So, you’ve decided you want to take advantage of the rise of the mobile web market. Before you jump in, there are a number of things to bear in mind when making your site mobile friendly:

1. Key Features and Functionality
   The fundamental starting point of any mobile web project is prioritising your objective and goals. Think about what your users ultimately want from your mobile site or app and how you can make this as easy as possible. Access to your analytics can reveal key features from your current site that should be streamlined and optimised for mobile use.
2. The Size of the Content
   How much of your content is absolutely necessary? Going mobile is all about stripping down to the bare essentials. Users don’t tend to “browse” the web on their phones. They want answers quickly; it’s a entirely different experience from desktop browsing.
3. How and Where It Will Be Used
   Think about the situations in which mobile devices are used. It is rarely from the comfort of your own home of office. It is on the go, on a bus, in a busy supermarket. Maybe they’re running late, maybe they only have one hand free. All of this must be factored in when implementing key features. Take our recent development for Go North East, which finds departure times for nearest bus stops. The app exploits the device’s GPS feature, saving the user valuable time from manually entering a location.
4. Time and Budget
   The advanced functionality of an app can require a lot of time to develop. If you’re under tight time or budget constraints, simply making your site accessible for mobile users may suffice for opening you up to the mobile market.
5. Accessibility
   Identify your target market. Do you need to be accessible to all or just a small niche group? Taking a look at your analytics may give you a clue. Perhaps you don’t need a Blackberry version of your app if your mobile clients are predominantly iPhone users.