{"id":203,"date":"2015-05-04T08:00:42","date_gmt":"2015-05-04T08:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trafficjams.com\/blog\/?p=203"},"modified":"2015-07-15T17:42:31","modified_gmt":"2015-07-15T17:42:31","slug":"10-mobile-optimization-tips-rule-the-serps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafficjams.com\/blog\/10-mobile-optimization-tips-rule-the-serps\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Mobile Optimization Tips to Help You Rule the SERPs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mobile optimization<\/a> is something that savvy webmasters and business owners have been doing for years. But, with the recent Google algorithm update that actively penalizes unresponsive sites, designing for handheld devices is no longer optional. It\u2019s a necessity if your business intends to compete online.<\/p>\n

More people are searching for products and services from handheld devices, with tablets and smartphones leading the pack. In addition, at just over 8%<\/a>, tablets drive conversion rates that rival those generated by PC users. What does that mean for you as a business owner?<\/p>\n

Simple: if your website isn\u2019t responsive, you\u2019ll lose out on potential customers as Google won\u2019t include your non-mobile site in mobile search results. But, having a mobile friendly site isn\u2019t enough. You still need to provide a seamless experience to your audience\u2026regardless of the device they\u2019re using.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re here to offer you 10 mobile optimization tips that will not only ensure that you\u2019ll be included in mobile search results but, help you provide a better user experience for your audience. No matter what kind of device they\u2019re on.<\/p>\n

Test your site:<\/strong> The first thing you\u2019ll want to do is test your site for mobile compatibility using Google\u2019s Mobile Friendly Test<\/a>. It generally takes less than 30 seconds and will give you a clear cut answer as to whether you site is, or isn\u2019t, ready for viewing on handheld devices. If your site isn\u2019t mobile friendly, don\u2019t worry \u2013 we have plenty of solutions that can help you get up to speed without any coding involved,<\/p>\n

Install a mobile responsive theme.<\/strong> Making sure your site complies with Google\u2019s mobile algorithm update can be as simple as installing a responsive theme. The key is choosing a theme that supports all devices and offers the right experience for your audience. You don\u2019t have to be a coding wiz to get your mobile friendly site up and running \u2013 there are plenty of places you can pick up high quality responsive themes that you can modify yourself or work with one of our web designers<\/a> to get the job done for you.<\/p>\n

Simplify the user experience.<\/strong> When optimizing your site for mobile, it\u2019s important to keep the user experience in mind with simple design and navigation elements. People on handheld devices have smaller screens and limited space \u2013 they don\u2019t need more options. When it comes to your navigation elements, focus on what\u2019s most important and streamline your link options so that they can easily find what they\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

Get in the fast lane.<\/strong> Optimizing your site\u2019s speed is important no matter what device your prospects are using but, when it comes to mobile it\u2019s even more so. You can check your site\u2019s speed for mobile and desktop using Google\u2019s Page Speed Insights tool<\/a>. The best part is that it offers actionable insights on issues that you can fix right away.<\/p>\n

Limit images.<\/strong> They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, when it comes to your website, images worth thousands of kilobytes can really add up and slow things down. Although most mobile responsive themes will include code to resize your images based on the device, you can do your part by using images sparingly and installing a cache to help cut down on loading times.<\/p>\n

Design for touch screens.<\/strong> One of the most obvious differences in the user experience between desktop and mobile users is how they physically navigate your site. Mobile users swipe and tap, whereas those on a desktop point and click. Clickable images, buttons, larger text and a swipe and tap interface make navigating your site so much easier.<\/p>\n

Simplify input forms.<\/strong> Most people don\u2019t like filling out forms but, if you\u2019ve got an enticing offer, you\u2019re sure to win more than a few hearts. If you want to increase your conversions on mobile, only ask for the information that is absolutely necessary and use drop down forms where possible.<\/p>\n

Make it easy to find your contact info.<\/strong> When a person looks up your business on their mobile device, chances are they\u2019re actually trying to find your contact info. So, make it easy for them. Put your phone number, address and email in a prominent place like your header so they can easily get in contact with you from any page.<\/p>\n

Use mobile friendly fonts.<\/strong> Smaller screens on mobile and handheld devices can make some fonts hard to read. A good rule of thumb is to use a 16 point font as it reads better on smaller screens without the user having to enlarge the page. Also, using a sans serif font and limiting the variety of fonts to a maximum of two can help make your site easier to read on mobile devices.<\/p>\n

Keep an eye on your metrics.<\/strong> Finally, you\u2019ll want to measure the performance of your website<\/a> for the mobile experience just as you would for desktop. You can view data about mobile users in your Google Analytics interface and even segment those users down to the type of device they are using.<\/p>\n

So, if you haven\u2019t optimized your website yet, now is the time to get started. Tackling even one of these 10 tips for mobile optimization per day can help boost your visibility across a variety of devices and give you an edge over your competition. Of course, you don’t have to go it alone – call us at 855-599-9998 or email us at sales@trafficjams.com and we’ll be happy to help.<\/p>\n

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