Without knowing it, you could possibly be missing out on millions of visitors. That’s potential visitors mind you, not trying to fill your head with impossible scenarios. No, I’m simply trying to convey the important of mobile web. It continues to grow, and with it should be your understanding of how it works and how to optimize for it.

This site has a long list of resources, and tips for how to set your website up for optimal mobile standards. Here are some examples of those tips, and some of them you probably follow already.

- Heading tags are decently supported. However, many devices display some at the same size and weight (e.g. h1 and h2 = identical)

- font-size is almost useless (currently). Consider using headings instead to control font sizing.

- ul and ol are well supported

- Users may browse with images turned off. Always use alt text (which, of course, is recommended practice anyway).

- background-image support is decent at best. However, background-color is somewhat well supported.

For those of you who are just now getting into HTML code, the very basics are where you want to start. Like most experts will tell you, even the simplest parts of HTML code are the most important.

We all have our preferences. Everyone has a certain way of designing that they’re comfortable with, and like to see done when creating a site. Guess what though? It’s not about you, it’s about me or your potential visitors. This can be an aspect of design that is hard for a lot of people. Especially those just entering the field. That’s why I wish teachers would force web design students to make them create things a certain way, instead of letting them open up. This isn’t painting, or drawing, it’s web design.

Designing for the web is all about attracting visitors, so what you enjoy has little to none effect in the grand scheme of things. If you’re designing a website for your personal use, then you can can ignore what I’ve said and am about to say. Tiled backgrounds, or bright and obtrusive colors are fine if you’re the only one that’s going to see it.

However, if you’re designing for others then learn about the wonders of white space and driving focus to certain parts of a page. Adapt to using soft colors, and ones that are pleasing to the eye and don’t necessarily have a creative use.

One of the most important aspects of design is focusing the user on the content. I also believe it’s one of the least taught functions of design. If you have a client, more than likely they could care less about how artistic you are. They’re concerned about if what you’re creating is bringing traffic to their site.

Always keep that in mind.