How to Create an iOS-Friendly Website

One of the most predominant e-commerce trends involves users accessing websites with the help of portable devices such as the latest Apple smartphones. Businesses need to be able to cater to this demographic if they hope to target as large of an audience as possible. This is when a concept known as mobile-responsive website design comes into play.

Let's take a look at some simple steps to ensure that your portal is accessible to everyone, as well as why aesthetic functionality is so important from an end-user perspective.

Choose a Reputable Host

It pays to create a website with a strong foundation. This begins with hosting services. Work in tandem witha quality provider of web hosting that offers scalable solutions. Not only will this help to ensure that your content appears seamlessly across multiple devices, but the architecture can be modified as the needs of your business change. You might otherwise find it necessary to change hosts in the future; a sure-fire way to sabotage ongoing operations. Simply stated, the importance of flexibility cannot be overstated.

Less is More

iOS users want to find what they are looking for without having to scroll through mountains of digital "fluff". This is why reducing on-site clutter is another important consideration. Here are some elements to eliminate sooner than later:

• Obtrusive banner advertisements.

• Blind links.

• Poorly optimised images.

• Irrelevant page redirects.

Remember that these factors can also impact page loading times; yet another KPI that will ultimately determine the appeal of the site itself.

One-Click Support When Needed

Companies such as Snapchat have begun adding iOS-compatible widgets to their apps, and this is equally relevant when discussing standalone websites. There can be instances when a visitor requires additional support, and they should be provided with a one-click means to obtain answers. Not only are chat widgets able to address common issues (such as billing questions), but they will often increase brand loyalty over time. There are plenty of plugins to consider, and be certain that these bundles can work in tandem with iOS devices.

Always Optimize Embedded Images

This final recommendation is equally true for Android systems and standard PC browsers. Images that are improperly optimised will affect the speed at which pages load. So, be sure to reduce the original file size and to choose the proper coded. Here are some formats to examine:

• PNG

• JPEG

• JPEG XR

• WebP

Without becoming overly technical, these types of files are easier to compress, and you will not be sacrificing image quality as a result. Note that there are also many free online conversion services that can be employed.

Timely Maintenance

Even the most well-engineered websites will need a bit of occasional housekeeping. Schedule regular maintenance updates, and make certain that all pages are functioning as they should. It is much easier to rectify a small digital "hiccup" before allowing it to evolve into a problem that might eventually result in significant downtime.