3 minute read
“Thumb Zone” and Six Other Phone Website Tips
by Boylen
Hotel owners often ask: “How do I make my website design look great on mobile phone screens?”
One method is to start by designing for the small screen first. Then progress to larger screens.
By using this process, you start small and minimalist, and are focussed on the key messages and priorities for your website.
Here are a few starter tips for designing for smart phones, tablets and iPads:
1. Design for the thumb zone. People browsing your site on their phone are probably on the move. They are typically hold the phone in one hand and scroll and complete other actions with their thumb. Or they may use two thumbs. This limits the reach on today’s larger phones, so make sure you design with this in mind. So place buttons at the bottom of each screen.
2. Steer away from fonts that mimic handwriting. They don’t display well on mobile phone screens.
3. Many desktop websites have text overlaid on large images. However, this is a poor user experience when shrunk. The contrast is terrible. Large images that are stunning on desktop may need to be removed. If not, they may need to be cropped so that text doesn’t run across the key part of an image, such as food on a plate.
4. Do you like scrolling endlessly on a phone? Neither does the visitor who is navigating your website. Set up a series of tasks you want the typical user to complete and then test this. (Examples: dining booking, function pack request or download, employment enquiry etc.). It may mean you have to adapt your mobile designs but it’s better to do it pre-launch than after going live.
5. Designing for mobile dimensions is critical. These determine the “breakpoints” – which is the point at which elements resize to suit the next screen size (e.g. moving from tablet to smart phone).
6. Be aware that if you have an older target audience, they may tend to hold with one hand and use a finger on their other hand to navigate. Design for your demographics.
7. Think about your key call to action. Is it prominent? What about loading speed; does the design accelerate or hinder? How is your SEO? Google has a mobile-first policy, so you really need to nail this one.
Give the team at Boylen (AHA|SA Silver Partner) a shout if you need any help.
www.boylen.com.au
