If your website looks fine on desktop but clunky on a mobile device, you’re not alone. Many local businesses in Ballarat, Lucas and Sebastopol built their first website years ago, long before responsive web design became essential. But with over 60% of Australians now browsing the internet via mobile or tablet, having a mobile-friendly site is no longer optional. It’s a business necessity.
The good news? You don’t need to be a web developer to make a website mobile-friendly. Here’s how to update your site without the tech overwhelm, just smart, actionable steps to help your site perform well on mobile.
What Does “Mobile Friendly” Really Mean?
A mobile-friendly website adapts to every mobile device, phones, tablets, and smaller screens. Visitors shouldn’t have to zoom in or scroll sideways to read your content or click a button.
Here’s what a mobile-friendly site needs:
- Text that’s easy to read on a mobile screen
- Buttons and links spaced for thumb tapping
- Pages that load fast even on slower mobile networks
- A layout that adjusts across desktop and mobile seamlessly
Mobile-friendliness also affects how your site ranks in Google searches. With mobile-first indexing, Google looks at your mobile website first. If your mobile version is slow, confusing, or incomplete, your search engine ranking will suffer, even on desktop searches.
4 Simple Ways to Improve Your Mobile Site
1. Use a Responsive Layout
Responsive web design allows your site layout to adjust smoothly across all screen sizes. If your website isn’t responsive, it may be time to rebuild your site or upgrade your website builder.
Tip: Test the website on real devices, not just emulators. See how your site looks and performs on your own phone and tablet.
2. Make Sure Fonts and Buttons Are Mobile-Optimised
If users can’t tap a button or read your content without zooming, they’ll leave a mobile website quickly. Use a minimum font size of 16px and make links and buttons large enough for comfortable tapping.
Clear mobile navigation helps make it easy for people to browse, book or contact you, without frustration.
3. Optimise Website Speed for Mobile Devices
Slow-loading pages are a top reason why visitors leave a mobile website. You can optimise website speed by:
- Compressing image files (use WebP or TinyPNG)
- Minimising code and scripts
- Using a fast, mobile-friendly website host
A fast website on mobile helps with both user experience and search engine ranking.
4. Avoid Intrusive Ads for Mobile
Google penalises websites that block content with pop-ups or full-screen interstitials. While mobile ads can be helpful, they need to be carefully designed so they don’t ruin the mobile user experience.
Keep it simple, mobile content should load quickly and stay focused on what visitors came for.
Test Your Website on Mobile Devices
Don’t assume your site is already mobile-friendly, test it! Here’s how:
- Google Mobile-Friendly Test – shows if your site is mobile-optimised
- Google PageSpeed Insights – shows website speed and suggestions for improvements
Test your homepage, key services, and contact page on real mobile devices. If the pages don’t work smoothly, it’s time for action.
Working with Your Web Developer
Sometimes it’s best to bring in expert help. Consider working with your web developer if:
- Your site was built 3–5 years ago and isn’t responsive
- You want your site optimised for mobile and desktop
- You’re losing leads from poor mobile performance
- You’re investing in SEO and want long-term growth
At Brighter Websites, we help businesses build websites that are mobile-friendly, fast-loading, and designed with mobile users in mind. Our mobile-first approach ensures every page of the site works well on mobile and desktop devices alike.
Let’s Make Your Website Mobile Friendly, Fast
Mobile is important. If your website doesn’t work well on mobile phones or tablets, potential customers will leave, and likely never return. But with a few key updates, you can create a mobile website that keeps people engaged and converts visits into action.
? Calls are the best way to get started, contact Vanessa for a free consult
? Book a meeting
? Or explore our Website in a Day package
Let’s make sure your website is mobile-friendly, and built for real results.
