A practical mobile homepage check for small businesses

Your homepage should help a visitor understand your business and take the next useful step. You can spot many obvious obstacles with a phone and a short checklist. Start with the site signed out, as a new visitor would see it.

1. Read the first screen

Before scrolling, ask three questions: what does this business do, who is it for, and what can I do next? Write down the answers using only what is visible. If you need prior knowledge of the business, the opening copy may need more detail.

For example, “Plumbing repairs in Oxford” gives a visitor more context than “Solutions you can trust”. Use a real description of your service and location; do not add an area you do not cover.

2. Follow the main action

Tap the main button and follow the whole route. Does “Request a quote” lead to a relevant enquiry form? Does a phone link show the intended number? Stop before making an unwanted booking or payment.

Choose button words that describe the next step. Check that nearby links are far enough apart to tap comfortably. The W3C’s accessibility design tips recommend clear navigation, identifiable interactive elements and layouts that work at different viewport sizes.

3. Check reading and navigation

Read a paragraph in normal portrait orientation. Look for text cut off at the edge, headings hidden by a fixed menu, and content that forces sideways scrolling. Increase the text size or zoom and check whether you can still reach the menu and main action.

Open the mobile menu, visit a service page, then return home. Check that you can tell which page you reached. Try closing any banner or pop-up and confirm that it does not trap you or cover the main button.

4. Inspect the images

Check the mobile crop of your main image. Is the useful part still visible? If the image contains essential words, make sure the same information is available as page text. A decorative picture should not be the only place where visitors can find your offer.

5. Fix the largest obstacle first

Make three columns in your notes: problem, page, next action. “Quote button opens the wrong page” is a clearer task than “improve mobile”. Start with anything that stops a visitor completing the main action, then work through unclear copy and awkward spacing.

This is a practical first check, not a full accessibility audit. Test on another device when possible and ask someone unfamiliar with the business to try the same route.

Want to discuss what you found? Contact Hobbit Web Design with the page address and a short description of the problem.