Mobile-Friendly Website Design
and User Experience Tips in 2024

There was a time when there wasn’t much competition online and having a mobile-friendly website was simply a luxury. At present, with the competition being fiercer than ever, it’s a necessity for all brands who want to stay on top. In Australia alone, the number of smartphone users is expected to increase to 23.6 million by 2026.That’s the same users you can reach if you only make your website mobile-friendly.

But this shouldn’t be your end goal. Other than creating a mobile-friendly website, you should focus on improving the user experience (UX) because this leads to higher engagement, reduced bounce rates, and better conversions. We’ll talk more about mobile-friendly designs and the top UX tips for 2024 in this blog.

Image source: Unsplash

The Evolution of Mobile-Friendly Design

Historical Perspective

Mobile web design has come a long way since the early 2000s. Before most people had smartphones, websites were created, designed, and optimised for desktop use. Mobile viewing was barely a priority, and the effort was futile for those who prioritised mobile design. This is because the earlier phones weren’t as smart as now. They were difficult to navigate with limited display and could only show the basic, stripped-down versions of the desktop counterparts. When the newer, more capable smartphones were introduced, designers started to rethink how they approached website design with equal prioritisation as desktop.

Key Changes and Trends Leading Up to 2024

Through the years, more and more trends have led to more modern web designs. Here we discuss the key ones that brought mobile-friendly websites to what they are now.

Responsive Design: Because more and more smartphones are being released with various screen sizes and layouts, designers started creating several versions of their websites to accommodate these differences.
Mobile-First Approach: Some companies are now creating their websites for mobile devices first and then for larger screens like tablets and desktops.
Speed Optimisation: Because internet speeds are different everywhere in the world, developers optimise their mobile-friendly pages to make fast loading times possible regardless of their connectivity speeds.

Essential Elements of Mobile-Friendly Website Design

Fast Loading Times
Large images and media files slow down websites. But they can be compressed so they are still viewable without noticeable compromise on quality.
Intuitive Navigation
Most users prefer clutter-free web pages. To keep things simple, developers should utilise drop-down or hamburger menus. The more space there is, the more that users can focus on the things they need on the website. It’s also not overwhelming for more technologically challenged people or new users.
Easy-to-Use Search Functions
The point of using smartphones is to have easy access to crucial information. That’s why if you ever decide to create a website, you need to make sure there’s a search function available to users on all pages. This will allow users to find what they’re looking for without having to go through all the pages.
Touch-Friendly Design
Most if not all smartphones now have touch screens. You need to make sure all the buttons are big enough that users can click on them without accidentally clicking on all elements around them.
Gestural Navigation
Back in the day, mobile pages normally had zoom-in-and-out icons at the bottom. If they weren’t available, users had to scroll vertically and horizontally, which was taxing considering the sizes of the screens back then. Nowadays, it’s easier for developers to add gestures like swiping and pinching to zoom to improve the user experience on touchscreens.

Image source: Unsplash

User Experience Tips for Mobile Websites

If you’re creating a website or having someone create one for you, you need to use these tips to make sure you get the most out of it.

Prioritising Content
You need to place the most crucial information at the top of the page. This gives users (and search engines) an idea of what’s on the rest of the page without the need to scroll too far. This is something that several SEO services agencies can do for you since developers don’t handle the content part of optimisation.
Readable Font Sizes
The biggest screens nowadays range from 6-7 inches. But there are still users who prefer their devices at around 5 inches. Either way, smartphone owners will want mobile websites to use font sizes that are easy to read.
Enhancing Readability and Accessibility
To make the fonts easier to see, make sure there is ample contrast between the text and the background. Use colours that do not blur into each other as they can make reading difficult.
Alternative Text for Images
Alt texts are not just for search engines. More importantly, they should be utilised to improve accessibility for visually impaired users.
Personalisation and User Engagement
One of the most enjoyed features of users is the availability of light and dark modes for mobile devices. There are other ways to personalise your website but it will depend on your market and what they consider useful.
Interactive Elements
Mobile websites can be both informational and fun. Consider adding polls, quizzes, or quick games so users can use them at will.

Testing and Optimising Mobile Performance

Here’s how you can maximise your website for mobile use and make sure it works.

A/B Testing for UX Improvements
You can create different versions of your pages and conduct tests so you can figure out which ones perform better.
Analysing User Behaviour with Analytics Tools
There are tools like heatmaps and session recordings that show you where user clicks are heaviest so you can use them to your advantage. You can also learn about how they navigate your pages and make it better to encourage more visitors.
Regular Testing
Make sure you schedule periodical testing to identify and fix issues before they impact the user experience.
Tools for Mobile Testin
There are tools like Google Mobile-Friendly Test and BrowserStack to check your site's performance on various devices.

Case Studies and Examples

Here are some mobile pages that have had the most success in using mobile-friendly design.

Shutterfly
Shutterly is a photobook website enjoyed by many. There were several issues with the original mobile site with users complaining about it having too much information on the pages and too many pages necessary to move from one place to another. It’s the same users that made it possible to improve the website with their feedback. Eventually, the user flow and colour swatches were improved with several under-the-hood optimisations.
Google Maps
The past Google Maps mobile website was visually clunky and wasn’t preferred by many users. It was redesigned to improve the user flow and allow the same users to explore and compare their vast travel options. It was also designed to become more aesthetically exciting so visitors enjoy the interface better.

Image source: Unsplash

Buzzfeed
After a lot of optimisations and upgrades, the website’s mobile version now caters to users in many ways that other pages don’t. On the homepage, the first thing users now see is a collage-like layout with large images that redirect to the news article. The categorisation has also been improved so each category has its directory page. There’s also a smart filtering system accessible through the top of the page

Future Trends in Mobile UX Design

AI and Machine Learning in UX
AI and machine learning are becoming integral to UX design, offering personalised user experiences based on data analysis.
Chatbots and Virtual Assistants
Integrating chatbots and virtual assistants can enhance customer service and user engagement.
Voice Search Optimisation
With the rise of voice-activated devices, optimising your site for voice search is crucial.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Integration
AR and VR can provide immersive experiences, particularly in the retail and gaming industries.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and Their Impact
PWAs offer the best web and mobile apps, providing fast, reliable, and engaging user experiences.

Conclusion

In 2024, having a mobile-friendly website is critical for success. Businesses can stay competitive in a mobile-first world by focusing on responsive design, fast loading times, intuitive navigation, and enhanced UX. Invest in mobile optimisation to provide a seamless experience for your users and stay ahead of the trends to improve your site’s performance continually.

Author Marc Bartolome