Creating a mobile-friendly website is crucial for enhancing user experience and boosting SEO efforts. However, mobile-friendliness isn’t just about ensuring webpages resize correctly on mobile devices. It also involves creating mobile-friendly content.
Marketers should see mobile-friendliness as a comprehensive effort focused on the overall experience visitors have on your site. Here are top tips for developing mobile-friendly content that engages and converts customers.
1. Craft Strong Introductions
Mobile screens are much smaller compared to desktops. With limited space to convey your message, it’s essential to consider the initial information presented to mobile users. Typically, a mobile visitor views only a few paragraphs before needing to scroll. This makes the introduction crucial for hooking the reader.
Crafting strong introductions means getting to the point quickly. Provide the most relevant information first to add immediate value for your visitors.
2. Break Content Into Short Paragraphs
Long paragraphs struggle to capture attention on desktops, and it’s even more challenging on mobile screens. Follow Jon Ziomek’s 1-2-3-4-5 approach: one idea per paragraph, expressed in two to three sentences, and no more than four to five lines long. The "Yahoo! Style Guide" suggests even shorter paragraphs when possible.
3. Consider How Users Consume Content
Content consumption on desktops differs from mobile devices. Eye-tracking studies show users scan pages in different patterns, which should be considered when developing content. Patterns include the bypassing, commitment, layer-cake, marking, and spotted patterns.
4. Offer a Summary or Highlights
Mobile users often have limited attention and prefer immediate access to pertinent information. Providing a summary before the main content can highlight key takeaways. This not only fulfills user needs but also promotes social sharing and link building.
5. Eliminate Unnecessary Words
Whether for desktop or mobile, keeping content simple and straightforward is best. The Flesch Reading Ease formula, used by tools like Yoast SEO, evaluates readability based on sentence length and word complexity. Short sentences, simple words, and removing filler content can enhance readability and comprehension.
6. Add Images/Videos
Images and videos break up text, making content more digestible. Visuals are processed much faster than text, helping readers understand content better. Videos and images can also improve search results visibility.
7. Use High Contrast Colors
Content must be easy to read, especially on mobile. A larger font size and high-contrast colors increase readability. High-contrast colors, like white text on a black background, improve readability, crucial for users with color blindness or low contrast sensitivity.
8. Keep Your Title Short
The title is the first introduction to the content. Keeping titles short and concise, with a focus keyword at the start, improves search ranking and discoverability. Aim for no more than six words or about 70 characters.
9. Strategically Place Your CTAs
Mobile users expect quick information access. If you don’t provide clear next steps quickly, you miss conversion opportunities. Make CTAs distinct and prominent, particularly on mobile where space is limited.
10. Preview Before You Click Publish
Previewing content before publishing is essential. Ensure your content is mobile-friendly by checking how it appears on mobile devices. This helps prevent errors and maintains brand credibility.
By following these tips, whether creating new mobile-friendly content or updating existing material, you can enhance conversions and improve the customer journey. High-quality content helps communicate messages clearly, educate customers, and persuade them to choose your offerings over competitors. Stand out with well-crafted content on every device.
Featured image: SiuWing/Shutterstock
