Mobile Moment Monday: The New Era of the Mobile Internet

I have said this already many times before, but the Internet is not what it used to by in the 1990's.  The first computer I bought was a Gateway back in 1997. It was top of the line, with about 512MB of memory and a 80GB hard drive, and a 17" CRT monitor.  America Online was the most popular Internet provider with their 56k dial-up connection.  How awesome was it to realize that you could search and look-up just about anything on your computer sitting in the comfort of your own home? No one even complained that it took 10 to 15 minutes to download one song on Napster; it was free, it was cool, and it couldn't get better than this, right?

Back then, "good" web design was done with HTML tables and small, compressed images, such as GIF's.  Then along came JavaScript, CSS, and server-side web programming languages, RSS feeds, and all sorts of different technologies were released to make webpages more interactive, dynamic, and entertaining.   Then social media; everyone had a MySpace page.  I thought it was funny the first time I heard MySpace, or Facebook referenced on television. I think it was Law and Order that I was watching.  You realize then just how big and important these things have become when you see it on television.

Now, everywhere I read they are saying, "If you are designing a website, design for mobile first."  Mobile webpages and mobile apps are the biggest thing since...well, Facebook.  Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and all the biggest names on the web are buying as many companies and stocks as they can that revolve around mobile marketing.  Check out this Pinterest page with about 82 different mobile design and smartphone infographics.  The above YouTube infographic video also has some unbelievable mobile facts and stats.  A Mobile Design Presentation, also on YouTube, explains why it so important for a business to have a mobile webpage today.

Whether you are an entrepreneurs who is trying to create the next best app, or just a small business owner trying to connect to your customers, you need to start thinking "mobile first." Once you have a mobile website ready, optimize it for the desktop so everything is seamless on all platforms.  The best way to do this: RESPONSIVE DESIGN.  I know I am preaching it, so you better just start believing it.

With all these facts being thrown around, I would like to find out for myself what my reader's preferences are for viewing the web.  If you look to the right of this post you will see a survey asking, "What device do you user most often to view the web?" It would good to see if these stats and facts are true. If you scroll down, you will also find that I have added links for your convenience to subscribe to my blog, or share it on your favorite social media platform.

If you can think of any other great videos or infographics, feel free to post a link. By the way, infographics are another form of media that is growing in popularity on the web also. Why? Because they display a lot of information quickly, are visually pleasing, and keep the viewer hooked until the end.  Many are also optimized to be viewed on mobile devices. I am definitely a strong supporter of infographics.