In today's world, where more than half of the internet traffic comes from mobile devices, businesses need to optimise their websites for mobile devices. Creating a mobile-friendly website is a crucial aspect of web design in Melbourne. They provide customers with an enjoyable and user-friendly experience while browsing the website on their mobile devices. 

Here is a guide to help Melbourne businesses create a mobile-friendly website:

8-Step Guide to Creating Mobile-Friendly Website

1. Start with a responsive design

A responsive design is a type of web design Geelong where the website automatically adjusts its layout and content to the screen size of the device on which it is being viewed. This means the website will display correctly on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, without the need for separate mobile versions of the site.

A responsive design is essential for Melbourne businesses because it provides a consistent and optimal experience for users, regardless of their device. With more and more people using mobile devices to browse the web, businesses must ensure that their website is easily accessible and usable on these devices.

2. Simplify the Navigation

Simplifying a website’s navigation is important for mobile devices, as it makes it easier for users to find what they are looking for. A cluttered and complicated navigation system can be difficult to use on small screens and lead to a poor user experience.

Therefore, it’s crucial to hire the best web designers in Melbourne to assist you in simplifying the website navigation for a better user experience.  

3. Optimise for Touch

Smartphones are primarily used with touch screens, so optimising the website for touch is important. This means ensuring that the buttons and links are large enough for users to tap with their fingers and that the spacing between them is adequate. Additionally, the website should respond quickly to touch inputs and provide users with instant feedback. There are several web development techniques to optimise your mobile site for touch, and professional designers can assist you in the same.  

4. Use Large Fonts

Small fonts can be difficult to read on small mobile screens, so it's crucial to use larger fonts. This makes the text easier to read and reduces the amount of scrolling required to view the content. The font size should be at least 16 pixels, and it's recommended to use a font that is easy to read, such as Arial or Verdana. Many web designers provide custom website designs and will assist you in creating unique web designs with font styles that suit your website’s requirements. 

5. Make the Content Mobile-Friendly

The content on the website should be optimised for mobile devices. This means using short paragraphs and bullet points and avoiding large images or videos that take a long time to load. Additionally, the content should be organised clearly and concisely, making it easy for visitors to find what they are looking for.

6. Speed Optimisation

Speed optimisation is another key factor in creating a mobile-friendly website for Melbourne businesses. A slow-loading website can lead to a high bounce rate, where users quickly leave the site, leading to a poor user experience and decreased conversions.

Several steps can be taken to optimise the speed of a website, including

- Compressing images: Large images can slow down a website, so optimising them for the web is important. 
- Minimising the use of large files: Large files such as videos, audio files, and PDFs can also slow down a website. 
- Enabling browser caching: Browser caching allows a website to store frequently used files in a cache on the user's device so that they don't have to be downloaded each time the user visits the site. Enabling browser caching can significantly improve the load time of a website.
- Using a fast and reliable hosting provider: The hosting provider can have a significant impact on the speed of a website. It's important to choose a fast and reliable hosting provider and to consider upgrading to a faster plan if necessary.

1. Mobile Search Optimisation

Mobile search optimisation, also known as mobile SEO, is the process of optimising a website for search engines, specifically on mobile devices. With the increasing number of people using mobile devices to search the web, Melbourne businesses must ensure that their website is optimised for mobile search. 

You can speak to Melbourne SEO experts for mobile search optimisation of your website. You can also hire a web design company for this purpose. 

2. Test the Website

Testing the website is an important step in creating a mobile-friendly website for Melbourne businesses. It's important to ensure that the site is fully functional on all devices and that the user experience is consistent and optimal across all devices.

Here are some key tests to perform on a mobile-friendly website:

- Functionality testing: Ensure that all links, buttons, and forms work correctly on mobile devices. Test the site on multiple devices and screen sizes to ensure that it's fully functional on all devices.
- User experience testing: Check that the site is easy to navigate and that all elements are easily accessible and readable on a small screen. 
- Speed testing: Use a website speed test tool to check the site’s load time on mobile devices. Make sure that the site is loading quickly and efficiently on all devices.
- Compatibility testing: Test the site on various browsers and operating systems to ensure that it's compatible with all devices.

Conclusion

Creating a mobile-friendly website is crucial for Melbourne businesses. By following these tips, businesses can provide their customers with an enjoyable and user-friendly experience while browsing the website on their mobile devices. This will help to increase customer satisfaction, and it will also improve the business's search engine rankings and overall online presence.

If you wish to learn more about web design techniques to implement in your website, speak to experts at Make My Website to get assistance with various website design services.