Google "mobile" update and Zenfolio...

[LongLensPhotography]

Unless your site is already perfect or you have stuck your head in a sand you may have heard about the Google mobile search algorithm update...

So guess how well my Zenfolio page performs! https://www.google.co.uk/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/?url=http://www.longlensphotography.co.uk

Page appears not mobile-friendly
Text too small to read
Links too close together
Mobile viewport not set
Content wider than screen

I am not so sure what to do really. Zenfolio don't have decent mobile implementation that allows ordering anything at all, and they also force tablets to that (losing me all those customers). So I disabled it, until now. Myself and many other users tried contacting them to get it fixed to no avail. It pretty much makes me think about Photoshelter and others, but it is such a hassle moving stuff over properly. Or do I just say screw all mobile users and let them go elsewhere?

Any ideas please?

 

[Whippet]

Just put my part finished Zenfolio site on it and it came back all good. Doesnt look like you have the mobile version option turned on though as the screenshot of your site on the test page shows the full version.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Just put my part finished Zenfolio site on it and it came back all good. Doesnt look like you have the mobile version option turned on though as the screenshot of your site on the test page shows the full version.

No, as I said their "mobile" version doesn't allow selling so it is a very toxic option if I may... Why can't they just scale properly like WP and all normal sites do?

 

[Whippet]

Ah sorry, mis read that. Yeah that's a prob, didnt realise that.
Haven't looked at their new client specific iphone and android app yet. Does that allow buying? Guess its a slightly clumsy way...

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Ah sorry, mis read that. Yeah that's a prob, didnt realise that.
Haven't looked at their new client specific iphone and android app yet. Does that allow buying? Guess its a slightly clumsy way...

Think about this for a moment. An old guy or a lady finds my site on their smartphone. There is no buy button, just a nice (presumably!!!) photo... How would they know they have to use some app or a desktop browser? They give up or send me another clueless email. This is how I eventually realised the situation and disabled that prehistoric mobile option. P.S. I looked at the screenshots in app store and it doesn't seem to allow buying either, only downloading for free it may be OK for wedding portfolio, but certainly not for print sales.

 

[Whippet]

Its a really good point and one I hadn't thought of. Won't really affect me, but my cousin who introduced me to Zen is a rally photographer and would see some casual sales, will see if he's considered it. If I'd known I'd have had a word with them at the photo show.
Surprised that they wouldn't realise its a real problem.

 

[vintageman]

Thanks for this, I've clearly been lounging on the beach too much !

Although my site checks out ok for mobile viewing, I hadn't realised that the zenfolio mobile version doesn't even mention that you can buy photos which is the raison d'être for the site! Even worse you can download pages with a pic as a pdf file.

Over the past year some 10,000 people have visited my site with approx 2000 (20%) being mobile users, little wonder that the sales are falling

With this, VAT on digital downloads and the changes to zenfolio's edit view, I think its time to migrate

Any recommendations for other website hosts?

David

http://vintageman.zenfolio.com/

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Any recommendations for other website hosts?

If I were to move tomorrow, I'd try PhotoShelter.... it is just all the hassle that's stopping me so far.