In case you haven't noticed, a lot of people are beginning to browse the Internet using their mobile phones. You may be one of them. Have you thought about the experience of using your site on a mobile phone? Although not every site or audience needs dedicated mobile content, here are some tips and ideas for delivering a better experience.
Many sites offer a separate mobile site, designed specifically for smaller screens. Mobile devices can be detected and routed to this optimized content automatically.
Because mobile screens are so much smaller than computer monitors (often by a factor of 10 or more), you can't show the same amount of content without forcing the user to zoom in and out or scroll around. Focus on what's most important, and thin down the page by using smaller images, skipping multimedia and keeping copy direct and to the point. But do give visitors the chance to access all the content you have. If something doesn't fit within the mobile site, offer a link to the main site so they don't feel they're missing anything.
Because wireless connections may be slow, provide basic navigation on the top of the page so it loads before any other content. Some mobile carriers charge for or limit on how much bandwidth a customer can use in a month, so it's best to be conservative with page design, not to mention the fact that long pages will simply be slower to load. In addition, mobile devices typically have a maximum value for the largest page they can accommodate. Unnecessary images or other elements can add up quickly.
On the other hand, if pages are too short then the user may be required to click through to multiple pages to find information. This can also slow down the experience, so a balancing act is required. Typing is also much slower on handheld devices, so limit the use of forms and rely more on lists, buttons and other controls that don't require the use of a keyboard.
As the adoption of mobile devices grows, the importance of the mobile experience in Web design will also grow. Embrace the opportunity to show your customers that you've anticipated their needs.