Mobile-first websites: why your phone matters more than your laptop
More than half of local searches now happen on mobile devices, and for businesses in South East London - from cafés in Greenwich to salons in Welling - a mobile-first approach isn’t optional, it’s essential. If your website doesn’t load quickly, display properly, or guide visitors on a small screen, potential customers will click away before they even see what you offer.
A mobile-first mindset means designing your website starting with the smartphone experience, not the desktop. Here are 10 practical tips to help local businesses optimise for mobile users and turn more visitors into customers:
Prioritise speed over everything
Mobile users are impatient and often on the move. Slow-loading pages (even 3 seconds) can cause visitors to leave, so optimise images, use caching, and minimise plugins to keep your site lightning-fast. A fast website also improves your Google ranking, helping more local customers find you.
Use responsive design
Your website should automatically adjust to different screen sizes, whether it’s a phone, tablet, or desktop. Elements like menus, images, and buttons must scale or reposition correctly to remain readable and clickable on smaller devices, so your site always feels professional.
Simplify navigation
Mobile screens are small, so complicated menus frustrate visitors. Use clear, short headings, collapsible menus, and visible call-to-action buttons that are easy to tap, helping customers quickly find the information they need.
Make buttons easy to click
Links and buttons should be large enough to tap without zooming or accidental clicks. Aim for a minimum of 44px by 44px per button, and leave space between links to improve user experience and make your site feel more intuitive.
Keep text concise and readable
Avoid long paragraphs that are hard to read on small screens. Break up content with bullet points, short sentences, and subheadings, and use high contrast between text and background so users can read comfortably in bright or dim conditions.
Optimise images for mobile
Large images can slow down your website and appear distorted on small screens. Compress images, use proper aspect ratios, and test them on different devices to ensure they load quickly and look professional across all phones. There are plenty of tools out there to crop images, Pixlr is my favourite.
Ensure forms are mobile-friendly
If your site collects enquiries, bookings, or sign-ups, make forms simple and quick to complete. Reduce unnecessary fields, enable autofill, and use numeric keyboards for phone numbers or postcodes to make it as easy as possible for visitors to take action.
Test across multiple devices
Websites often render differently on iPhones, Android phones, or tablets. Regularly test your site on a variety of devices and browsers to catch layout issues, broken buttons, or unreadable text before your customers encounter them.
Keep important content “above the fold”
Visitors shouldn’t have to scroll to find key information like your address, opening hours, or contact details. By placing this content prominently at the top of your mobile pages, you make it immediately accessible and increase the chances of enquiries or bookings.
Use mobile-friendly pop-ups sparingly
Intrusive pop-ups can frustrate users and negatively affect your Google ranking. If you do use them, ensure they are easy to close, don’t cover important content, and provide clear value, such as a newsletter signup or a special offer.
How South East London businesses can apply this
Cafés: highlight menus and click-to-call buttons for orders.
Salons: showcase services with large images and direct booking forms.
Tradespeople: emphasise phone numbers and clear service descriptions for quick enquiries.
Local boutiques: make e-commerce buttons large, with simple checkout to improve conversions.
Conclusion
For South East London businesses, a mobile-first website isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s how most of your customers will find and interact with you. Optimising your website for mobile screens ensures visitors can easily read your content, contact you, or make bookings, wherever they are.
At Kyeeni, we help local businesses create mobile-first websites that look professional, load quickly, and convert visitors into customers. If you want a website that works perfectly on every device, visit kyeeni.com - we’d be happy to help.