15 Dec Best Tricks to Optimize Your WordPress Site for Mobile Users

Did you know that mobile devices generate about 48.91% of all Internet traffic? Because of this, Google highly recommends optimizing websites for mobile use to rank higher in their search engine results. If your business relies heavily on website traffic and ranking (like most do), then it would be wise to make your site mobile-friendly.

Here are some quick tips for how to make your WordPress site mobile-friendly:

Utilize a Responsive WordPress Theme

In order to make your website optimized for mobile use, you must use a responsive theme. Often, the creation of websites is done via desktop, so it is easy to forget that it should also be functional and appealing for mobile users. Not all themes are created equal. Some themes are only good for desktop viewing. If you don’t want to miss out on a large number of mobile users, then go for a responsive WordPress theme that can adapt the content to multiple screen sizes.

If you install a responsive theme, then there is no need to run a different mobile site together with your desktop website since it will adjust to the size of all screens.

It would also be wise to purchase a theme, especially optimized for mobile resolution. If you’re going to do this, it would be best to hire a website designer such as Uplift 360 to help convert your static web design template into one that features a responsive design.

Activate Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

For several years, Google’s search algorithm has incorporated the use of PageSpeed, as this allows a streamlined user experience for both desktop and mobile users. For this reason, Google has advocated the use of AMP to allow quicker loading of pages on mobile devices. If you activate AMP on your websites, you get the assurance that it can help boost your search engine results page (SERP) ranking. You can easily do this by using the correct WordPress plugins.

Use a Mobile-Optimized Content Plugin

If you’re not keen on switching to a responsive WordPress theme, then it is best to use a plugin. You can choose from the following plugins:

• Jetpack
• WP Touch
• WP Mobile Pack
• WP Mobile Edition

However, plugins have some limitations. For instance, some of these plugins can suddenly stop working when there is a WordPress update, particularly if the developer fails to update the plugin for compatibility with some core WordPress files. Additionally, some of these plugins are not the best to use for customizing WordPress.

Use Appropriate Image Sizes

Some websites take too long to load because web owners upload large image files. Issues like these can cause mobile users to become frustrated and eventually abandon visiting your site altogether. A study conducted by Google DoubleClick revealed that more than half of mobile users bounce if the web page’s loading time exceeds three seconds. Shortening load times can make a big difference, especially for new users visiting your website.

For this, it is essential to consider image optimization. Make sure that you use the correct image size and resolution. It’s a good idea to use the Smush Image Compression and Optimization plugin to ensure image loading is optimized for mobile users. Alternatively, you can also use TinyPNG to automatically shrink your image before uploading it to your web server.

Final Tip for Optimizing Website for Mobile Use

While these tips are useful to prepare your website for mobile optimization, it is also vital to do constant monitoring of your website’s performance, so you know whether your users are getting the best experience. Use the results of your monitoring to tweak your website accordingly.