Go mobile or not - 'when' is the question

I know what you mean and have tried various options. Not an easy one to overcome. For simple, basic sites without too much info I think responsive site is the way forward but the moment you have a lot of info on a site then perhaps not.

Mobile is a must.

I run a web design company and whereever possible we will make sure the website we build for our client is responsive (meaning the layout adjusts to the dimensions of the device its being viewed on).

I would recommend against having a mobile specific site as well as a desktop site. Think about it - two places to maintain your content.

With a responsive site, it's one website that works on everything.

Check out authenticstyle[dot]co[dot]uk to see some examples of responsive sites we've built. Our company site is also responsive.

No argument there. This post is 12 months old, and mobile was already important, now it is essential /critical.


But in the spirit of healthy debate, I completely disagree with the responsive design argument, and am still looking for a site example that will convince me.

Having 2 sites, one optimised for mobile is a pain content wise, but thats the whole point. You are optimising for a small screen audience, so a condensed message to make a better visual experience, but with a view to optimise mobile conversions, not just make the site usable.

The www.authenticstyle.co.uk website is a really good looking site, crisp, fresh, a long scrolling brochure type site, but works really well. But looking on a mobile device, although presentation is spot on, all the same content is on there meaning a long scroll before any call to actions.

Maybe this works really well, and I've no doubt it's specific to a business type. But for a large info directory site, we need to get information across quickly and efficiently, as well as encourage participation, ie editing listings, signing up etc. The desktop design works well on desktop and tablet devices, but there is too much information for a mobile experience.

At least 25% of our traffic comes from a mobile device, with 10% now accounted for by tablets. So with that volume, I think it's worth the time and trouble to design specific experiences.

But I've seen plenty of mobile only designs that confuse tablets, or desktop designs that won't even run on a tablet, so it's certainly a minefield!

I guess it always goes back to your own data, track your analytics, track your conversions, time on site, and this will paint the picture and dictate your requirements.

That said, we're currently rebuilding the forum onto a new platform, and the mobile version is currently up in the air, so maybe we will end up with a responsive design and I'll have to eat my own words (won't be the first time..)

If your website is your main sales channel then you should adopt mobile asap. Another good thing to do is to analyze your website traffic and understand what browsers and platforms are used to reach your pages. For e.g., you can do it with Google Analytics or if you want more data then Crazy Egg or with the best one -ClickTale.

On the other hand, you can test if your customers want you to go mobile.
For e.g. You can set a button with "mobile version" title at the home page of your website, link that button to the notification message "Sorry for inconvenience, but our mobile website is under construction", and after measure how many people will click on it. After a month of such test drive, you will get the clearest idea whether you need a mobile website or not.


Unfortunately, I can't add the picture, because I'm not allowed to post any links yet, but I want to show you some infographic from my personal blog. It's about how people in USA use their smartphones and tablets in shopping activities. It's based on Nielsen's data.

You can google this image by name:

Mobile Apps for Business: About App Effectiveness and Marketing Triggers

Well we weighed up the pros and cons, and I'm still a believer that a dedicated mobile site is still a better solution in certain situations, which is why we have stuck with a cut down and separate mobile site for the new forum design. Other forums have gone the responsive route, which I think have mixed results.

I guess time will tell if we were right or wrong!

Can someone explain why I see mobile links in my search results when I'm using a laptop?

Didn't think this should happen