How to make your site mobile compatible

[Rain-shine]

Anyone know of any good/trusty applications to allow me to make my site mobile compatible? I was interested in Google's Dudamobile Initiative as initially this is free but wondered if anyone knew of any others out there that were also free? :|

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Anyone know of any good/trusty applications to allow me to make my site mobile compatible? I was interested in Google's Dudamobile Initiative as initially this is free but wondered if anyone knew of any others out there that were also free? :|

Yeah there are plenty out there but bear in mind you'll still have to put the redirection script in your webpages etc. I'd recommend you pay a professional from £100 or so upwards to design a custom one.

 

[profitmagnet]

You can check out the free version ofdudamobile just search for them on Google. The only downpoint is that it has a banner footer.

 

[Gilesfuchs]

Anyone know of any good/trusty applications to allow me to make my site mobile compatible? I was interested in Google's Dudamobile Initiative as initially this is free but wondered if anyone knew of any others out there that were also free? :|

Hey I've found this suggestion(from another forum) very useful, hope this helps your need:

0) Start with the page templates at [mobi...] (developers area). In particular make sure that you keep the correct XHTML MOBILE declaration line at the top of every page you generate.

1) Test your site on the simulators at [mobi...]

2) Test your pages using the ctl-alt-V built in validator in Opera: it will use the declaration line from (0) to get your page validated correctly at w3.org, even pages that are not up yet.

3) View your pages using the "small screen" mode of Opera. Also test in FF, which handles XHTML. IE6 doesn't (usually) in my experience.

4) Use a real mobile phone.

5) Get one the of the UP/OpenWave simulators (gee, I knew them when they were still UnwiredPlanet and we were trying to launch the FIRST mobile price-comparison service in the UK). I think this is the URL you may want: [developer.openwave.com...]

 

[WebMeUp]

Here is where you can check how your website looks on an iPhone - http://iphone4simulator.com/

And here is the link to a W3C mobile site validator - http://validator.w3.org/mobile/
Just remember that they'd like your site as perfect as it gets.


Also, here is a nice video on how to use DudaMobile http://blog.dudamobile.com/google-hangout-learn-how-to-build-a-mobile-site-in-minutes/
I'm pretty skeptical about site builders in general, though, as they normally offer a one-size-fits-all solution.

If I were you (if I had an online store), I'd go for building a separate mobile application for it. For instance, Starbucks has an Android and an iPhone app - http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/mobile-apps Mobile apps are more user-friendly than mobile sites and perform better as a rule.

 

[zigojacko]

You're much better converting your website design to be responsive than building a separate mobile version of your website which you've then got to duplicate site content and handle this effectively, redirect based on user agent (which frequently change)... Plus a responsive theme will auto-fit to any device, whether mobile, iPad, tablet etc.

 

[ITsoldUK]

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What he says....spot on the money

 

[ecenica]

You're much better converting your website design to be responsive than building a separate mobile version of your website which you've then got to duplicate site content and handle this effectively, redirect based on user agent (which frequently change)... Plus a responsive theme will auto-fit to any device, whether mobile, iPad, tablet etc.

To add. As zigojacko says, amongst the design/developer community, responsive web design is the preferred approach.

We recommend the awesome (and free) HTML5BoilerPlate to our users. It's a great responsive ready framework to start coding on. For users not wanting to go the DIY route we also have a number of responsive-ready themes in our site builder. Your web host may have similar.

Cheers

Rich

 

[Faevilangel]

Pay someone to do it properly, make it responsive and make it usable!

Mobile apps / specific mobile sites do work (like UKBF's) but small, simple websites then a responsive layout works.

 

[Baz Watkins]

Go responsive.

 

[webgeek]

Add one of the handy mobile plugins to your wordpress website and bob's your uncle in 3.5 minutes

 

[fisicx]

Have you used one of those mobile plugins? They are all without exception 100% pants - I've tested 'em all.

Adding the necesary responsive code to the CSS is a doddle and is far more usable.

 

[webgeek]

Hrmm, I always thought WPTouch Pro did a pretty decent job.

 

[fisicx]

Nope. Try viewing a site on a galaxy in landscape and you will realise why 'mobile' versions are hopeless.

Responsive is the way to go. That way the site will adapt to the screen resolution not the device being used.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Yes responsive is great for obvious maintainability reasons but what if a local company just wants a cut down version of their website for mobile - contact button, map, directions, etc? Afterall, people use mobile web differently to their larger screen counterparts....search vs find.

 

[Faevilangel]

You hide the unnecessary elements using case

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

You hide the unnecessary elements using case

Yes but I want the desktop version to have say 20 pages but the mobile version to have 3 pages that users are most likely to use and redesign those 3 pages for instance (obviously with the "full site" hyperlink in the footer)?

 

[Faevilangel]

Yes but I want the desktop version to have say 20 pages but the mobile version to have 3 pages that users are most likely to use and redesign those 3 pages for instance (obviously with the "full site" hyperlink in the footer)?

You could use some Jquery to show the "full site" when the link is clicked

A bit of a pain to get working but will be a responsive site

 

[fisicx]

There is an easy solution.

Create a new menu with the pages you want to have on the 'mobile' site.

Use the responsive CSS to only display the short menu when you have narrow screens.

That's it.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Cool so in conclusion, the decision whether to go the route of separate mobile site or responsive is based on costs (time/money) of implementing responsive css, extra js, etc vs benefits of how often busy is going to need to update site (taking into account mobile visitor behaviour...i.e. decision for local restaurant to have menu on mobile site or not (and therefore need to make revisions every so often), or just have contact number, map, link to route planner, etc).

 

[Big Pete]

They should be a mobile app that when people try and use mobiles to surf the net , a message and picture comes up saying "Dont be such a lazy sod ,get of your arse and appreciate the web pages in proper screen on a PC screen"

I stick a mobile app on the sites now ,but i am so so tempted to run the message instead .. as we are just making the situation worse long term .. Soon the kids won`t need to get out of bed

 

[webgeek]

A bit like what most of us say to IE6 users then eh?

If you can't bother upgrading to something, anything, made in the past 10 years, then you don't deserve the shiny new web features

You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!

 

[Baz Watkins]

Yes but I want the desktop version to have say 20 pages but the mobile version to have 3 pages that users are most likely to use and redesign those 3 pages for instance (obviously with the "full site" hyperlink in the footer)?

Why limit your viewers options, you need to think about your website from their perspective, don't make your visitors work by going to a desktop to get access to everything.

By converting to a responsive layout you give all your viewers the chance to choose what to view, you don't have to limit their options. Your menu system will refit to meet their screen size, and they will have access to everything.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Why limit your viewers options, you need to think about your website from their perspective, don't make your visitors work by going to a desktop to get access to everything.

By converting to a responsive layout you give all your viewers the chance to choose what to view, you don't have to limit their options. Your menu system will refit to meet their screen size, and they will have access to everything.

True as a usability guy I'm always trying to look at the usage and cater to that. How about killing two birds with one stone by having a cut-down mobile version then a "click to view full version" which actually goes to the full menu version of the responsive website - that is if the user research shows that the majority use only certain pages, then we could split test it over time, etc.

 

[tumbledown]

A responsive site with an easy to tap select menu gets my vote - that way users can choose what to view themselves instead of having the decision made for them with a cut-down mobile version.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

A responsive site with an easy to tap select menu gets my vote - that way users can choose what to view themselves instead of having the decision made for them with a cut-down mobile version.

Yes easy to tap - larger buttons, etc - this is obviously a design heuristic which is constant throughout each and every instance of mobile site design. I'm not talking ergonomics, I'm talking about creating a better user experience.

People use mobile differently to desktop/laptop. So why not give them the option in the footer to view more if they want whilst making their user experience easier by using user behaviour analysis to determine what to show. It's a smaller screen. The menu will be vertical and linear so why provide each menu option when, say, 90% of users in the past 3 months have used the site on a mobile to view location, find phone number, find postcode, etc. Why would you overload your users' cognitive processes by providing information overload?

The other 10% can scroll down to the footer link "View full site".

 

[tumbledown]

Yes easy to tap - larger buttons, etc - this is obviously a design heuristic which is constant throughout each and every instance of mobile site design. I'm not talking ergonomics, I'm talking about creating a better user experience.

People use mobile differently to desktop/laptop. So why not give them the option in the footer to view more if they want whilst making their user experience easier by using user behaviour analysis to determine what to show. It's a smaller screen. The menu will be vertical and linear so why provide each menu option when, say, 90% of users in the past 3 months have used the site on a mobile to view location, find phone number, find postcode, etc. Why would you overload your users' cognitive processes by providing information overload?

The other 10% can scroll down to the footer link "View full site".

I'd rather see the old-fashioned full site straight away rather than a cut-down mobile version any day. The phone number and address should be in the top right anyway.

A select menu takes up no space (see Smashing Magazine for an example) and gives me as a user the choice of what I want to look at. My cognitive processes are rarely overloaded by looking at a menu.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

I'd rather see the old-fashioned full site straight away rather than a cut-down mobile version any day. The phone number and address should be in the top right anyway.

A select menu takes up no space (see Smashing Magazine for an example) and gives me as a user the choice of what I want to look at. My cognitive processes are rarely overloaded by looking at a menu.

Not sure about the argument that the address must always be in the top-right :/ If the user research showed that 90% find trouble with the larger mobile version wouldn't you at least consider a split test? Lots of targeted traffic, converting poorly on mobile, etc.

 

[zigojacko]

Hello

I don't have any idea how to make mobile site compatible.

Regards !!

Well we're glad you joined the party. It was touch and go whether we would make it without you.

 

[MymCart-Lee]

Go responsive.

Going responsive is always easier said than done. To create a fully responsive site isn't just a case of tweaking the CSS file. So much more needs to be thought about such as what content you want to show on the mobile site and if it would be any different from the desktop site? Also you'll need to think about how you make use of the features that mobile phones offer such as press-to-call and geo-locating.

To make the most of those features in a responsive site wouldn't just cost £100 or anywhere near that as someone mentioned.

Separate mobile websites are often criticised more so than understood.

 

[raavn111]

Hey I've found this suggestion(from another forum) very useful, hope this helps your need:

thanks for sharing information

 

[wilson230]

Make your website in responsive. And bootstrap will help.

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Or have a separate mobile site depending on budget, requirements and so on.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[MymCart-Lee]

Or have a separate mobile site depending on budget, requirements and so on.

Completely. It's horses for courses. Responsive will be the way to go for many companies, whilst a separate website will be suitable for others.

It is important that anyone looking for a mobile site establish their requirements and then research solutions. Just blindly stating that you "want a mobile website" and then taking the first option that comes your way isn't necessarily the best way forward.

What may be beneficial is dipping your toe into the medium, assessing its relevance for you and then deploying a more integrated solution.

 

[raavn111]

Contents need to be adapted to the smaller screens and operating systems.

 

[raavn111]

Make sure website can be viewed from every mobile operating system and with most web browsers. For this you will need to pay attention to the programming language used. Mobile websites are created with web technologies, but due to the wide range of mobile operating systems, these are inconsistently supported. So you will need to choose the ones that are most widely supported (Flash, for instance, is out of the question, as all mobile operating systems are abandoning it in favour of HTML5).

 

[InternetMarketingPlatinum]

Make sure website can be viewed from every mobile operating system and with most web browsers. For this you will need to pay attention to the programming language used. Mobile websites are created with web technologies, but due to the wide range of mobile operating systems, these are inconsistently supported. So you will need to choose the ones that are most widely supported (Flash, for instance, is out of the question, as all mobile operating systems are abandoning it in favour of HTML5).

This is just misleading. Android isn't abandoning Flash, in fact support is growing, and Apple never supported it. Why did you state that you need to pay attention to the programming language used? What are you referring to specifically? HTML5 is a scripting language by the way.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ITsoldUK]

Make sure website can be viewed from every mobile operating system and with most web browsers. For this you will need to pay attention to the programming language used. Mobile websites are created with web technologies, but due to the wide range of mobile operating systems, these are inconsistently supported. So you will need to choose the ones that are most widely supported (Flash, for instance, is out of the question, as all mobile operating systems are abandoning it in favour of HTML5).

How many points can you get wrong in 1 post dude?

1. Mobile website...pc websites? No difference in how they are designed. It is how you control the rendering with a good old fashioned css file.

2.Programming language? Do you mean file extension coding such as php asp html? Scripts dude not PL that is a totally different ball game! CC+ etc

3. As above. Support for flash is growing to allow greater backward compatibility with app and browser push points.

 

[ITsoldUK]

Contents need to be adapted to the smaller screens and operating systems.

Nope. Content rendering needs to be adaptive. The content is the same.

That is the whole point of responsive design...one size fits all.

 

[Darrenchase]

Anyone know of any good/trusty applications to allow me to make my site mobile compatible? I was interested in Google's Dudamobile Initiative as initially this is free but wondered if anyone knew of any others out there that were also free? :|

If you have an iPhone there's an app called m.dot which I use and makes a mobile site for you which links to your website