Why Mobile First Design is crucial for modern websites and how it impacts user engagement
It’s no secret that nowadays users are spending most of their time using smartphones or tablets. That is why it is important that the website that users view from the device is easy to use, informative, and requires a minimum of time to get the necessary information or place an order. That is why the Mobile First Design concept was created.
What is Mobile First Design?
The mobile first strategy is based on the concept of designing a website’s interface for mobile devices first. The main idea behind this approach is to prototype the design for the smallest screens first and then move on to the design for the larger displays. This is the main difference from the classic Desktop First concept that web professionals have been using for decades.
Why was it necessary to develop a theory where everything develops in reverse?
Remember that not all graphical and functional aspects of desktop websites can be translated to the mobile device while preserving the same level of usability.
Many issues, such as slow page loads, challenging navigation, hard to use CTA buttons, can arise when a website is optimized for desktops. What about UI? For a small smartphone screen, you have to remove a significant part of the elements.
What is the difference between Mobile First Design and Responsive Design
Any website that is to be launched nowadays must be built with responsive design in mind. As previously said, the amount for customers who use smartphones and tablets as their primary device is expanding year after year. As a result, many business owners prefer smartphone and tablet-friendly websites. But what is the core difference between Responsive Design and Mobile First Design?
A conventional website that has undergone compression to reduce all of its components to a size that will allow users to access it as comfortably as possible on a smartphone is known as a responsive website design. The general usability of this idea is its biggest drawback.
When converting a website to a mobile version, it is frequently impossible to perform particular functions because the interface was not designed to be used with a touch screen.
According to the concept of Mobile First Design, the website is first developed for users who will access the services via mobile devices in mind. During development according to this concept all steps, from the page structure to design, are completed with an attention on the usability for mobile device users first, and only then for desktop users. This approach to website development not only makes it easier for visitors to use the resource, but it also helps to promote it.
What are the benefits for the business of Mobile First Design?
User Experience
Mobile-first design prioritizes the user experience of mobile devices, which is critical for attracting and retaining users. With more than half of internet traffic now coming from mobile devices, a poor mobile experience can be a significant barrier to engagement.
Speed
Mobile-first design forces designers to prioritize the most important elements of a website or application, resulting in a leaner and faster experience. This is particularly important on mobile devices, where slow loading times can lead to user frustration and abandonment
SEO
Google now uses mobile first indexing, which means that it primarily uses the mobile version of a website’s content for indexing and ranking. This makes mobile first design critical for SEO and search engine visibility.
Conclusion
Mobile first design is an essential approach for creating websites and applications that provide a great user experience on mobile devices. By prioritizing mobile devices, designers can create faster, more accessible, and more inclusive experiences that meet the needs of modern users. To make it a reality, start with the basics, use responsive design techniques, simplify navigation, embrace progressive enhancement, and test and iterate continuously.
