Think about the last time you looked up a local business. Chances are you were on your phone, maybe in a car park, on the couch or between jobs. Your customers are the same, which is why a mobile friendly website isn’t a nice extra anymore. It’s the version of your site most people will see.
The good news is that getting it right isn’t complicated. It just needs to be planned from the start rather than tacked on at the end.
Most people meet your business on a small screen
People search on their phones when they need something now: a plumber for a leaking tap, a café that’s open, a physio who can see them this week. They’re often in a hurry, sometimes on patchy reception, and they want the answer fast.
If your site is slow to load, hard to read or makes them pinch and zoom, they’ll usually go back to the search results and tap the next business. They won’t ring to tell you why.
That’s what makes phone problems so easy to miss. Most business owners check their own site on a computer at the office, where everything looks fine. Meanwhile customers are seeing a cramped, slow version and moving on without a word.
What “phones first” actually means
Designing phones first means planning the small-screen version before the desktop one. On a phone, there’s only room for what matters most, so you’re forced to decide what that is.
That tends to make the desktop version better too. Clear priorities, short paragraphs and obvious next steps work on any screen.
It’s different from a site where the desktop layout simply gets squashed down to fit. A squashed site technically works, but it can bury the phone number under a giant banner image or turn a neat menu into a long, fiddly list.
What a mobile friendly website needs
A phone number you can tap
On a phone, your number should be a tap-to-call link that’s easy to find near the top of every page. It sounds small, but for a tradie or a clinic it’s often the most useful thing on the site.
Text you can read without zooming
Body text needs to be large enough to read comfortably, with enough contrast against the background. Pale grey text on white might look stylish on a big monitor, but it’s hard work on a phone in the sun.
Buttons big enough for thumbs
Links and buttons need space around them so people don’t tap the wrong thing. Menus should open and close easily with one hand.
Fast loading
Oversized images are one of the most common reasons small business sites are slow on phones. Photos should be sized and compressed properly so they look sharp without taking ages to appear.
Forms that are easy to fill in
Keep forms short and ask only for what you need. Use the right field types so the number keypad pops up for phone numbers. And keep spam protection switched on, so real enquiries don’t get lost in junk.
Maps and directions
If customers visit you, make it easy to open directions in their maps app with a single tap.
No pop-ups covering the page
Pop-ups, chat bubbles and banners that look fine on a desktop can cover half a phone screen. If a visitor has to hunt for a tiny close button before they can read anything, many won’t stay. Keep them small, or leave them off on phones.
Phones, Google and local searches
Google looks at the mobile version of your site when deciding how to show it in search results. A site that’s hard to use on a phone doesn’t give itself the best start. Nobody can honestly promise rankings, but a fast, clear site on mobile is part of the foundations.
Phones also connect your website to your Google Business Profile. Many people find a business on Google Maps, tap through to the website and then call. Keeping your profile accurate is part of the picture, and Google Business Profile Help explains how to manage it. We’ve also written a guide to setting up your Google Business Profile properly.
If you built your site with a DIY builder, well done for getting it online. It may look fine on a phone at a glance but still have issues underneath. Our article on why DIY websites struggle on Google explains some of the common ones.
How to check your own site in five minutes
Grab your phone and run through this list:
- Search for your business name and tap through to your site. How long does it take to load?
- Can you see what you do and how to contact you without scrolling far?
- Tap your phone number. Does it start a call?
- Open the menu. Is it easy to use with one thumb?
- Read a service page. Can you read it without zooming?
- Fill in your contact form and send a test. Did it arrive?
A mobile friendly website should pass all six. Then ask a friend to find something specific on your site while you watch. It’s surprisingly revealing.
How we build for phones
Every website we design is mobile-responsive, and we plan the phone layout alongside the desktop one, not as an afterthought. Custom WordPress websites start from $1,595 + GST and include on-page SEO foundations, security and an SSL certificate. You’ll see the site on your own phone and approve it before it goes live.
We work with businesses right across the Northern Rivers and the Gold Coast, from Lismore and Ballina to Byron Bay and Tweed Heads.
Want to know how your site works on a phone?
Book a free website health check and we’ll review your site’s performance, design and SEO, including how well it works on a phone. It’s about 30 minutes, with no obligation and in plain English. Get in touch or call 02 6610 9202.
