Back in 1999 we were designing websites to fit on 15″ monitors, and when the 17″ monitors started rolling out, it was a very BIG deal. When the 19″ monitors came out, there were literally forums dedicated to the benefits and drawbacks of keeping web designs small to fit the still popular 15″ monitors. It all seems so silly now. Nearly every office has 19″ flat screens or larger.
The Pendulum Swings Again
The monitor wars are back in an even bigger (but smaller) way. Now it is critical to consider the increasingly popular small screen users when getting your website designed. Laptops have topped out at a modest screen size (can you imagine carrying around a 24″ laptop?). Web capable mobile phones are practically standard, and now Apple comes out with the cute (but also small) iPad.
The Fold Moves Up
The “Fold” comes from the newspaper industry, and describes the articles and images that will show when the paper is folded and sitting on the display rack. If your site has been designed within the past 3 years, it was designed specifically for those larger monitors. Chances are that your banner probably takes up a larger portion of your valuable screen space than it should.
Making Your Site Effective for Mobile
If you have an older website, you can test using this great little tool iPad Peek. Just remember that if you have Flash on your website, it will work in iPad Peek but it won’t show up on the actual iPad.
Test on Different Platforms
Once you have an idea about how your site is looking on the iPad, try other devices like the mini-laptops and mobile phones.
Adjust Your Site
After viewing on other devices, you’ll quickly see what content you might need to move, and what images may need to be reduced or eliminated to make way for your meaningful content.
Create a Mobile Version
Nowadays, every site should have a matching mobile version. However, it becomes critical to have a mobile version if your site relies on ad revenue, is sports or news related, or has a heavy social media component.
Like the charts above show, the mobile web is already taking over the way people are interacting with websites. Make sure your website gives these users a great experience while increasing your site’s effectiveness. Is your site ready for the mobile revolution? If not, contact us today for a website that looks great on mobile platforms and devices as well as traditional monitors.
About the author: Jeune Ortiz is VP of Marketing and Creative Director at future-ink. With more than 20 years of experience in graphic design and marketing, Jeune brings extensive knowledge and creativity to each website and internet marketing solution to grow your business.
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