Since accessing the web through mobile devices has become in cheaper in recent years, it has also become more popular. Most Web Apps are now fully compatible with mobile devices. However, it shouldn’t be just Web Apps being compatible. Every site should start making their sites compatible with mobile devices (maybe that should be your New Year’s resolution?)

In this short guide, I’ll take you through the steps at making a website mobile compatible.

Test In Multiple Screen Resolutions
By testing your design in multiple resolutions you can prevent serious usability flaws coming up. Anyone who has used an iPhone before will know how annoying it is having to scroll everywhere.

Don’t Use Pixel Units In Your Design
Zooming is the most annoying thing to do on a mobile device. And if I have to zoom in just to read your to read a title or click on a link then we have a problem. Using pixel values - for example in your font size - you make it a nightmare for mobile users to read.

Cut Down On Graphics
Mobile Internet can be slow, and when people are paying by-the-minute for their internet access, they won’t waste their time on your site. Most images can sometimes be replaced by a CSS color and thus reducing download time.

Use A Different Site Design
Sometimes the same design just won’t work. But here’s a thought. Instead of creating a scaled down version of the full design, why not create a simple CSS design that resembles a smart feed reader?. Just a thought.

Get An iPhone Home Icon
Readers on an iPhone or similar device prefer clicking on Home Screen icons than going the long Safari route. So Create a nice polished icon that looks unique to your site. In case your wondering which sites have these icons, BBC iPlayer, Facebook, Bebo(I think), Wikipedia and Flickr.

I hope that’s all that you need to get you started, and before you ask why I haven’t done it,  that’s because of my reader demographic.