Whether you are running a simple fashion blog, or operating an online store, it is important to keep one eye on the future and ensure you are always keeping up with the needs and expectations of your target audience. In this post, we will take a closer look at two of the main steps you should take to prepare for the future: prioritizing mobile users and ensuring your website can contend with any sudden increases in web traffic.
Embrace Mobile-First Design Principles
One of the easiest steps you can take to prepare your website for the future is to embrace mobile-first design principles. This can be achieved by using a website builder with mobile-first features, such as mobile-optimized templates, so that your website is visually pleasing and easy to use on touchscreen devices with relatively small screens.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of mobile-first design. Mobile users now account for more than 54% of web traffic as of Q4 2023 and this has increased from around 31% back in 2015. In other words, the majority of visitors to your fashion website are now likely to be utilizing smartphones, tablets and other similar mobile devices.
So what does mobile-first design look like in practice? Using responsive web design (RWD) allows web pages to automatically fit the screen of the device being used, without causing navigation, scrolling or zooming issues. You should also adopt a progressive enhancement process, where all of the essential content and features are accessible when using mobile devices. Desktop users can receive an enhanced version of the site, with extra, non-essential features.
Plan for an Increase in Website Traffic
In addition to ensuring you are catering to the ever-increasing mobile user base, future planning also means preparing for an increase in website traffic over time. This is important for any website, as failure to prepare can lead to website downtime, but it is especially critical if you are processing transactions of any kind.
For example, if you are operating a beauty website and are following the top tips for startup success, such as crafting a unique selling proposition and identifying your niche in the industry, you might expect interest from your target audience to increase over time. That means more website visitors and more stress on the servers hosting your website.
Options for tackling these issues and avoiding downtime include using a host that offers a high capacity, or using a virtual private server. You can also explore content delivery networks and use load testing to understand your limits.
The consequences of website downtime can be severe for businesses and difficult to bounce back from. A survey from the Ponemon Institute found that 65% of consumers lose trust in a brand after one failed transaction or experience with website downtime, so you must take steps to prepare and avoid website downtime whenever you can.
Closing Thoughts
Future-proofing your website needs to be top priority, because traffic can increase suddenly and the consequences for downtime can be severe and long-lasting. In addition, it is important to use a mobile-first approach to design, in order to meet users where they are and prioritize the majority of traffic, which now originates from mobile devices.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
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