Technology has advanced to an extent where we now talk about post-PC communication. Gone are the days when the Web revolved around people accessing the Internet using their personal computers or laptops. Now people use their tablets and smart phones too. In fact, along with computers, these devices are also used as primary devices for consumption of content on the Internet.

Predictions are rife that mobile device usage to browse the Internet will surpass all desktop devices in the coming year. Webmasters realize the importance of catering to this segment of users and web designers are busy working on making websites mobile-friendly and using mobile marketing where they can.

The need to communicate information to a wide range of screens is immense. Responsive design is crucial for the success of a website, and involves flexible images, easy-to-read text, easy-to-watch video and a whole lot more that makes it possible for a website to be accessed on all sorts of mobile devices, without compromising on quality.

Those of us in the business of online marketing have to work towards creating content that works equally well on desktop devices as well as mobile devices. We know that the mobile internet is slow and annoying. It can be a huge battery hog.

Keeping this in mind, we have to look at alleviating all the discomfort and make a visit to your website a pleasant experience for mobile internet users.

Let’s take a look at a few points that will help you make perfect copy for mobile devices.

Avoid Expanding

You must have seen how web content shrinks based on the screen size of the mobile device. Since mobile devices offer only a few square inches in area to view content, it makes it hard to view long content pieces. When the text isn’t readable, it takes extra effort to scroll while reading, which leads to loss of interest in a majority of users.

Big font is important for mobile devices as it alleviates the need to zoom in on the content. Short paragraphs are perfect and since users don’t have to constantly scroll in different directions, it’s easier to retain user interest. It also helps to highlight the main points.

Try to say what you have to in fewer words and with clarity when you’re targeting mobile users.

Clarity Of Content

Create shorter paragraphs than you would a regular website for your computer. Use different types of text to make it easier for people to understand the important points. Use bullet points, numbered lists and highlighted text to get the main points across.

Make the content short and punchy so that mobile users understand the point instantly.

 Use Fewer Images

Use fewer images when creating content meant for mobile users. While pictures can tell a story quicker than text does, they don’t help with mobile devices, as images take more time to load on mobile devices.

Even if you do use images, avoid using larger images. Since mobile screens offer lower resolution when compared to computers, mobile devices automatically resize all large and high-resolution images. When this resizing is done, the quality of the image suffers.

When creating mobile content, keep in mind that you’re trying to alleviate the need for users to scroll. This can be a frustrating and time-taking experience. So use text as much as possible.

Flash Content

While flash on phones was an exciting prospect when it was introduced, very soon people realized how bad it can get.

Flash can do amazing things but it slows down websites even when accessed on a desktop. On mobile device where the bandwidth is low, flash sites can be crippling. Flash pages will put extra load on the processor and battery too.

The reason flash is not advised for mobile devices, is because it slows down things and it can be a pain when someone just wants to find facts in a hurry. Most users go online using their mobile devices because they need to find something immediately, and they can’t wait until they get back home to their desktop device.

Never use any flash when creating a website for mobile devices, as it can easily ruin user experience.

Mobile Plug-Ins

Mobile plug-ins help create content that is mobile-friendly and great for mobile marketing. You can check out the WPTouch plug-in that does this job very well. It works by removing all the large design components and allowing web designers to customize the content for mobile visitors. The content thus created may not be very appealing visually but it works with a variety of mobile platforms.

Video Content

It’s not just text but video content should also be made mobile-friendly. Since video is so huge now, it helps to work on your videos for mobile users. Make sure there is absolutely no use of flash on the site or in your mobile marketing. Your existing videos can be resized using HTML 5 and Custom CSS to fit all mobile device screens.

Sign-Up Forms

If you have a sign-up form for your newsletter or email campaign, make sure it doesn’t sit in the center for mobile devices as it does with desktop devices. This can be quite annoying for the mobile user and they have to scroll up or down to get to the cross mark that closes that form. With zooming, the edge of the form is pushed off the screen. Make sure the form size is small for mobile devices and that it doesn’t interfere with the mobile user experience.

Mobile Marketing: Implementing This New Landscape

A responsive design helps you give the best possible experience to your mobile users. You can use a mobile device to access your website and see what changes you need to make to make your website mobile-friendly.

Make your copy mobile-friendly, use mobile marketing more and experience a surge in traffic to your website. At the rate the use of mobile devices is increasing, it helps to be in the forefront of this innovation.

Are there any specific things you do with your mobile marketing?