Why Mobile-friendly?
The exponential growth in technology over the past decades has revolutionised the way we access various services, and therapy is no exception. In today’s fast-paced digital world, in which the majority of people now browse the web from smartphones and tablets, mobile-friendly websites are no longer a luxury, but a necessity, for even the smallest of businesses, including therapists.
Have you ever been browsing the internet on your smartphone and come across a website built before 2010? Have you experienced the frustration of having to zoom in, scroll left and right and rotate your screen in order to read the information on the screen? I’m sure you have. Now imagine you are a client searching Google for a therapist in their area, using a smartphone. How does it feel to land on a promising website, only to find a page of tiny, unreadable text and a frustrating navigation experience? If I were that client, I think I would quickly move on to the next therapist in my Google search, who hopefully has a mobile-optimised website. A mobile-friendly site not only presents you as a professional practitioner who is up to date with technological advancements, but also conveys to potential clients that you care about their experience. In addition, having a mobile-friendly site means that your resources and information about your services are accessible to clients anytime, anywhere, so you have a better chance of meeting them at their point of need. They can contact you right now, rather than having to wait until they get back to their computer, by which time the moment may have passed.
Responsive design
While there are several ways to make a website mobile-compatible, including having a separate mobile website or app, responsive design is currently the most popular and cost-effective solution. Responsive design allows a website’s layout to adapt to the screen size and orientation of the device on which it is being viewed, thereby providing an optimal viewing experience across a wide range of devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones. This ensures a seamless and consistent user experience, irrespective of the device used. This consistency enhances the user experience, making navigation and access to information seamless. With responsive design, you maintain one single website rather than separate versions for different devices. This unified approach simplifies website maintenance, saves time, and reduces costs. As new mobile devices come on the market, a responsive design will ensure your website remains user-friendly. This forward compatibility makes responsive design a more sustainable and cost-effective solution in the long term.
As therapists, you aim to provide effective and accessible support to those in need. To achieve this in the online world, you will need a mobile-responsive website, such as those developed by Wellbeing Websites, which will facilitate seamless client engagement and accessibility as well as boost your professional image. An excellent mobile experience could be the deciding factor for potential clients when looking online for a therapist, so a mobile-responsive website is well worth the investment.