Is your firm’s website mobile-friendly? If you’re not sure, take a moment now to pull it up on your smartphone or tablet. Is the home page cut off on one side or the other? Is the content jumbled?
The user interface adjusts based on the display when a website is mobile-friendly. Content expands, collapses, shows or hides based on the screen size. This guarantees that anyone viewing your website, whether on a desktop, smartphone, or tablet, experiences a controlled and seamless user experience.
If you’re still not sure whether your website is mobile-friendly, Google recommends using Chrome Lighthouse to test your site. In just a few minutes, this app can tell you whether your site is mobile-friendly and where to improve. Why is this important? Here are five reasons.
1. Desktops are no longer #1
In October 2016, internet usage by mobile and tablet devices exceeded desktop worldwide for the first time ever. This milestone is significant because it demonstrates that mobile devices are becoming our primary access point to the internet. We’re no longer living in a world where accessing a website from a mobile device can be considered the exception. To put it simply, you need to think mobile because that’s where your clients are.
2. Mobile isn’t just for e-commerce
More than 81% of Americans now shop online, but having a mobile-friendly site isn’t just for e-commerce companies. People do all sorts of research online, and the lack of mobile optimization affects whether they spend time on your site or leave it immediately and move on to your competitor.
Nobody wants to have to deal with squinting, pinching, zooming and scrolling to find the information they need. When your website is mobile-optimized, anyone who visits it will have a proper experience, which will encourage them to see you as a credible source of information and services.
3. It’s a business imperative
A web presence is essential, and you’ve likely invested a lot of time, effort and resources into building your website and providing valuable content. That effort is in vain if clients can’t find your site.
Google’s search uses mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile, Google may penalize you with a lower rank in its search engine results. Simply put, websites that are optimized for mobile will be found quicker than those that aren’t.
4. Reach more clients, faster
When your current clients look for you online, they may type your URL directly into the address field or search for your firm’s name. But what if they search for “[Your city] CPA,” “international tax accountant,” “employee benefit plan auditor,” or another service you want to be known for?
Without a mobile-friendly site, potential clients are less likely to find you and more likely to overlook you. Having a mobile website means your customer base will automatically widen to anyone who performs a mobile search.
5. You want to be seen as modern and relevant
Actions speak louder than words. A mobile-friendly website helps your firm stand out and presents a positive, contemporary brand identity. You can immediately engage current and potential clients with mobile-specific features like click-to-call and mapping functions. It makes a positive statement before you’ve said anything. On the other hand, websites that aren’t optimized for mobile make your firm look like a digital dinosaur. In most cases, that will send potential clients looking elsewhere.
This doesn’t mean you should ignore clients who still use desktops and laptops. They still account for a significant portion of your client base and new prospects. Instead, opt for a mobile-responsive website that recognizes the device being used and resizes itself accordingly.
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As the Marketing Manager for Boomer Consulting, Inc., Heather’s primary focus is on developing the firm’s marketing strategy and brand awareness to help drive business results. She is one of the leads of the Marketing & Business Development Circle. Internally she manages and executes marketing and business development initiatives, with daily oversight of the website, social media, and thought leadership content. In addition, as a part of the Business Development team, she provides leadership and strategic planning on marketing and communication practices for the firm.
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