Students are not sitting down at their computers and checking your website; they’re using the device in their hands.
Fifteen percent of Americans ages 18-29 are heavily dependent on a smartphone for online access, according to the Pew Research Center.
Your target audience, 85 percent of whom have smartphones, likely is accessing your content via a mobile device.
When was the last time you took a look at your student media website on a mobile device? I’m not talking about your app, I’m referring to your actual website.
When was the last time you loaded the mobile version of your site on an iPhone and an Android?
If it’s been awhile or you can’t remember, it’s time to check out your mobile presence.
Some other results from the study:
- 68 percent of smartphone owners use their phone at least occasionally to follow along with breaking news events,
- 33 percent of smartphone owners use their phones frequently to follow along with breaking news events,
- 67 percent of smartphone owners use their phones to share pictures, videos, or commentary about events happening in their community, with 35% doing so frequently, and
- 56 percent of smartphone owners use their phones at least occasionally to learn about community events or activities, with 18% doing this “frequently.”
All of these results describe content you likely provide for your audience. You need to understand what experience they’re having when they connect there.
Once you determine what your site looks like on both device types (I also would check tablets too, FYI.), you need to determine what, if anything, you can do to improve that experience. Some questions to ask:
- Can your organization be readily identified by mobile readers?
- Is your mobile site easy to read?
- Is your mobile site easy to navigate?
- Is it easy to connect with you via your mobile site?
- Can users easily share content from your mobile site to a variety of social media?
- Is your mobile site simple and visually appealing?
If you don’t yet have a mobile-ready site, I think it goes without saying that you need to get one yesterday. Responsive design has been considered a best practice for years. Most standard themes include mobile responsiveness. If yours doesn’t, this usually is easily solved with a plug-in. But, today, it’s not optional.
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