The World Wide Web changed the way we connect. We've gone from sending letters to sending emails and instead of phone calls many of us rely on online chat programs like Messenger and Skype. As our reliance on the internet has continued to grow over the past 15 years there have been continued developments in the way we access the internet. Most recently, mobile web has become a cornerstone of communication. Simply put, mobile web refers to accessing browser-based services using a mobile device. Cell phones, the Blackberry and the i-Phone, PDAs and other portable devices allow us to connect to public networks and the World Wide Web so that we are always in reach. Interestingly, in 2008 the total number of mobile web users surpassed the total number of users accessing the internet via a PC lending further support to the importance of mobile web for reaching customers.

Similarly, the advertising values of mobile web are evidence of its ability to reach wider audiences. In 2007 alone, the platform was utilized for advertising to the tune of 2.2 billion dollars. Advertising spending has been directed at mobile web because of our greater dependence on technology and many studies have shown that mobile web users are increasingly responding to these ads. As such, companies today need to be aware of the power of mobile web which is why it is crucial to create a mobile web image your customers will love.

Creating your Mobile Web Image

Designing the ideal mobile web image is much the same as designing a brand or logo. A mobile web image that is immediately recognizable and that makes a connection with your audience is highly effective in expanding your company image. The fact that there are more mobiles than PCs, more mobiles than landlines, and increasing usage of mobile web make it a critical area for exploring existing skills. Carefully develop an approach with careful attention to the following qualities.

Strip Styling

One of the easiest, and quickest ways to make your website mobile, is strip styling. Essentially, mobile web relies on WAP 2.0 which can make retrofitting your online site to mobile web a little more difficult. With strip styling, images and style is essentially removed from the site leaving your raw content only. There are a number of resources available to help you with strip styling your web page so that it is ready for mobile web. Certainly, this is a relatively effortless way to adapt to the world of mobile web but leaves your site lacking contextually. In addition, text-only content is not particularly attractive and often requires users to scroll through several pages with larger files.

Handheld Stylesheets

One of the most popular ways to create a mobile-web friendly site is the handheld stylesheet. Handheld stylesheets are built into CSS which means they can easily be applied to your site so that only one web address is needed for both PC and mobile web users. Developers who are confident with XHTML and CSS will enjoy the flexibility of handheld stylesheets and will benefit from more control as well. Unfortunately, many mobile web devices are not always compatible with handheld stylesheets and their ability to create a highly stylized mobile web site often overlooks content.

Mobile Optimized Site

Most of the development tools for mobile web sites focus on resizing your web page to fit on a mobile but are not optimized for these portable devices. Context, content, and the components of the site are sacrificed for the aesthetic and so the true needs of mobile web users are not met. Mobile optimized sites address content first and then aesthetic with highly specified pages that eliminate the need for extra bandwidth. Browsing is faster and less expensive but developers must manage files for desktop and mobile users independently meaning that different web addresses may be necessary.

Currently the increasing demand for mobile friendly web content is largely unanswered leaving a ripe and fresh market for businesses who choose to adopt this technology in the near future. When you take this step of having a mobile website produced for your company be sure to rethink your website to provide the most prudent information about your company with the simplest, lowest bandwidth solution that is reasonably possible. The mobile web is presenting you with new and innovative ways to reach your potential customers and keep them informed of your business. Don't miss out on the latest mobile revolution.