Mobile users make up a huge percentage of website traffic. Is your website smartphone ready?

Let’s talk about what to do to position your brand and site for the mobile web.

5 Tips to designing a site your visitors can use via mobile technology

#1 It’s about them, not you

A great mobile site gives your visitors what they want, when they want it. It’s about their goals, frame all discussions about your site development around how your users will want to use the site.

A few common user goals include:

• Finding your location or address
• Finding a phone number or contact information
• Looking for deals and information on what’s available at your location
• Finding out more about your products
  

When you frame your design and development around these key points, your audience will find your site useful.
#2 Bigger is not better on the mobile web

Mobile websites need to be smaller than traditional websites. A smartphone simply cannot display and handle the information load that is contained in most traditional web based sites. Make sure that you take the mobile browser, the network, and the mobile device into consideration. Your goal is information quickly not lengthy entertainment or graphic heavy pages.
Most of your site content should center around the items listed in #1, remembering to keep it simple, including:

• A way to locate your business in person
• Contact information
• A menu or service offerings
• Your mobile apps
• and the most commonly sought after information on your site by mobile users (track this via your analytics to make the determination of what this is)

Create your mobile site for quick access to information so your user can get in and out.

#3 Quick Access and User Details

Your site needs a quick load time, 3 seconds is almost too slow in most cases.
Accomplish this with:

• Fast Load Time = efficient coding
• use video sparingly
• Efficient coding and tailored display
• no flash (you might love how it looks, but flash is not a suggested user experience for mobile)
• Redirect mobile users to a special mobile site
• know how your site looks on a variety of platforms like the iphone, android or blackberry systems – they don’t all display the same

#4 Brand appropriately
Create your mobile brand that represents your company brand, but pare it down for the size and considerations of being seen on a mobile device. Let someone know that they are in the right place with brand elements when they get to your site.
Do this through:

• Effective Color Representation
• Logo
• Product Images
• URL

#5 Organic Updates

Be prepared to modify and maintain your site as new technology becomes available. Regular updates and fresh information will maintain a strong mobile portal for your users.

• Use timed offers and campaigns
• shift your featured products or services
• Update your architecture
• Set a timed development cycle and decide to look at the site design regularly, every 6 months would be a great start

Use these suggestions to keep your mobile users happy, engaged, and confident in what your brand can provide online.

Whenever you do decide to have professional images created, here are some guidelines to keep in mind for a more successful portrait session.

Select a professional photographer experienced in photographing people- A good photographer will use lighting and posing techniques that bring out the best in you and highlight your best features. Ask to see samples of previous work. Don’t be afraid to share any apprehensions you have about being photographed.

Proper preparation of hair and makeup – A portrait session is not the time to try a radically new hairstyle! Wear your hair in a style you’re already comfortable with or have already been photographed with. Makeup should not be too heavy. This would be a good time to employ the skills of a professional makeup artist.

Clothing selection – Wear classic clothing that will not date the photograph. Color coordination lends harmony to the portrait. Avoid large or bold patterns and colors that may draw attention from your face, which should be the focal point. Darker colors tend to minimize body size. Coordinate attire from head to toe even if only headshots are taken as this enhances the senses of being “total” and “complete” Wear longs sleeves. If your face is full, a scooped or “V” neckline works best. A turtleneck or high-neck garment usually works well for a long neck or slender face. A scarf many times is a nice accent.

If you wear glasses – If glasses are a part of your daily attire, be sure to wear them in your photographs. To avoid lens glare, have your optometrist to temporarily remove the frames, or see if you can borrow a pair of empty frames for your portrait session. Read More | Comments