Why go mobile

Why Go Mobile?Tips & Techniques to Mobilize Your Site For Greater ReachTerrance GainesShow Me the Blog, October 2012

What You’ll Learn

• Why you’re site should be mobile-friendly

• Different methods to mobilize your site

• How to decide which method is best for you

About BrothaTech

Terrance (BrothaTech) Gaines

•Tech Blogger•Freelance Tech Contributor•Technology Concierge

•…and I fix cracked smartphones!

Mobile Is Huge!

Percentage of People who ONLY browse the web via a mobile device worldwide

• UK 22%• US 25%• China 30%• South Africa 57%• India 59%• Egypt 70%

Source: http://ondeviceresearch.com/blog Image via: sarah2066 on flickr

Have Access, Will Travel

In the US/UK, over 90% of phones are internet-ready

Mobile is fast becoming the primary way people browse the web!

Why Go Mobile #1

• Take advantage of increasing numbers of people browsing the web on mobile devices

Sharing is Caring

Why share your site’s content?

Promote & expand your brand

Engage & interact with readers

•Convert to followers/customers

Links a Plenty

Links Dominate Social Networks

Content Is King In Mobile

People are Lazy

•Don’t want to pinch and zoom

•Want to read and keep it movin’

Make your content the star of the show

Why Go Mobile #2

• Take advantage of increasing numbers of people browsing the web on mobile devices

• Make it easy for visitors to access/interact with your content

Mobile Productivity

Get the most out of your mobile device

•Respond to/moderate comments

•Make quick site changes

Why Go Mobile #3

• Take advantage of increasing numbers of people browsing the web on mobile devices

• Make it easy for visitors to access/interact with your content

• Make it easy to manage your content

How Do You Mobilize? - Native App

Native App

Features:•Pretty•Interactive•Bragging Rights

How Do You Mobilize? – Native App

Native App

Drawbacks:•Expensive• Hire designer/developer• Multiple versions for

multiple platforms•Another “thing” to manage

How Do You Mobilize? – Mobile Friendly

Features:

•Easy to Setup

•Less expensive

•“Plug and Play” Can use in conjunction with current site setup/design

•Compatible with multiple platforms

•Can include ads

Mobile-Friendly Site

Mobile-Friendly Site Option #1: PluginsManage Mobile version right from blog dashboardGet right to the content (no pinch & zoom)

Homepage Content Comments

WPTouch Plugin http://techb.ro/WPTouchPlugin

Mobile-Friendly Site (Blogger Mobile Templates)Opt-in in Blogger Settings http://techb.ro/BloggerMobile

Drawbacks: Limited personalization

Mobile-Friendly Site

Three sites – Same look and feel

Mobile-Friendly Site Option #2: Third-Party Templates•More customization/personalization options

Mobile by conduit: http://mobile.conduit.com

Mobile-Friendly Site Option #2: Third-Party Templates

3rd Party Template Drawbacks

Lives outside of your site•Another site/service to manage

Freemium model•Pay/Subscribe to get full feature compatibility

How Do You Mobilize? - Responsive Web

Responsive Web Design

• Site naturally adapts to multiple screen sizes

• Consistent branding & user experience across devices 

• Visitors have access to a larger range of site content

• Mobile compatibility is built right into the site•  No separate plugins, templates or apps to manage

Consistent branding and best user experience across all devices and screen sizes

Good Responsive web design: http://hanselman.com/blog

How Do You Mobilize? - Responsive Web

Responsive Web Design Options:

• Option 2: Use themes that include responsive web design• Drawback: Do It Yourself?

• Option 1: Pay a web designer to implement responsive web design when building your site• Drawback: May cost extra

• Drawback to Responsive Web Design?

Will have to start from scratch!

Mobile Options Recap

Native AppPros:•Fully Customizable & Interactive Cons: •Expensive & a lot of management

Mobile-Friendly Plugins and 3rd Party TemplatesPros:•Free or Cheap & Easy to Implement Cons: •Limited personality & Have to pay for extra features

Responsive Web DesignPros:•Brand consistency & No extra mobile managementCons: •Will have to redesign your current site to implement

So many Options!

How to choose which option is best for you?

Do you have a bottomless budget and mobile developers in your rolodex?

• Native App

Are you in love with your current blog design?

• Responsive web design

Are you in the process of redesigning your blog?

• Mobile-Friendly Plugin or 3Rd Party Template

No matter which option you choose…

Make sure your site’s content is the star of the show…even on mobile devices

Content is King…On Mobile Too!

Thank-You!

Blog: http://brothatech.comTwitter: @BrothaTechFacebook: BrothaTech

View & Download Presentation:http://techb.ro/MobileFriendly