Did you know that 85% of Americans own smartphones as of 2021? That's up from just 35% in 2011.
Smartphone browsing has had big implications for web developers for a long time, and they've only become more significant over the years. At this point, it's beyond safe to assume that your customers and website visitors are using their phones.
Desktop browsing isn't dead just yet, but it's a lot less significant. So what's the best way to get your site prepared for smartphone traffic?
The answer is mobile-first website development.
In this brief guide, we'll explain the basics of what you need to know about mobile-first development. Keep reading to learn more.
What is Mobile-First Website Development?
Mobile-first design is a development methodology that prioritizes users with smartphones and other mobile devices. The purpose of mobile-first is to ensure that, no matter what size screen your website appears on, it always looks its best.
In mobile-first development, you start by sketching and prototyping for the smallest screens your website visitors will be browsing from. You only design for standard, desktop-sized screens once the mobile browsing experience is defined.
The reason mobile-first works so well is simple: it's easier to expand up to larger displays than it is to squeeze everything down into a smaller size.
In the past, web developers would begin website development with the desktop browsing experience in mind. Designing for mobile devices was little more than an afterthought. But that just made it more difficult in the long run.
If your website looks great and runs well on mobile devices, it can easily be restructured to work on large screens, too. That's what mobile-first is all about.
How Does Mobile-First Web Design Help?
The benefits of mobile-first design are fairly obvious.
As we pointed out at the beginning, the number of smartphone users has skyrocketed. And people are more likely to use their phones for casual browsing because they're so convenient.
That being the case, focusing on phones first just makes sense.
One big benefit of mobile-first design is that website loading speeds tend to be faster. When designing for smaller screens, you use fewer visual elements. This means there's less data to download as web pages load.
Another benefit is the increased focus and intentionality that comes with going mobile-first.
When you have an abundance of screen real estate, it's tempting to include everything you can think of in your design. By starting with smaller screens, you're forced to prioritize what matters, which is better for everyone.
Get Started With Mobile-First Web Development
By now, you know what mobile-first website development is all about and why it's so important.
But is your website optimized for mobile browsing? If not, you could be missing out on valuable customers and audiences.
Fortunately, Addison Tech is here to help. Whether you need a new website design and management or cutting-edge SEO services, we have the resources you need to reach your target audience. Contact us right away to find out how.