Why is mobile-first web design so important?
What is a Mobile-First Web Design?
Mobile-first web design sounds just like that. The principle is that designers should first provide the best user experience for their mobile devices, then continuously create much larger screens such as the iPad and finally the desktop. This is most often associated with another best practice of web design, which is responsive web design. Responsive web design is a way to adapt web content to the screens of different devices automatically. Combining these two methods, the user feels more comfortable and can add “bells and whistles” as the canvas grows as they grow.
In the past, most designers and developers preferred the desktop first, and mobile was simply a retrofit and missed many essential features that were considered to be the most important on the desktop. Result? A paradigm shift in mobile-first web design.
How to Create A Mobile-First Design?
One of the best and fastest ways to create a mobile-first page is to use a responsive website builder that allows you to create your design without code. The popularity of drag-and-drop page builders is growing rapidly. You don’t have to spend time on the learning curve to create versatile web pages without changing your code.
You can also use off-the-shelf web themes that include all the essentials you need for a quick start on your web project. All you have to do is select a web theme that suits your topic, adjust it with the drag and drop admin panel’s help, load the page with your content, and bring it online.
What are the benefits?
Mobile Conversion
The average desktop website conversion is still higher than the mobile, with desktop conversions at around 3.82% and mobile conversions at 1.32%. Even the gap is gradually narrowing with the increasing use of mobile devices.
By following a mobile-first design strategy, companies can significantly improve conversion rates. As more people access the Internet via mobile phones and trust in mobile websites, conversions can increase.
Google’s Ranking
Eight years later, following Eric Schmidt’s announcement at Mobile World Congress in 2010, Google followed the warning that it now uses the Mobile-First Index for more than half of all web pages worldwide. The Mobile-First Index means that Google looks at your website’s mobile version and ranks it before the desktop version. Using a mobile-first design strategy, web designers can significantly increase their website’s likelihood to rank high on Google.
Strong Foundation
First, use mobile to build a solid foundation. This foundation helps in enhancing other tablet and desktop projects. The foundation must always be content, and mobile-first design focuses on navigation content. Users can get the information they need faster.
This makes your first mobile design easier because you start by tackling the most challenging screen sizes to design. The rest will inevitably fall into place.
Mobile-first designs need to focus on and maintain clarity by removing unwanted UI decorations. By eliminating the distractions, the user experience is always improved, making sense for the business.
What are the disadvantages?
Nothing is perfect. Mobile-first responsive web design also has some drawbacks:
- Mobile device optimization can be costly and time-consuming.
- Mobile screen space is limited, and you have to work with taps instead of mouse clicks.
- Not all designers appreciate this approach because it cannot provide a clear picture of the final product.
Conclusion
Neglecting to consider mobile-first web design today is somehow a de facto sin. After all, providing a user-friendly experience on your website is a priority, and designing with your user in mind ensures that your user enjoys a comfortable experience.[/cws_sc_text]
