Smartphones – the Ultimate Shopping Companion
We use Smartphones to find restaurant menus, movie times, compare prices on products, to find shopping coupons and so much more. And we do it at home, on the run - even in the stores where we’re shopping. When we use our Smartphones this way, we’re not just browsers, we’re hunters! Smartphones are creating informed consumers. The information they find on the mobile website they visit is likely to lead to a purchase, because hunters are ready to shoot: or in this case, to buy.
When developing marketing tools for the internet, most large online companies go “mobile first” because of the exponential growth of Smartphones – the fastest growing sector of Internet access by far. Google recently commissioned a survey (in partnership with market research firm Ipsos OTX) to gain insight into the usage and behavior of U.S. consumers with regard to their Smartphones.
So how does this impact your business?
Having a mobile-friendly website that is well-positioned in local searches is just as important as having a “normal” website. Smartphone “hunters” are on the lookout for a meal, a movie or a deal on products or services that they want RIGHT NOW. Are you ready for them?
Your “regular” website can form the basis for your mobile website however, mobile sites are effectively designed to fit the smaller screens of hand-held devices. Pages are simplified, unnecessary images removed, and slow-loading content such as video is reduced.
FAQs and Tips:
Q. Does our whole website need to be available on the mobile site?
A. Not necessarily. Simplify the site and tailor the content for on-the-go consumers.
Q. How can you simplify a complex website?
A. For starters, make sure the most popular content is easy to find. Use “finger-friendly” links and buttons so your website is easy to use on a touch-screen phone. Avoid visual clutter so that pages load quickly.
Q. How do you go about promoting a mobile site?
A. Choosing the right meta tags and keywords will help search engines to lead customers to your website. Add your business to the growing list of mobile-only web directories.
Other ways to get the word out:
- Tell your customers about your new site
- Add a link or QR (quick response) code to your business cards
- Add a line to your email signature inviting people to use your mobile site
- Blog or tweet about your mobile website
- Write an article for your company newsletter
- Offer mobile-only special promotions
Contact us today to quote on a mobile web site!
