The Internet is increasingly being accessed by mobile devices. Earlier this year, it was estimated that there were 1.08billion smartphones around the world, accounting for over 23% of online traffic and earlier this week, it was predicted that more people in the US will access the Internet via a mobile device than a laptop or desktop computer by the year 2015.

In 2010, 8% of online purchases were made on a mobile. It has been estimated that 44% of last minute shopping will be done via a mobile device this Christmas (only 14 weeks to go!). It is therefore more important than ever that your site is optimised for use on a mobile device., and as such, a number of considerations need to be made when designing a site that is to be viewed on a mobile.

The design should be as simple as possible, allowing users to easily find and purchase items, and of course, not use flash which can not be viewed on iPhones or iPads. ASOS and Marks & Spencer are widely regarded as having well designed, easy to use mobile sites

Those looking for products on a mobile may not necessarily be looking to buy, but may be looking for product reviews or nearby stockists. For this reason, it is also important to be able to easily find contact information and ensure that your site is set up for local search.

Try navigating your own site on your mobile and see how easy it is to use – if you are struggling, think how difficult your customers must be finding it!