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A mobile-friendly business website is no longer a nice-to-have, it is a must-have

A small business CEO commented to me recently that “I am not yet convinced that I need to make the investment of changing my website so that it is “mobile friendly” because people can get to it by logging on to the internet”.  I have commented on this before but let me give some reminders.

I have stated that a mobile-friendly business website is no longer a nice-to-have, it is a must-have. This is especially true if you plan to sell online. Google prioritizes websites that are mobile-friendly over those that are not. Without a mobile-friendly website, there is a good chance your customers will not find your business online which means you’re losing money. I will share some tips for upgrading your website to be mobile-friendly so you can effectively sell online and grow your business.

First, test your website and see how mobile-friendly it is.  Just use this link and insert your website:  https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly 

Today, having a mobile-friendly website for your business is non-negotiable. That is because back in 2015, Google changed the game and started prioritizing mobile-friendly websites in its organic search results page rankings. Since then, the need for a mobile-friendly site has only continued to climb.

Like it or not, it is Google’s world, and we have to play in it.

An astounding 87-percent of all web searches take place on Google’s platform. With this level of market share, it is no surprise that Google is setting the standards and rules for how the world does business online.

Today, years after Google’s shift to prioritize mobile-friendly sites in search results, nearly 60-percent of all web searches take place on a mobile device. So, what does this all mean?

It means that if your business website is not mobile-friendly, then you are losing business.

Making the change to a mobile-friendly website needs to be high up on your priority list, especially if you sell online. If you are building a new site for your small business, you’ll want to choose a site built with what’s known as “responsive design.”  Responsive design creates a website experience that is fluid from mobile to desktop to tablet.

Google’s emphasis on mobile design is its way of rewarding businesses that provide users with a high-quality user experience. When someone visits your website, their experience on your site should be the same regardless of whether they are viewing it on their phone or computer.

Responsive design is a design solution that accounts for how the site will respond to your content and graphics at various pixel widths and heights. The width of a mobile device is far less than a desktop, and your website needs to account for both.

A website designer will create a site using responsive design and assess the way the site responds to text and images of different sizes throughout the design process. The result is a high-quality website that meets Google’s mobile requirements and provides a positive user experience on any device.

If your website is not yet mobile-friendly, the best option may be to start fresh.

Years ago, businesses were adding plug-ins to make their websites mobile-friendly. Plugs-ins are notorious for creating more challenges than solutions when not used properly. If you have been holding out and are still operating a site that’s not mobile-friendly, your best option is to invest in a new, responsive website that will greatly improve the user experience for your customers and prospects.

Launching a new mobile-friendly website – regardless of whether it is a brand-new site or a website refresh – is a big step for any small business. Having the support of other small business owners and mentors who have gone through a website launch before, like a SCORE mentor, is one of the best ways to make sure you are taking the right steps to launch a website that performs well and creates a positive user experience.