Your
customers and potential customers are also sprinting in this mass perpetual
rush. This means mobile websites are not
a novelty, but an inevitability for your small business.
Devices and Demand
Cellphone ownership is borderline
universal, coming a long way from the “cool kid” toys that were early models. Flip phones, BlackBerrys, etc. all had
their time. Smartphones were the next elite, now they’re a common sight, as are
mobile sites on their screens.
People are
using mobile sites, and if your small business doesn’t have one, they’ll just
find someone else who does. Customers
want the convenience of mobile sites, and your business wants the increased
visibility.
A Google
survey found nearly 3/4 of respondents want mobile and are likely to revisit
mobile sites. Other studies conclude that 15% of total US and Canadian web traffic comes from smartphones. Smartphones
helped themselves to this generous chunk of the web pie thanks to:
- The Smartphone Surge: Smartphone sales are projected at 1.05 billion units in 2015 with PCs and laptops lagging in comparison.
- Wi-Fi Hotspots Heating Up: Not just for Starbucks anymore, 5.8 million hotspots will be available in ’15, up from 800,000 in 2010.
Convert Browsers to Customers
At this point you might be thinking, “I
want calls and customers, not mobile site views.” You’re right, small business mobile traffic
is a superficial stat without conversion, and eyeballs on your mobile site will
deliver more calls to your small business.
According
to Google partner DudaMobile: “Users take action on mobile-friendly sites. 1 in
5 website visits lead to an immediate call to the business.” Further Google number-crunching
indicates 67% of survey participants are more likely to join your customer
ranks if you have a mobile site.
Mobile Must be Lean and Mean
In regards to the web, the word
“quality” gets thrown around more than “like” at a high school. This is Google’s go-to mystery
adjective for web content. However, quality mobile
sites are more clear cut. All good mobile sites have one thing in common: Optimization.
Mobile
sites need to be simple and stripped down with blatant, direct paths to your
company’s essential information. Efficient design means efficient navigation to
your most vital content.
Mobile Function Musts:
- Easy-to-use navigation
- Minimum of scrolling and pinching
- Quick load times
Mobile Content Musts:
- Business contact info: Address and business hours
- “Click to call”
- Social media links
Go Mobile or Go Home
Instead of sliding in front of a PC,
more people are reaching into their pockets for information. It’s a trend that’s growing toward
mainstay status.
The
pro-mobile numbers will only climb as the technology gets sleeker, faster and more
advanced. Keeping up with this curve and growing your business means optimizing
your own small business for smartphone screens.
