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Mobile Matters: Why You Need a Mobile-Friendly Website (and How to Get One)

By Thom Harrison - March 27, 2025

 

What is a mobile-friendly website? 

More people browse on their phones than ever before. Be it for shopping, searching for information, or paying for services, smartphones are the go-to device for most of us today. That means a website needs to work just as well on a mobile screen as it does on a desktop.

One way to do it might be to create separate websites for each device. But this approach is bound to take up more time and resources. And today’s visitors expect a smoother ride.

A smarter way is to create a website that knows “where it’s at” and can adapt itself to fit a mobile device. This is achieved using a technique known as responsive design.

What’s the difference between being mobile-friendly and mobile-ready?  

“Mobile-friendly” and “mobile-ready” are often used interchangeably to talk about the same basic idea — and that’s fine. For geeks, there is however a slight technical difference:

☐ A mobile-friendly website is one that can adjust its layout and elements (like buttons and menus) to fit mobile screens. Images resize, text reflows, but the site itself doesn’t change; only the way it appears on different devices does.

☐ A mobile-ready website is an entirely separate site with its own web address or subdomain (think “m.example.com”). This approach has been going out of fashion in recent years because of the added costs and headaches involved in running separate sites.

So then, what’s responsive design? The answer is that responsive websites can try to change their layout and elements to fit all different screens — not only mobile, but other devices.

In short: all responsive websites should be mobile-friendly, but not all mobile-friendly websites are responsive.

Why mobile-friendliness matters

Responsive websites adjust their layout on the fly, making them work across a range of devices—not just tablets, but also smartwatches, TVs, and even the whole internet of things. But mobile matters most.

Over half of all internet searches now happen on phones. The share is even bigger for online shopping. Google prefers mobile, too, giving higher search rankings to pages optimised for smartphones.

So while a smooth mobile experience is important for all website owners, it’s essential if you run an online business. Luckily, there are platforms that take care of everything for you.

How do they make websites mobile-friendly?

Think about how users browse on phones — limited screen space and often on the go. When a website is mobile-friendly, the aim is to bring a smooth and easy user experience to smartphones, and generally to tablets as well.

Content needs to be presented in a way that’s easy for mobile visitors to make sense of. That means readable text, clear and concise info, and easy-to-navigate menus with clear buttons and menus, so users can find what they’re looking for.

Fast loading times are important for any website, but even more so on mobile. Images can be compressed and resized, cutting out the waiting times that could cause visitors to bounce.

Mobile-friendliness also means putting the most important things, like contact information, special offers, and clear menus, right at the top for quick access. This way, users can find what they need fast and easily.

✔ Font size and readability: Large, clear text for ease of reading on small screens. 
✔ Simple layout: No clutter, easy to navigate, simplified menus. 
✔ Fast loading: Quick page views for impatient users, with condensed images. 
✔ Tap and scroll friendly: For easy interaction with touchscreens. 
✔ Big CTAs and CTCs: Extra-prominent ‘Call to Action’ and ‘Click-to-Call’ buttons.  

 

Why do I need a mobile-friendly website?

1. Web Browsing and Online Shopping Trends

2. Improved User Experience

3. Lower Bounce Rates, Higher Conversion Rates

4. Lower Costs, Fewer Headaches

5. Better Social Media Integration

6. Better Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

See also: Local SEO in 10 – How Do I Get My Business Found Online? 

How can I get a mobile-friendly website?

Website Builder – Everything You Need to Create a Website in Minutes 

How do responsive websites work?

https://www.seobility.net/en/wiki/Creative_Commons_License_BY-SA_4.0

How do I know if my website is optimised for mobile?

Website Builder helps you create a responsive website in minutes
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