what you offer and what they should do next. Good web design is therefore not simply about appearance; it is about making information easy to understand and helping people move naturally towards an enquiry or purchase.
Mobile performance matters too
Mobile users may not always be connected to fast Wi-Fi, which makes page speed particularly important. Oversized images, unnecessary animations, poorly configured plugins and excessive scripts can all make a website feel noticeably slower on a phone.
A page that loads acceptably on a fast office connection may perform very differently on a mobile network. Building a good mobile website therefore involves both design and technical considerations, including image optimisation, sensible page construction and reliable hosting.
Forms need particular attention on mobile
Contact and enquiry forms are one of the most important parts of many business websites, but they can also be one of the most frustrating elements to use on a phone. Long forms, tiny fields, large dropdown lists and unclear validation messages can quickly put potential customers off.
Forms should be designed around the information the business genuinely needs, with fields that are easy to select and complete on a touchscreen. Where appropriate, features such as autocomplete or searchable selections can also make longer forms far easier to use.
Mobile design should be considered from the start
The best results usually come when mobile use is considered during the initial design process rather than checked at the end. Navigation, typography, imagery, forms and calls to action should all be assessed across desktop, tablet and mobile throughout development.
At Andrew Burdett Design, websites are built with these different layouts in mind from the outset, helping ensure that the finished site does not simply fit on a phone, but actually works well on one.
Is your website easy to use on a phone?
If your website has been in place for several years, it is worth looking at it again on a modern smartphone and using it as a customer would. Try finding an important service, locating your contact details and completing an enquiry form, and consider whether each step feels clear and straightforward.
If any of those tasks feel awkward, slow or unnecessarily difficult, your visitors are likely to feel the same. Andrew Burdett Design has been designing and developing websites for businesses and organisations since 1999, providing website design, WordPress development, hosting, maintenance and ongoing support.
If your existing website needs improving for mobile users, or you are considering a new responsive website, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
