Why is mobile-first web design important?

Mobile-first web design is an approach that emphasizes the importance of a site’s mobile design before its desktop design. The idea is to use the easiest way possible to reach your users, which is typically their mobile devices.

A mobile-first web strategy also supports other conceptual approaches – like responsive design and progressive enhancement – to help make your site as accessible as possible to users.

With a mobile-first approach, you can make key decisions up front that help ensure the website remains functional and accessible across all devices. Mobile first design aims to hit the most important content on your site and render it effectively in the smallest possible screen size.

Why is mobile first important in website design in Vancouver Canada?

Website designers in Vancouver should know that Google has made “mobile-friendliness” a significant factor in its algorithm rankings.

If you don’t yet use a mobile-first approach, you’ll be behind the curve both in your own traffic (because of slower load times) and in your ability to serve your users’ needs.

Search engines are increasingly recognizing mobile-friendly websites that are optimized for small screen sizes and fast loading times. Google has been pushing this message quite strongly, making it vital for website owners to make sure that their sites are mobile-friendly.

Tips to ensure the mobile-first web design

1 – Define the most important content

Start by defining the most important and frequently accessed content on your website. Then decide which elements of your site should be visible above the fold (the area users see without having to scroll). If your most important content includes images, it may make sense for you to prioritize them for mobile users.

2- Eliminate unnecessary features

Take a look at the user experience of your mobile and desktop sites. When it comes to touchscreens, you don’t have to include the same level of navigation options or site breadcrumbs as you would for people browsing with a keyboard and mouse.

If you see extra features on the desktop site that are not necessary to the core experience, then you should remove them from the mobile site.

3 – Use a mobile-first framework

Responsive frameworks make it easier for you to create a single codebase for your mobile and desktop sites. You need not create two separate versions of the same site.

You can use a framework to create your site once and then simply add a few lines of code for the desktop version.

To conclude

Website designers in Vancouver know the logic behind this decision. It assumes that a high percentage of web users will be accessing your website on a mobile device rather than their PC browser. So it’s important to always think about how you can optimize your website design in Vancouver Canada, for the smallest screen size setting possible.

Ryan Stevenson is the author of this article. For more details about Customer Journey Mapping please visit our website: stealthmedia.com