Planning to upgrade your developer skills but cannot decide which direction to take? If you want to try out something new and exciting, why not learn mobile web development? It may not be as popular as mobile or native app development, but it’s slowly gaining ground.
What is Mobile Web Development?
Mobile web development is the process of creating a website that is optimized for use on mobile devices. A mobile website, just like standard or traditional website, has browser-based HTML pages. The only difference is that its design is intended for seamless use – both on your computer and smaller-sized screens such as your smartphone or tablet.
If you’re using a mobile website, you do not have to download an app to access it. All the user has to do is use a browser. If you have an ecommerce mobile site, your customers can do their shopping comfortably both on their desktops and their smartphones. You do not have to create an app for it. The website is already good for both big and small screens.
Mobile web development pros create responsive websites that automatically adjust texts, images, video, data, and other contents that perfectly fit on your smartphone and tablet’s smaller screens.
Mobile sites are known to be user-friendly and convenient. They also have a wider audience reach compared to mobile and native apps. Many users find it easier to access mobile websites than mobile apps because they do not have to download it at the App Store or Google Play.
Why Learn Mobile Web Development?
Mobile app development isn’t going away anytime soon, but creating a mobile website is also an effective way to generate online buzz. However, there are other significant reasons why learning mobile web development should be on top of your to-do list right now.
1. There is a high demand for mobile web developers.
As previously stated, mobile web development may not be as popular as mobile or native app development, but it has a dedicated audience. Many businesses prefer mobile websites because it offers them a lot of benefits, including practical financial advantages. It is cheaper than mobile and native apps.
Mobile websites are preferred by those who understand the value of having a presence online, especially highly optimised and responsive sites. There are no staggering development costs to worry about, and on your part, you do not have to create for multiple platforms and maintain a variety of codebases.
2. Mobile web development helps you explore your creativity.
Creating a visually pleasing, uniform, and unique design is easier to achieve using mobile web development techniques. As such, you can explore your creativity much deeper. Moreover, you’ll be using website development frameworks that are way easier than those used for native app development.
Also, using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML allows you to conveniently manage cross-browser capabilities, interfaces, and accessibility. Unlike mobile or native apps, mobile website development does not require you to create a separate app version for every device type and operating system. Mobile web development makes creating good-looking and highly functional responsive websites easier for you.
3. Mobile websites have a wider, more diverse reach.
As it supports multiple devices across different platforms, mobile websites have a wider and more diverse reach. Additionally, sharing mobile websites to as many users as possible is also easy. All you have to do is share the link with other users – via Facebook private message, Skype chat, email, and even through SMS. You do not have to ask your customers to download an app from the App Store or Google Play. They only need to click the link you sent and they’re good to go.
Wouldn’t you want to create websites that can easily satisfy users?
4. Mobile websites have longer life cycles. The better option for your clients.
Have you ever experienced downloading an app after a friend recommended it to you only to delete it a couple of hours later? This is a common scenario among mobile and native app users. They’ll say, “Okay, let me give this app a try. If it doesn’t satisfy me, I’ll simply delete it!” The life cycle of mobile apps is relatively shorter compared to mobile websites.
If users do not want to use the website anymore, all they have to do is close it. They cannot delete a website; any website. If they need to check out something on the mobile website again, they can access it right away, in a matter of seconds. All they need is the URL or link. This setup is more convenient to users.
5. Mobile websites are more search engine friendly. SEO is a soft skill for developers.
Your client’s users won’t have a difficult time searching for the business’ mobile website. They can simply type the keywords on Google’s search bar and, voila, they’ll have access to the website in seconds. Moreover, you’ll get to know more about search engine optimization (specifically on-page SEO) and apply its benefits to the site you’ll create. Search engine spiders can’t “crawl” or indexed mobile website applications – a missed marketing opportunity for your client’s business.
Also, as indicated in number 3, you can easily share the link of mobile websites to as many portals as you want.
6. Mobile web development allows you to create websites that can turn into apps.
If you want to create a program but do not like the limitations offered by native applications, developing a mobile website is the best way to go. Mobile websites can become apps – and not the other way around. You can build them as data-driven web apps. It’s the practical way of offering the best of both worlds to your customers.
Mobile web development clearly has a lot of advantages for both users and developers. So, if you’re determined to level up your coding skills, why not try creating mobile websites instead of the usual native apps? It’s going to be a fun, creative, and rewarding experience, for sure. Plus, you’ll add several soft skills along the way.
