When you’re giving your company website a makeover to keep up with the times and the tech, don’t forget about your mobile users. A study by Best SEO Companies called "Why Companies Are Prioritizing the Redesign of their Website" found that website redesign is all the rage right now. But guess what? One in three business leaders said a lousy mobile experience was a big problem with their new-look websites.
So, if you’re about to revamp your website, you’ve got to think about the mobile experience. It’s not just a nice-to-have anymore; it’s a must-have. A lot of people are surfing the web on their smartphones and tablets, so you’ve got to make sure your website works well for them. Here’s what you need to think about:
- Responsive Design: Your website should automatically adjust its layout, images, and content to fit different screen sizes. This makes it easier for people to use, no matter what device they’re on.
- Fast Loading Times: People often use their mobiles on the go, so your website needs to load quickly. You can do this by optimizing images, using browser caching, and cutting down on heavy scripts.
- Simplified Navigation: Mobile screens are small, so navigation is super important. Go for a simple, easy-to-use menu that helps users find what they need without any hassle.
- Touchscreen-Friendly Design: Make sure your design elements are easy to click and navigate with a finger on touchscreen devices. That means buttons and links need to be big enough and spaced out enough to avoid misclicks.
- Readable Content: Make sure your text size and spacing are optimized for readability on smaller screens. Avoid small fonts and make sure text is easily scalable for different devices.
- Testing on Multiple Devices: Before you finalize your redesign, test your website on different devices and browsers to make sure it works well everywhere.
- Optimized Forms for Mobile: If you use forms for lead generation or contact purposes, make sure they’re easy to fill out on mobile devices. The fields should be big enough for touchscreen input.
- Minimize Pop-Ups: Too many pop-ups can be really annoying on mobile devices and can lead to a bad user experience. If you have to use them, make sure they’re easy to close and don’t block important content.
In 2020, 61% of visits to US websites were from mobile devices, so it’s no surprise that business owners want to make the mobile experience better. And with 5G on the rise, mobile is only going to get more important. In the study, more than a third of business leaders said a poor mobile experience was one of the problems with their website after it was redesigned. This was after the site was rebuilt, so it’s something to watch out for.
If you’re a small business owner paying for these services, you need to know what’s going to happen. Go through the contract carefully and make sure the company explains each task to you. That way, you’ll know what to expect before you spend your hard-earned money.
The study also found other issues that came up after a website was redesigned, like slow website speed, broken links, missing pages, and broken e-commerce functions. It also looked at SEO metrics for a website redesign, as more small business owners are realizing how important SEO is. Things like optimizing page speed and existing content, and analyzing the current site and high-performing content are all important.
So why redesign your website? The study found the top reason was to build awareness, followed by driving sales, increasing traffic, improving customer experience, and appealing to new hires. The reasons varied by company size, with small businesses looking to improve accessibility, drive sales, and increase traffic.
In the survey, Best SEO Companies asked 437 business owners and 367 SEO experts about the issues related to website redesign processes.
In conclusion, when you’re redesigning your company website, you’ve got to prioritize the mobile experience. It’s what today’s tech-savvy consumers expect, and it’s what will keep your business competitive in the digital marketplace. By focusing on mobile optimization and avoiding common pitfalls, you can create a website that not only attracts more traffic but also turns visitors into loyal customers.
