More Google searches take place on mobile devices than on desktop computers. This is the case in many countries across the world, including USA and Japan.
If your school’s website is not mobile-friendly, you could be missing out on enrolments and losing prospective parents to your competition. You also run the risk of irritating your current parent group.
Here are 4 reasons why you should make your school website mobile-friendly:
1. Responsiveness
Mobile-optimised websites will resize based on what device they are viewed on. That means that they will usually look different when viewed on desktop compared to when viewed on a tablet or smartphone. This makes a mobile-friendly website much easier to use, as it would be incredibly difficult to navigate a desktop version of a website from a mobile device. Ensure that the design and features are consistent across all devices, and that all are aligned with your school’s branding.
2. User experience
According to Google, 61 percent of users are unlikely to return to a website with poor user experience, and 40 percent will visit a competitor’s site instead. Your school risks losing visitors if the font size is too small, clickable buttons are too close together, videos are unplayable, load time is too slow … the list goes on.
3. Better rankings
Google favours mobile-friendly websites in its search results, meaning that websites that are optimised for mobile will rank better. If your school’s website is mobile-friendly, there is a greater chance of you ranking above your competitors.
4. Credibility
Think of your website as a digital shop window. If your website is clunky and hard to use, it could have a negative impact on a visitor’s perception of your school. A website that performs poorly on mobile devices might worry them about what’s to come from their experience at your school.
So, how do you know if your school’s website is mobile-friendly? There are several apps and websites that allow you to check its responsiveness. If your site is not mobile-friendly, Google will highlight recommended improvements for your site.
