Optimize your WordPress website for mobile devices.
Since 2017, more traffic has come from mobile than desktop, and this trend is expected to continue through 2023 for ecommerce sites. As users increasingly rely on their mobile devices, they expect websites to be accessible and easy to use on their phones and tablets.
However, many websites are not optimized for mobile beyond using a simple responsive theme. Redesigning the site for smaller screens is not enough to engage and convert mobile visitors. It is vital to ensure that the mobile site is fast, easy to use, and designed specifically for small screens.
Why should mobile optimization be a priority? According to Google, 611% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had problems with, and 401% will jump to a competitor’s site. Even if users aren’t making mobile purchases, they’re likely to be researching your competition. If you miss the opportunity to engage with them on their device, they could be lost forever.
Website acceleration for mobile devices.
Speeding up your website is considered the most important thing you can do, so it's something you should start with.
Fast loading mobile websites are expected by users, especially when they are on the go. Conversions can increase and bounce rates can decrease with faster loading times, while slow loading times will drive them to the competition.
Three things can be done to speed up your mobile website.
The images should be reduced in size.
Page load times can be significantly slowed by large images. Fortunately, this is a relatively simple fix.
The website pages should first be reviewed and any unnecessary images removed. If the images are only for aesthetic purposes, they are unlikely to convert visitors.
If images must remain then any large images on the main landing pages should be optimized. There are tools such as a WordPress plugin that can be used to compress images without losing quality, allowing pages to load faster while still looking great.
Responsive images also help with loading times, and the WordPress core has included them since version 4.4, so there's no need for anything extra.
Plugins and themes should be optimized.
Bad plugin and theme code can sometimes cause a bottleneck in website speed, even if everything else is optimized.
If there is a significant slowdown, themes, plugins, and WordPress core should be updated. If the problem persists, plugins should be disabled in a staging area until the culprit is identified. The theme may also need to be changed to one of the default WordPress themes, such as the classic Twenty Seventeen. Once the problem is identified, the original theme can be reinstalled.
Plugin CSS and JS files should also be minified and concatenated. A plugin can help with this - just check with your web host if a caching plugin is used.
A high-quality web host should be used.
Upgrading your hosting account, if it’s on a cheap shared hosting server elsewhere, can make a big difference. Managed WordPress hosts have server infrastructure and data caching that significantly speed up your site. They also allow for the use of modern technologies like PHP 7, which is four times faster than PHP 5.4. It’s a good idea to also include a CDN, which can speed up your site’s images and is simple to use.
The Fixit.gr has the ability to provide WordPress website hosting services, as well as improve the speed and performance of these websites for mobile devices. With their expertise in hosting and website optimization, they can ensure that WordPress websites load quickly and efficiently on mobile devices, providing a seamless user experience for visitors.
When it comes to website hosting, Fixit.gr offers reliable and secure hosting services that can meet the needs of a variety of WordPress websites. They provide advanced security features and regular backups, ensuring that websites are protected from potential threats and that data is safe and secure.
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Create a mobile app.
At the beginning of the article, it was mentioned that mobile internet usage has been surpassed. What was not mentioned, however, is that 89% of mobile media usage time is spent on apps, while the remaining 11% is spent on websites, according to research by industry experts.
Designing a holistic mobile experience for your audience is part of mobile optimization, and for many businesses, this includes having a native mobile app. Features not available on the web, such as offline access and push notifications, can be provided by apps, allowing for a faster and more focused experience.
Distribution through iOS and Android app stores can also provide another touchpoint for communicating with customers. Many businesses can benefit from a mobile app that complements their website. There are several ways to create an app, including custom development or a DIY app builder.
If you have the budget for it, custom app development can be a great way to increase conversions. On the other hand, app builders are readily available, but not all of them integrate with WordPress to the same level.
Avoiding common mistakes related to SEO.
The website should be crawled by Google as a first step to see if there are any issues that need to be addressed. This can be done through Google Search Console.
After the site is retrieved by Google, any issues with the site that need to be fixed will be displayed.
You should also ensure that you are not using a incorrectly configured robots.txt or sitemap file, which can block Google from accessing your site. You should check for bad redirects or broken links, especially those that only affect mobile. Using a plugin like Yoast SEO will also help improve your site’s SEO, as well as identify any errors.
If a pop-up or app download add-on is used, it should be ensured that it does not block the entire screen on mobile. Instead, a less intrusive banner should be used or mobile pop-ups should be disabled.
Font size should be legible on mobile. A large 16px font is preferred for mobile. Long articles should be single-column with no sidebars on a small screen. Also, ensure that any buttons or click targets are at least 44px tall, which is the desired size according to Apple.
Monitor the progress of optimizing your WordPress website for mobile devices.
To track the performance of your mobile optimization efforts, it is important to use Google Analytics to track mobile visits separately from desktop visits. This can be achieved using a feature called segmentation. Using this feature, information such as the percentage of traffic only
from mobile, the source of traffic and the pages viewed.
To enable a mobile segmentation, the user needs to log in to their Google Analytics account and go to the Audience section. From there, they need to click on “Overview” and then select “Add Segment” at the top of the page. This will display all available segments, including “Mobile Traffic”. The user can select this option and check or uncheck “All Traffic” for comparison purposes. After clicking on the “Apply” button, the user can see their new segmented data.
Using this data, the user can determine the percentage of mobile-only traffic, which pages are viewed most on mobile, and other relevant information. For example, by going to Behavior => Site Content => All Pages, the user can see that the pricing page is the page with the most visits on mobile phones. With the mobile section enabled, the user can compare different dates and track increased mobile engagement as optimization tips are applied.
Related articles: Top 10 WordPress Plugins to Improve SEO
Epilogue.
To improve the user experience on a website, it is crucial to take mobile usage into account. Page load time for mobile users should be focused on and improved as it is the most important thing that can be done. A responsive theme can be used to improve the readability of the website on small screens, but you should also consider designing a mobile-only experience.
Website features should not be removed, but rather ensuring that mobile visitors can quickly find what they are looking for. A mobile app can be a great way to engage with your audience in a new way, providing offline access to content and a more focused experience. Finally, progress should be tracked using Google Analytics or another platform, as they offer the tools to help optimize your efforts.
The Fixit.gr can optimize WordPress websites for mobile speed, which is essential in today’s fast-paced digital world. Slow-loading websites can lead to high bounce rates and reduced conversion rates, which can negatively impact a business’ online presence. By optimizing images, reducing file sizes, and implementing other speed-enhancing techniques, Fixit.gr can help improve the overall user experience of a WordPress website on mobile devices.
