Thanks to a Comscore report, we see that while PCs dominate working hours, mornings and evenings are dominated by both mobile phones and tablets. As a business, you want to reach your customers at all times, and both tablets and smartphones are used heavily during some of the most important times of the day.

So now that you know how, when and why to reach your customers online, you have to consider perhaps the most important thing of all: the design of your mobile site.

It is essential to keep in mind that while your standard website can have an innovative design and all of the bells and whistles that make it the perfect destination on a PC, none of that matters in the mobile world.

Less is always more when it comes to the best mobile site design. Unlike your business’ main site, users aren’t looking to just browse on a mobile site. Chances are, they’re out of the house or on some sort of time constraint, and searching through a mobile device is intended to be both quick and easy.

How Can You Create a Simple Mobile Site Design?

Simplify Your Layout: Give your visitors what they want right away. Make it easy for someone to find important information (such as a menu or a coupon you’re offering) or a contact form – what would someone be searching your site for?

Ensure a Fast Load Time: According to Gomez, 60% of mobile users expect a website to load in three seconds or less, and 74% are willing to wait five seconds or less for a single web page to load before leaving the site. A slow load time is one of the most common problems with mobile sites, and with expectations like these, you need to do everything you can to try and prevent that.

After all, 46% of people have said they were unlikely to return to a mobile site that gave them previous problems.

Use Phone-Specific Functions to Your Advantage: In the interest of creating a simple mobile site, there are a variety of features you can use that are especially convenient. For instance, a “click-to-call” button that automatically dials your business’ number is ideal, as is the ability to automatically have your addressed entered into a user’s GPS.

Keep Scrolling to a Minimum: A simple mobile website, if possible, won’t require any scrolling at all – everything will be in front of a user immediately. But scrolling can’t always be avoided, which isn’t a bad thing. Just make sure it’s vertical –your site design shouldn’t require any horizontal scrolling whatsoever.

Take Advantage of New Business with a Simple Mobile Website Design

Consider the fact that one half of all local searches are performed on mobile devices, while mobile internet usage is expected to overtake desktop internet usage by 2014. With that kind of explosion in usage, now is the time for your business to engage with all of these potential customers.

People are searching out local businesses on their mobile devices, but many companies have been slow to realize this or have created mobile sites that don’t adhere to the rules outlined above. If you want to separate your business from the rest, and expand your customer base on every level (especially a local one), a simple mobile website is all you need.

Mobile Websites vs. Mobile Apps

With the soaring popularity of smartphones and tablets, creating a mobile presence is an essential aspect to a business’ marketing campaign. An increasing number of people are looking for business information through either a mobile app or mobile website, and you don’t want your brand to fall behind.

But how do you know which is best for your business? The first step in choosing either a mobile application or mobile website is understanding what both options offer and how each fits into your particular goals, budget, etc.

A Mobile App vs. Mobile Website

Mobile websites function just like any other browser-based site, designed to fit within the parameters of a smartphone or tablet. The HTML pages are accessed over the Internet and can mirror the look and function of a business’ regular website, displaying text, video, images, and more.

A mobile website is a highly plausible option for your business, reaching across multiple platforms and offering mobile-friendly content that can be accessed quickly. A mobile website also allows users to easily call your business’ number and utilize map features as well.

Mobile apps are accessed without the use of a browser by being downloaded and installed straight to the mobile device. Apps are fast and powerful, but are often tied to a specific platform, meaning you are not reaching the full market without putting more money into an app’s development.

The cost factor is a big aspect in deciding to create a mobile app, but you must also consider the need for a mobile app. If you are creating a game or a campaign that requires a lot of interaction, a mobile app would certainly be worth considering.

Which Do You Choose?

Both mobile apps and mobile websites are similar in style, which means your goals will be the determining factor in what you choose to use. Ideally, your company will be developing a mobile website presence regardless, as you don’t want to lose visitors because users were unable to access any mobile content. Creating a mobile website brings a number of advantages to your business, including:

• Accessibility – Developing a mobile presence means users will be able to find you no matter the device they are using. Staying visible is a key component of competing in this multi-channel world, where the means of getting information are vast and varied.
• Sharing – Mobile websites are easily shared through e-mail and social networks, giving your brand an additional opportunity to reach a wider audience.
• Affordability – Creating a mobile website is cost-effective and doesn’t require a substantial amount of time to implement, especially compared to mobile apps.

No matter what, it is important to maintain a mobile presence. Creating a mobile website that is accessible across all platforms is the first step, but many businesses will have an additional need to develop a mobile app to complement their services. It all depends on the goals (and budget) of your company.