1) The document discusses the results of a 2017 test of 416 UK council websites on mobile devices. 89% now offer responsive or mobile websites, up from 80% last year. 2) Key findings include that 46 sites (11%) are still not optimized for mobile, with issues like forms not working and inability to complete transactions. Non-mobile sites scored lower in accessibility. 3) Common mobile issues identified include independent scrolling not working, hidden/hard to find search boxes, unlabeled menu icons, hidden content, and unoptimized responsive designs. Proper labeling, forms, and optimization are important to the mobile experience.

1. betterconnected.socitm.net
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betterconnected.socitm.net @btrconnected
Better connected reviewer
James Coltham
The mobile experience

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Why is mobile important?
• In October 2016, 51% of worldwide browsing done on mobile
devices (phones and tablets)
• Ofcom reckon the UK tipped back in 2015 with 52% of all UK
internet access coming from mobile
• And in Q1 2016, OFCOM found that 66% of mobile phone users
access the internet using their device.
• GOV.UK reported 49% mobile traffic in May 2017 (compared to
46% the previous year)
• In other words, this is now half your audience

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Headline findings
• We tested all UK councils on mobile with a mobile-specific test
focused on finding things by navigation
• One service test completed on a mobile (order bulky waste
collection, find out about roadworks, apply for resident’s parking)
• 89% now offer a responsive or mobile website
• Compared to 80% last year, and 57% in 2014-15
• Separate mobile sites are increasingly rare – fewer than 5%
• Un-optimised sites can only get one star in BC. All but 2 of the
46 one-star sites are so because they were non-mobile.

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Non mobile purposed sites by council type 2017
• 46 sites of 416 (11%) are still not purposed for mobile
no percent
Welsh unitary 4 18
Scottish unitary 4 13
Shire distirct 24 12
English unitary 6 11
Northern Ireland district 1 9
County council 2 7
Metropolitan district 2 6
London borough 1 3

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• Sites not purposed for mobile will fail accessibility test
for mobile task
• Sites with will fail accessibility tests that involve
transactions and interactions (pay, report, apply etc) if
they have no forms or forms not purposed for mobile
• More on this in our accessibility session later
• Procurement should always specify responsive and
accessible sites and forms
Non mobile purposed sites: accessibility implication

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Headline findings for mobile 2016-17
• compares with 68% in 2016 (when
the test was simpler)
• 32% in 2015
• Still nearly a quarter providing awful
experience

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This year’s mobile test was harder!
4 stars in 2016-17 4 stars in 2015-16
1 Minimum score of 15 from 6 ‘how
quickly’ questions (max 24)
Minimum score of 10 from 5 'how
quickly' questions (max 15)
2 Minimum 5 from 6 ‘yes’ questions n/a
3 Overall 4/4 Overall 3/3

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First, we test whether sites are fully purposed for mobile.
reviewers are asked to:
Enter CONSULTATIONS into mobile device search. What type
of site are you presented with? (If you are offered a mobile
option, accept it)
When you enter the council URL into your web browser, what
type of site are you presented with?
If reviewers are offered a mobile site, they accept it
If the site is not purposed for mobile, we don’t continue and site
scores 0
About the test

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• page with information about the council's 2017/18 budget
• online form to complain
• corporate contact phone number for the council
CC & single tier only
• my nearest library using a postcode OR a map
• list of local primary schools
• where to register a new baby
Districts only
• band C charge for 2017-18
• my nearest park using a postcode OR a map
• info about Neighbourhood Planning in the council area ?
‘How quickly’ questions: reviewers used navigation only

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‘How quickly’ questions: scores
average 0-4
Page with information about the council's 2017/18 budget 2.1
Online form to complain 2.3
Corporate contact phone number for the council 2.8
CC & single tier only
My nearest library using a postcode OR a map 0.9
List of local primary schools 2.6
Where to register a new baby 2.6
Districts only
Band C charge for 2017-18 2.5
My nearest park using a postcode OR a map n/a
Info about Neighbourhood Planning in the council area ? 2
Clear issue with libraries – many failed to link from libraries page to ‘Find my nearest’

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We added a series of ‘Yes’ questions in 2016-17 Yes
1 Is it easy to access services from the home page 75%
2 Is site search obvious/explicit?
68%
3 Confirm that your visit experience did NOT include being
taken to the destop version of the site
74%
4 Confirm that during your visit you did NOT need to zoom in
(eg to see/use a link or other feature) 67%
5 Is the complaint form optimised for mobile (x if no online
facility 58%
6 Confirm that your browsing of this site on your mobile
device was free of errors that prevented you completing
one or more questions?
80%
NB figures include non mobile sites all of which will have scored ‘No’

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Scoring
4 stars
minimum score of 15 from 6 ‘how quickly’ questions (max 24)
minimum score of 5 from ‘yes’ qns
Overall score (Q15) 4
3 stars
minimum score of 12 from 6 ‘how quickly’ questions (max 24)
minimum score of 4 from ‘yes’ qns
Overall score (Q15) 3
2 stars
minimum score of 9 from 6 ‘how quickly’ questions (max 24)
minimum score of 3 from ‘yes’ qns
Overall score (Q15) 2
1 star – the rest

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Common mobile issues

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1. Independent scrolling
• Maps
• Social widgets
• Forms

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1. Independent scrolling - potential solution?

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2. Searching for search (only 68%)
Is it a frying pan?
Is it a mirror?
Does it zoom?

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Still searching…

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Still searching…

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Oh the irony of a hidden search box…

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3. Hamburgers = mystery meat

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Mystery menus

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More mystery meat

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More mystery meat

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And more mystery meat

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Even more mystery meat

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A selection of mystery meats!

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Label your mystery meat properly…

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If you have to explain it…

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4. Hidden sections…

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4. And hidden content…

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5. Responsive but…

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Also spotted…

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Also spotted…

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Also spotted…
(review done in May 2017)

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Also spotted…

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Other common niggles
Starting on a mobile-optimised site, only to be
dumped onto a desktop page (most commonly a
third party site or online form)
Links opening in new tabs – very annoying on
mobile!
Indistinct hyperlinks – no way of sweeping the
page!
Unnecessary text input i.e. forms asking for
superfluous details like “title”

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Better connected reviewer
James Coltham
Thank you