Fewer and fewer people want to turn on their computers to perform everyday tasks.

It’s much easier to check email or shop on a smartphone. Therefore, website owners need to ensure mobile users feel as comfortable as possible. This especially applies to online stores. In this guide, we’ll explain in detail how to make your Shopify store mobile-friendly.

What is Mobile Responsiveness

In today’s world, you no longer need to delve deeply into the technical details of any process. You can turn to responsive Shopify design consultants and achieve excellent results. But if you want to optimize your website yourself or control the process, it’s essential to start with the basics.

Simply put, mobile responsiveness is a website’s ability to instantly adapt to any user’s screen size without losing quality. This means whether the user is accessing the site from a computer or a mobile phone, they won’t lose important information and can easily complete their desired action.

It sounds simple, but in reality, it requires serious work. The site must instantly adjust the placement and size of elements to prevent potential customers from leaving the page immediately. Shopify store owners already have an advantage, as the platform is mobile-friendly. The main challenges arise for those who want to customize their store and use a unique theme. This is where additional work will be required.

Improving Mobile Responsiveness

So, you’ve realized the importance of making your theme mobile-friendly and are eager to get started. Then you need to pay attention to the following points.

Check Your Theme

Shopify offers a variety of ready-made store themes. You can also find interesting designs on specialized platforms. Many of them already have built-in adaptation mechanisms for different screen sizes. So, if you haven’t yet chosen a design for your online store, pay attention to this. When ordering a custom theme, make mobile responsiveness a key requirement in your specifications.

Adapt Navigation

Ease of navigation largely determines whether a customer will stay in your store or switch to a competitor. If a user can’t figure out how to get to the desired section, they won’t waste their time. Therefore, the first thing you should pay attention to is the buttons that direct you to different pages. There are several aspects to consider here.

• Button placement. Given the small size of a standard smartphone, a horizontal top menu isn’t practical. A hideable side menu is best. Since it’s most often accessed via the three-bar button, it’s intuitive for most users.
• Hierarchical structure. If your menu sections are jumbled together, it will confuse the user. Sections should be arranged in a logical order, with the least popular ones at the very bottom. Subsections can be implemented using a drop-down list that appears when a category is clicked.
• Consistent design. Ensure navigation patterns are easy for users to understand. Ideally, sections and subsections should be designed so that it’s immediately clear where to go. If each block has a different design, the user will quickly become confused.

You’ve probably already grasped the main idea: even on a mobile device, navigation should remain clear and logical. The user came to you to make a purchase, not to complete quests.

Optimize Photos

An online store is a place where users expect to see lots of photos. Your goal is to present your product in all its glory. It’s logical to upload the highest-quality, most detailed images possible. As for dimensions, Shopify specifies specific values:

• Banner: 2000 x 600 pixels.
• Slideshow images: 2000 x 600 pixels.
• Logo: 450 x 250 pixels.
• Collection photos: 2048 x 2048 pixels.
• Product photos: 2048 x 2048 pixels.

To prevent photos from slowing down page loading and making users wait impatiently, compress them as they load. This can be done using third-party programs, Shopify’s built-in tools, or a convenient plugin. The latter option is optimal, as it offers the most options and simplifies the process.

Work with Text Content

Not only photos, but everything you publish on your website should be optimized for mobile devices. Even on small screens, all information should be easily readable. To achieve this, consider the following factors.

• Font size and type. Avoid experimenting with extravagant fonts. Buyers shouldn’t have to strain to decipher the product description. Also, ensure the font isn’t too small or too large.
• Easy-to-read structure. On a small phone screen, information should be presented as clearly as possible. Don’t forget to use headings and keep text short. This will make it easier to read.
• Leave space. The page shouldn’t be empty, but cluttered with text won’t make it look better either. Remember that the user will be viewing it on a small screen, so keep it to the essentials.
• Make interaction easy. Make sure all buttons and links are easily visible. Constant accidental taps caused by link clutter are annoying, so leave enough space around buttons.

Be sure to check how easy it is to navigate your website. Even if you, as the owner, are annoyed, the buyer will definitely not tolerate it.

Improve Page Load Speed

Page loading speed is the cornerstone of a website’s usability. No one wants to waste time waiting, so pay special attention to this parameter from the start. All elements that slow down loading should be optimized. We’ve already written about photos. However, they aren’t the only source of problems. Pay attention to all large files. It’s also worth using cacheable elements to avoid refreshing the entire page. 

Add Features to Improve Mobile Experience

Once you’ve worked on the technical aspects of your website and ensured it works well on mobile devices, it’s too early to relax. Now you need to add a few features to ensure mobile users have the best experience possible. This will significantly increase the likelihood of a purchase, so do not neglect this step.

• Make it easy to contact you. Add buttons for direct communication. When a user can call with just one tap, they can easily clarify any details they need, and you can help them complete the purchase. A single button should also open a chat or contact form.
• Add the wipe feature. For mobile users, this is the most common way to interact with content. So, be sure to add this option when browsing collections.
• Optimize search. The search button should be easily accessible on every page. Also, add autocomplete and search suggestions so shoppers don’t have to type their search query manually.
• Use geolocation. If you have a physical store, integrating maps and adding directions will help. This will significantly simplify searches and increase the number of customers visiting your physical store.
• Integrate mobile payments. Having to enter a bank card’s details on your website can be a turn-off for shoppers. Some will find it unsafe, while others won’t want to waste their time. So, add the option to pay via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or digital wallets.
• Personalization. Allow users to customize their experience and express their preferences. For example, you can add a favorites option, create a wish list, and other settings that will increase the likelihood of customer return.

All these features are easily added using the appropriate plugins. Since Shopify is designed with mobile friendliness in mind, you’ll find plenty of such tools. The key is to make the site user-friendly and not overload it. Finding the right balance is crucial.

Testing Results

Once all the work is completed, you need to conduct an inspection. There are two primary methods for this. Let’s look at each.

Using Google Speed ​​Test Tool

Simply go to the tool’s page and enter your website URL. After a short measurement, you’ll receive a page performance report. It’s also convenient to see how mobile-friendly the results are. The test takes a couple of minutes, but it provides a wealth of information.

Self-Testing

To do this, you’ll need a PC and several mobile devices with different operating systems and screen sizes. Your task is to visit the website, test the navigation, add items to the cart, and check out the purchases. Try to remain objective and don’t ignore minor flaws. It’s better to fix them right away.

On a PC, you should also open your website and test how it works in a reduced browser window. This will also provide information about the design’s adaptability to different sizes.

Conclusion

As you can see, adapting the Shopify website for mobile devices doesn’t require anything out of the ordinary. However, it’s painstaking work that requires a comprehensive approach and consistency. First and foremost, you should understand that your sales largely depend on the ease of use of your website on mobile devices. Therefore, if you’re unsure of your abilities, you can always turn to optimization specialists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I ensure a new feature appeals to mobile users?

A/B tests are best. They will accurately show which design option or feature is most popular with users.

How often should I test mobile responsiveness?

The first test should be conducted immediately after feature integration. Performance metrics and user feedback should then be regularly monitored.

If I use a ready-made theme, do I need to further optimize it for mobile friendliness?

It all depends on the theme’s specifications. Many stores prefer custom themes created specifically for them. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure the design has the required level of mobile responsiveness and make adjustments if necessary.