In this article, I’m going to share maybe the fastest way to improve the results you get from your website or blog. I’m also going to share 2 great, free tools with you.
First, I need to ask you a question: How does your blog or website look on a mobile device?
Many of your prospective clients or customers will be accessing your site using phones or tablets. That number is set to rise, as PC sales drop and mobile devices increase in popularity. If your site is deliberately designed for mobile devices, that’s fine. However, if it isn’t, a poor mobile experience will cost you a fortune in lost client inquiries or sales.
Here are 2 useful, free tools to help you get it right.
How to see what your site looks like on popular mobile devices
Thankfully, there are a number of free online tools, which show you what your site looks like on mobile devices. Screenfly by Quicktools is a good example. You simply enter the address of your site and then click the various options in the menu bar, to see what your site looks like on different, popular phones and tablets.
A few things to look out for:
- Your site should offer mobile readers clear, easy to read text and mobile friendly buttons.
- Readers shouldn’t need to scroll from left to right, in order to read your mobile content.
- Your header image should not be cropped.
- Your navigation bar should be easy to read and easy to click.
Everything should be displayed so that it’s accessible and clear.
How fast does your site load?
People expect sites to load quickly and correctly. This is especially the case when using a mobile device, when they will often be looking for specific information, fast. If your site takes too long to load, you will be losing readers before they even see your site or read what you have to say.
Google has a tool you can use, which will show you how quickly your site loads on mobile devices as well as regular computers. The Google Page Speed Insights tool will grade your site from 1 to 100 — the faster your site, the higher your score. However, what makes this tool extremely useful is that it tells you where your site needs to improve and offers advice on how to make the changes required.
In short: If your website or blog isn’t delivering a great mobile experience, it’s losing you business. The only question is how much.