As the Internet continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, more and more emphasis is being placed on images over actual text. That’s not to say, though, that the overall quality content is decreasing — in fact, it’s quite the opposite. More websites rely on strong content in order to carry them to the top of the search rankings, and they’re using tools like high-res photos, infographics and the best website designs they can afford in order to accomplish it. That’s why the latest web design trends are moving toward mobile use.
It’s no secret that the mobile web is on the rise. Between 2012 and 2013, sales from mobile sites saw a nearly 70% increase in the United States alone. That’s a big leap, and it’s one that wouldn’t have been possible even five years ago. Businesses have consumers’ changing tastes, especially their newfond reliance on smartphones and tablets as their primary web sources, to thank.
Though it might seem intimidating to those who have little experience in the field, mobile web marketing isn’t all that different from regular online marketing. Corporate branding and strong logo designs are just as important, if not more, on tiny screens because they need to be even more engaging to users who are on the go. But that raises an interesting problem: Should mobile sites opt for lower-quality images in order to increase their page load times?
The answer is not necessarily. Looking at the numbers, it’s easy to understand that making your audience wait for their pages to load is essentially leading them to other, better web-optimized sites instead. Research conducted by MarginMedia showed nearly half of all users surveyed tend to view a website as incompetent or unsympathetic to their needs if they have long page load times. So, it’s in your best interest to avoid those whenever possible. That’s one of the most crucial web design trends in the industry today.
But how do you reconcile short load times with high-quality images? The answer lies in retooling. Optimize your pages for mobile view first and foremost. Not only will they help your site land high in the SEO rankings of search engines, but they’ll also keep your users from bailing on you. Mobile web optimization is the future of online marketing. Are you going to ride that wave to better business?
