It could be the main index page, it culd be a section specifically designed and developed with mobile only in mind.
Ideally it will have content on thats useful even if there is no connection so it can be cached and represented while a connection is made.
With Ofcom reporting that 52% of internet users say that smartphones or tablet devices are their preferred device for getting online1, and with Google stating that more searches “take place on mobile devices than on computers”2, is the UK’s property industry embracing the change in how individuals are searching the internet and accessing websites?
The websites of 75 companies within the property sector were analysed using Google’s “Mobile-Friendly Test” to see whether the world’s leading search engine considers the sites as “readable and immediately useable” by those viewing the site on a smartphone or tablet device. The sample group included the UK’s major housebuilders, commercial property developers, property companies and the leading firms of property agents and surveyors. A third of the websites tested failed the mobile-friendly test and will, as a result, be penalised by Google in mobile search results.
The study revealed that 80% of the housebuilders have mobile-friendly websites. This high percentage probably reflects the housebuilders’ understanding of the target audience and their appreciation that many homebuyers will approach them direct or visit their websites to search for new-build homes.
Of the leading 25 commercial developers and property companies 68% had websites considered as being mobile-friendly.
When the websites of the top 25 agency and surveying firms were analysed, it was revealed that almost half (48%) of the failed the mobile-friendly test.
The poor performance of the websites belonging to agents and surveyors was then extended to include 3XX websites from around the UK. Of these websites 60% failed the mobile-friendly test.
The importance of having a mobile-friendly website can really not be underestimated for any business. The ranking of a website in Google searches made on smart phones and tablets is influenced by the ability of the site to be easily read and accessed via a mobile device and the world’s favourite search engine is penalising websites in mobile search that are not mobile-friendly.. By giving mobile-friendly sites a higher ranking, Google is looking to ensure that users get a better experience when searching via smartphones and tablets.
Test your own site using Google’s mobile-friendly test.
Follow this link to learn more about mobile-friendly websites.
Notes
SoftForge and Flashbulb undertook the study of the websites of over 400 property companies and businesses in January 2016. The statistics quoted are based on the results obtained via Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and do not include those sites that block Google’s search engine or those that were offline and unavailable at the time.
Its always a pleasure to work with small businesses helping them to grow.SoftForge is able to advise small businesses on more than just their website. We have worked with companies of all kinds and all sizes, seeing what works and what does not.
For some its a passion that cannot be quashed, the website and multi/social media a chance to shout about that they are proudly doing. For others the web presence is a means to an end, something they know has to be done but are reluctant to put it into action.
We have worked with both and can guide you through the pitfalls and hype, saving you time and money making the changes that will benefit your business the most.
SoftForge can help you distill your ideas into a coherent plan and coax you to turn business plan in to reality. Check in with you from time to time making sure you can take advantage of those industry changes that will affect you.
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SoftForge has worked with some of the biggest names over the last decade. We can help bring about a team lead solution slotting into that part of an company that requires our expertise to make your projects and plans a reality.
In our time we worked with many national and international companies. One example is Shell. We worked with them to implement their car service network. We built and delivered a multi administrator multi access level platform to allow garages using Shell oil to deliver MOT and car services via the platform we built. It allowed customers to enter postcode and car registration to find the nearest garage that could deal with their make and car, along with the costs involved.
During the life of the project we provided a maintenance contract to make sure the service ran smoothly and when this project came to an end we met their obligations and continue to host copies of the project for as long as they need. Although finished the Shell project can be seen here in the wayback machine.
With the NHS/UCL collaboration, this is an ongoing roll out of a type 2 diabetes site aimed at helping those with the disease to self manage the condition. I large complex site that uses information gathered from the patients records it presents them with structured learning courses and in an interface tailored to make it as easy to navigate as possible for each user.
Capital fortune, a financial services company based in the heart of the London square mile. For them we took over 1600 Wordpress sites and built them into one Joomla site which is secure and reliable. This streamlined their offer saving time and costs, but also delivering better SEO and conversion rates. Important when you are spending money on advertising to push your business forward.
We also work with charities such as the PKD charity and Ciliopathy Alliance, both have had large audiences at times.
For the British Council we created Youth Space. Although the project and the site has now finished, an outline of the project can be here, YouthSpace. You can see it developed over the 5 years and was a success for the British Council and EU authorities who helped fund it.
So however big your organisation is, we can engage with your development teams enhancing the project and driving it forward.
