Quite simply, if your brand has any sort of digital presence, it is crucial that it’s well-optimised for mobile devices.
Earlier this year, consultancy firm Deloitte released its 2014 Media Consumer Survey. The report found that nearly half (49 percent) of UK households own at least one smartphone, tablet, or computer. According to eDigitalResearch, 60 percent of the overall population owns a smartphone, and since 2010, the number of people using them for browsing and shopping has practically doubled.
It doesn’t matter how innovative your app might be, without an enjoyable and intuitive user experience (UX), even a brilliant idea will fall flat. Great UX requires going beyond simply presenting the information; every layout element needs to be carefully considered. Meeting a frustrating dead end or an inadvertent obstacle in the way of what a user wants to achieve is unlikely to retain a user, let alone see them converting into a customer.
So, what should you consider when designing a mobile UX and what can you do to improve the experience? Take a look at some of these tips:
1. Make it natural
Whether the device is going to be used in the hand or resting on a table, the way that a user manipulates the user interface (UI) needs to feel natural and intuitive at all times. Having to stop and think about how to do something will turn users off. Try to use the existing UX of your chosen device to your advantage. Users will have become accustomed to using certain gestures or techniques when navigating an operating system or native platform apps. This consistency will feel second nature when used elsewhere.
2. Design for the device
It’s really important to remember that users will navigate differently when using a phone or a tablet than when using a laptop or desktop. A desktop version of a website needs to be optimised for mobile use. As mobile devices tend to be more goal-orientated, this could mean streamlining the functionality of a mobile site compared to its desktop equivalent or adding intuitive iconography for shortcuts to functions.
3. Remember the importance of search
A mobile visitor will likely have something specific they are looking for, and a search option should be clear. Add filters to allow users to narrow their search quickly, add ‘smart’ search options that yield relevant results from an incompletely typed phrase, or auto-complete suggestions to save time inputting words.
4. Add social login
Registering to every new site you visit or app you use quickly gets tiring. Allowing visitors to sign up using an existing Facebook, Twitter or Google account is quick and convenient — and allows some great data capture for your marketing department.
5. Consider gamification
Mobile users tend to be time-poor and impatient when faced with time-consuming tasks. Adding badges, points, or ‘levelling up’ users for completing forms, checking in, leaving comments, posting reviews or sharing content can help with user retention and gathering customer metrics.
