Smartphones are very ubiquitous these days. They’re great for talking, texting, taking photos, using apps, and browsing the web. I know I use my phone all the time to research an error message I’m seeing if the computer is down. Mobile browsers have come a long way but they still have their limitations. The resolutions will certainly be different than a desktop, possibly making text hard to read without zooming in. The data speed connection can also be limiting so you want to get rid of all the extra fluff to speed up download time.
Google wants to help mobilize your site and, of course, show mobile ads on it or use them to advertise your site.
Google has a number of tools available at www.howtogomo.com. You can test how your pages currently appear on a mobile device and learn more about mobile for your sector – publishers, advertisers, or agencies.
The GoMoMeter allows you to see your site rendered on a mobile device. It then asks you a set of questions about how the site appears so you can provide relevant advice to you.
Google is also offering a partnership with DudaMobile to provide templates, hosting, a year’s worth of premium service for free with support to take your site mobile.
I use the WordPress plugin WP-Touch to make a mobile version of my site. It automatically detects the device based on User-Agent and serves up the plugin’s customizable, built-in theme. It gets rid of the sidebar widgets to allow the content to shine. With some AdSense for Mobile ads, the content can still be monetized while allowing for a fast, enjoyable experience from any device.
Check out Google’s Go Mo tools and investigate options for your platform to easily offer a mobile version of your site for a better visitor experience.