Is Your Blog Ready for the Mobile Web?
The explosive consumer interest in the iPad has irretrievably changed the landscape of the computer market. The announcement that Apple sold nearly 15 million iPads in 2010 only adds an exclamation point. But the question that remains to be answered is how the newly created market for tablet computers will reshape the web. Although the iPad is a wondrous consumer device, it possesses far less processing power than traditional desktop computers; or even most netbooks. Tack on the fact that many iPads are accessing the internet through cellular networks, which are starved for bandwidth when compared against so-called "regular" computers, and its obvious bloggers will have to adapt. So if you're in tune with this changing landscape, check out these two potential solutions to getting your blog read for the mobile web.
1. Redirect your users to a separate, mobile subdomain
This approach sends mobile visitors to a subdomain that's completely independent of the main site. Typically users would see either "mobile.example.com" or "m.example.com". Taking this route allows for custom mobile content, but can lead to extra work for webmasters since all that content needs to be managed. Also there are certain SEO dangers associated with multiple versions of a website. For instance, a separate mobile domain that duplicates the content of your primary domain could build its own link equity, independent from the main site.
Setting up a separate subdomain requires the development of an entire theme and content stream for the mobile site. While the work can be done manually, there are services to manage the process. Mobify specializes in setting up mobile sites, and provides a zero-cost solution for light users. Heavy users, or those interested in e-commerce, are offered paid solutions. The process is as simple as importing content, building design from a web interface, and setting up your DNS record. With a little extra effort, you can assign a CNAME record and serve up a custom domain as well.
2. Install a mobile plugin
If you're on Wordpress, taking advantage of plugins goes a long way to simplifying web design and management. There are a variety of freely available plugins that will redirect your users to a mobile theme for your site. The assignment to a mobile theme happens seamlessly to the user, and is based on the browser (or user agent) accessing the site. Two excellent plugins for this are WPTouch and MobilePress. Either will get the job done, are simple to set up and install, and are well supported by their designers.
The beauty of taking the plugin approach is that it completely circumvents concerns about duplicate content and SEO, since the content doesn't exist on a separate domain. However, on many sites, mobile content will be generated dynamically, which may increase server load. Also, if you're running a caching plugin, be certain to take steps to make caching work with mobile themes.
The mainstream adoption of tablet computers is going to change the face of the internet. By at least one estimate, smartphone mobile traffic is expected to increase 700% over the next 5 years. With such phenomenal growth rates, the special concerns of mobile users will rapidly come center stage for webmasters and bloggers alike.
This guest post was written by David Paltry, the author of Tabletography.com. Check out his blog for this tablet pc comparison, as well as insight and news about tablet computers.
WPTouch
Another reason any site I operate or build is based off Wordpress - it makes it 1000 times easier to make the site mobile friendly. I've dealt with WPTouch quite a bit and find it the best of the bunch.
I've implemented a few mobile
I've implemented a few mobile ready Wordpress blogs over the last year or so. Even implemented one underneath the Thesis framework. They have all worked ok, but it seems to me that being really successful depends on the mobile hardware being used (some devices just have crappy browser functionality). Almost all of the latest Android devices and iPhones do a good job, even for some sites that are not fully mobile optimized.
Hmm.. interesting subject. I
Hmm.. interesting subject. I only just found out (after taking a curious peek in Google Analytics) that my website is visited by a couple dozen mobile users daily...
I tried some Wordpress plugins in the past, but now I'm wondering if it's not just easier to keep the site as. Especially if you consider the smartphone screens are getting bigger and bigger and text usually adjusts to the zoom-level in a smart way (on iPhone and Android phones anyway) so everything's still very readable.
Other than that, I really don't feel like redesigning the whole lot all over again :D .. might have to reconsider this some day though
What I do like in blogger
What I do like in blogger system is that they already have a mobile versions of the blogs that you create on this system. However, I won't deny that WP or Joomla are much better for having a quality blog.
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