Mobile Friendly websites

A few weeks ago, I posted a graphic that represented email clients in order of popularity. I will re post a similar graphic again from a campaign we sent last week.

This chart evidences the point I would like to make regarding the importance of ensuring that a website is designed to be mobile friendly. So much direct marketing is carried out by email today and the evidence is that much of it is being accessed by mobile email clients.  For email marketing to be successful, it is important that there are clear and compelling calls to action present. But if fulfilment of these marketing campaigns is to take place on an iPhone or an Android device then it is just as important that the destination website be mobile compatible.

It is possible to have a mobile application creates, with an RSS feed that your mobile users may access your news etc. however it is unlikely that unless you are a very big consumer brand that you are going to get many subscribers who regularly check that application and even less likely to get them to download it in the first place.

One area that is seeing rapid growth is streaming video. There are many websites that supply streaming content that I can access with my HTC. Sadly, they do not offer 100% usability. The thing is I am most likely to access this type of content from my mobile when I have a few minutes to spare and I am not at my desk or in my house.
Most of these systems do use flash and the problems with accessing rich flash content from a mobile device are well documented. No doubt we will see more websites developed to offer a better streaming experience to mobile users but I cant help but feel that some big players in this market are missing a trick.

Once again I have to say that if you are running direct email marketing campaigns, ensure that the landing page does not have flash. This will ruin the impact of the campaign on pretty much any mobile device. Another thing to be wary of is screen width. Make sure that the different elements of your homepage are able to exist next to each other without blocking important text, links or functions.

Th important point to remember is that New Media is all about giving customers choice. If customers are choosing to use mobile devices as web browsers, it would be a fool who fails to react to that basic market force.

Websites for the Blind

To many people living with disabilities, the internet has opened a world of possibilities and dramatically improved their access to services and information. However for those with visual impairments it still has its barriers. In the USA, The National Federation of the Blind, has recently arranged a deal with a major online travel agency to improve the level of access that people with visual impairment have to their online content.


Travelocity, has undertaken make its website fully accessible to the blind, will see each web page used for searching flights, accommodation, packages, last-minute deals etcetera to blind Internet users by summer 2011.


From a technical point of view, there are two different types of visual impairment that affect a person’s ability to engage with a website. Each has its own considerations and solutions.


Partially-sighted - Many partially-sighted people need to enlarge text on websites. Some use screen magnifiers. Website designers need to be aware of how enlarging the text effects legibility and the effect it has on text embedded in graphics.


Blind - Screen readers are used by those with blindness or extremely poor sight. The technology sifts through HTML code and deciphers what needs to be read aloud. Some blind users, particularly those that are deaf/blind, might use a refreshable Braille display machine which allows users to read the content.


To develop a website that is disability friendly it is important to realise how the technology blind users employ affects website design and then rework site components such as image and link tags, form formats and even colour schemes. Much of this is covered but the W3C guidelines which disciplined web designers should adhere to, however there is also legislation in the UK in the form of the Disability and Discrimination which pertains to the design and implementation of disabled friendly web design.

10.1 Digital resolutions