Using Mobile First Technology Changes the Game

Mobile First technology represents a significant advancement in personal website construction. Traditional website philosophy has been primarily focused on businesses, as they were the early adopters of the internet and dominated the online landscape. However, MobileFirst Personal Websites is dedicated to a truly alternative viewpoint, empowering individuals and small businesses to benefit from the advantages of active websites tailored to their personal and professional needs.

The business-centric approach has historically prioritized creating websites that look great on larger screens, such as desktop and laptop computers. However, the majority of web browsing has shifted to mobile devices, primarily smartphones. Most traditional websites are responsive in nature, meaning they adapt to smaller screens, but often with limited optimization for the mobile experience.

Mobile First technology flips this approach by demanding that websites be developed primarily for mobile screens, with larger resolutions being adapted secondarily. This ensures a seamless and optimized experience for the growing population of mobile users.

By focusing on the mobile platform and providing an economical solution that anyone can use to build their own website, MobileFirst Personal Websites opens up a much wider range of possibilities. We have discussed some of these in previous issues, such as digital business cards, which are better suited for mobile devices than traditional desktop implementations.

One exciting development is the increasing popularity of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) for small businesses. PWAs are essentially mobile apps that do not require heavy programming or development logistics when built on the MobileFirst-Personal platform. They are extensions of websites that can be transformed into installable programs directly on a user's mobile device, providing instant access and engagement with customers or target audiences.

With the ease of creation afforded by Mobile First technology, the scope of PWAs becomes much broader, enabling innovative solutions like the one we discuss in the article below – a radical way to keep families connected without relying on traditional text messaging.

I believe we are at the beginning of a paradigm shift, where the mobile phone becomes the center of most people's digital lives. Smartphones have become ubiquitous, present in the hands of nearly everyone we encounter. They are being used for an ever-increasing range of tasks, even surpassing the capabilities of laptops in many scenarios. While larger resolutions will not disappear entirely until we achieve seamless voice recognition and text input, the mobile platform is undoubtedly the future of personal and professional digital experiences.

Sincerely,

Steve Pond

Founder, MobileFirst-Personal Websites

In today's fast-paced world, staying connected with loved ones can be challenging, especially when you want to share updates with a specific group of close friends or family members. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have become too impersonal and focused on broadcasting posts to a broad audience. What if you want to share a special moment, like a restaurant you enjoyed, with a small circle of close personal friends or family members? Doing so on these massive social media platforms often means sharing it with all your connections or relying on their algorithms to determine who might be interested.

Moreover, in the event of a family emergency that requires secure and private communication within your circle, these public platforms may not be the most suitable option. While there are applications available for purchase or ways to create secure broadcast lists, they may be personalized to you alone and lack the convenience of a more integrated solution.

This is where the advent of Mobile First technology has enabled a better way to stay in touch with a small circle of friends or family, allowing you to broadcast updates and receive comments within a completely private and secure environment.

Personally, I term this concept a "circle." It involves creating a specific digital business card for a group and distributing it to that group as a Progressive Web App (PWA). The Mobile First technology allows you to create any website you desire and, with just a few clicks, transform it into a private mobile app that can be shared without requiring approval from external entities like Google or Apple app stores.

Currently, the most common use of PWAs is by small businesses that want to contact their customers immediately with time-sensitive information like lunch specials or new product arrivals. They achieve this through push notifications, which are one-way transmissions sent directly to the PWA on the customer's phone.

The MobileFirst-Personal platform has democratized website creation, taking it from the exclusive realm of businesses and placing it in the hands of the general public, where anyone can become their own webmaster. Even the most technologically challenged individuals can learn to create their own websites without the need for lengthy, tedious classroom training. Every paid plan offers the ability to transform any created website into a PWA with just a few clicks.

Consider a family of five people who want to ensure they can stay in touch at all times, no matter where in the world they are. If each person builds their own personal digital business card and transforms it into a PWA, it can easily be installed on the home pages of the other four family members' phones. As an installed PWA, the ability to create push notifications to the others who have the app in the circle is available to the webmaster of the app.

This represents a significant shift in how phones, PWAs, and website editors have traditionally been used. A push notification is not generated by a user of the PWA but exclusively by the webmaster. While this has been suitable for local businesses seeking closer communication with their customers, as the push notification originated from the person with access to the website editor of the app, the game has changed with the introduction of the adaptive website editor by the MobileFirst-Personal Websites platform a few months ago.

Now, the webmaster has full access to the web editor and can create a push notification from anywhere with a browser. If a push notification is suddenly required, the webmaster can simply pull out their phone, log into the editor, and open the website to create and send a push notification. If the entire family circle has a personal web PWA, and their PWA is installed on all family members' phones, there is instant, private, confidential communication pushed to the entire group.

MobileFirst-Personal Websites recognized this possibility and suggests that anyone needing to push notifications to a select group only needs to use the most affordable plan – The Connect M Plan. It is also available as a monthly plan at $4/month. Alternatively, you can save $8 a year by enrolling in the standard Connector Y plan and pay $40 per year. It comes with two blank websites and the Professional BizCard widget and template to create digital business cards. When using a digital business card (DBC) as a circle's PWA, the second blank website can be fashioned into a professional digital business card for business or other purposes.

Furthermore, we have a special offer for the Connector S plan, where for the next few weeks, you can enroll in that plan at half the monthly cost – get the Connector plan for $24/month.

Carousel Widget

The Carousel widget is a powerful and versatile tool that allows you to display multiple items in a configurable and visually appealing manner. It works by cycling through a set of items at a predetermined rate of change, providing a smooth and controlled sequence for showcasing your content.

One of the key advantages of the Carousel is its ability to present not only images or graphics but also accompanying titles, subtitles, and detailed textual descriptions. This makes it an excellent choice for showcasing a wide range of items, whether it's products, services, portfolio pieces, or any other content that requires both visual and textual elements.

The Carousel includes a full-featured text editor, enabling you to craft rich and informative descriptions for each item. This means you can provide comprehensive details, highlight key features, or even include calls-to-action alongside the visual representations.

While the Carousel can accommodate graphics of varying sizes, it's generally recommended to use images of consistent dimensions for the best visual appeal. This ensures a cohesive and professional look, making it easier for viewers to focus on the content rather than being distracted by disparities in image sizes.

One of the notable features of the Carousel is its configurability. You can fine-tune the rate at which the items transition, allowing for a seamless and visually appealing experience. Whether you prefer a slower pace for viewers to fully appreciate each item or a faster rotation to create a dynamic and engaging presentation, the Carousel offers the flexibility to meet your needs.

Overall, the Carousel widget is an excellent choice for anyone looking to showcase multiple items in a well-regulated and visually compelling sequence. Its combination of visual and textual elements, consistent layout, and configurable transition rate make it a powerful tool for effectively presenting and highlighting your content to your audience.