Mobile web design – usability factors

However inventive you plan on being when designing your mobile web site, it pays to put usability as your top priority.

Mobile sites have their own usability guidelines and with 20 per cent of UK mobile phone users now browsing the net on their phones, it pays dividends to get acquainted with the rules.
Here are some usability guidelines for you to consider when it comes to mobile web design:

Meet users’ needs efficiently and quickly. Get in tune with what your visitors want – do they want entertainment, or specific information? Once you find that out, make sure you can sort them out quickly. For example, you could put add-ons onto your mobile search facility so that users can use the results in different ways.

No-nonsense navigation is key, as is not repeating the navigation on every page. Unlike websites designed for PCs, you should steer clear of repeating navigation on mobile websites. There isn’t the room for it. Instead, use breadcrumbs to help users go back and forth during their visit.

Highlight selected items clearly to overcome the problems caused by mobiles’ typically poor cursor control. In this way users can steer themselves clearly to where they want to go.

Simplify user input! Sounds obvious, but without a big screen and full keyboard, it can be very tricky for surfers to interact with your site. Multiple-choice and dropdown menus, along with a choice of abbreviated search terms, make it easier.

When it comes to showing information, remember the old acronym KISS – keep it simple, stupid! Only show vital information on your site. This is for two reasons: again, mobile phone screens are small, and browsing can be expensive. Less info means less download time and less confusion all round.