Mobile optimization is much more than a buzzword for the modern blogger.
Considering the rapid rise of mobile devices and Google’s insistence on appealing to their users, blogs that fail to meet the needs of visitors on-the-go will inevitably become lost in the shuffle. Due to the massive amount of transactions being done online today, you simply can’t afford not to optimize your blog for mobile users.
Thankfully, mobile optimization doesn’t have to be rocket science. If you already follow modern best practices for building a blog, chance are you’ve already poised yourself for success in the mobile blogosphere. However, keep the following tips in mind to ensure that your blog is optimized for smartphones and tablets alike.
Avoid Flash
There’s a good chance that your site isn’t making the mistake of relying on Flash, especially given the popularity of platforms such as WordPress. However, nearly 10% of sites still rely on Flash in an attempt to “wow” visitors. Times have changed: with the emergence of responsive web design for modern bloggers, don’t feel like you’re missing out by foregoing Flash in the future.
Avoid Pop-Ups (If Possible)
Likewise, pesky pop-up ads can be a pain for mobile visitors. While pop-ups are still relatively commonplace on desktops and easy to deal with through platforms such as AdBlock, they can be particularly annoying for those on a smartphone or tablet. The prevalence of pop-ups on your site could lead to a higher bounce-rate, which is bad for your blog and a negative search signal in the eyes of Google.
Be Aware of You Buttons
The emergence of touch-screens has made web designers especially aware of user experience. For this reason, make sure that the navigation buttons of your site are loud and clear. Between size and color, ensure that your visitors can easily navigate your site; meanwhile, your buttons shouldn’t clash with your site’s color scheme.
Rely on Responsive Design for Scrolling
Responsive design is taking over and revolutionizing the way that readers interact with their favorite blogs. Consider choosing a theme for your blog that enables infinite scrolling as not to interrupt your readers as they browse your site. Such designs give your blog a natural flow, creating a more intuitive user experience for visitors on-the-go.
Clear Calls-to-Action
Crating effective calls-to-actions is the cornerstone of just about any effective content strategy; however, it’s incredibly important to ensure that your CTAs are crystal clear for mobile users. Consider taking advantage of headings and subheadings as a means to grab these users’ attention. Include CTAs as their own separate paragraphs so that visitors are naturally drawn to them. On the same note, make sure that you include them often enough so that they can be seen by serial scrollers.
Considering that mobile users have surpassed desktop users, the debate over whether or not to optimize for mobile is no longer a debate at all. By following best practices when it comes to mobile visitors, you’ll ensure that your site looks clean on-the-go and you’re not neglecting any potential business in the process.
