Getting your mobile web site to shine isn’t as easy as just shrinking down your old web site to a mobile format. To succeed, mobile web development projects need to created with a focus on the unique characteristics of the mobile medium.
Tip #1 Start with a goal – Too many businesses build a mobile web site without determining what exactly they want the site to do. Do you want your mobile site to generate orders and sales? Drive traffic to a brick and mortar location? Once you have figured out your goal(s) keep your mobile site focus on accomplishing one or maybe two goals. A tight, clear focus produces much better results in the mobile medium than just duplicating your regular website.
Tip #2 Keep your visitors in mind – Your business and mobile web site have a specific audience and this is who you want to speak to when you build your mobile web site.
Tip #3 Build a bridge – Build a bridge between your visitors and your site goal(s). This is a simple tip that is often overlooked and highly effective if followed. If your goal is to drive foot traffic into various brick and mortar locations, utilize your mobile web to build a clear, easy to follow bridge to that goal. Often when consumers are visiting the web via mobile devices they are “on-the-go”, so creating a simple, easy-to-follow path will yield positive results.
Tip #4 Less is more – Don’t try to cram everything from your regular web site onto your mobile web site. Your business will benefit from a clean, uncluttered look that users can easily navigate. Use standard symbols for navigation where appropriate to help clean up the look. Opt for a clean, fresh look rather than design heavy features that aren’t effective in the mobile environment.
Tip #5 Stay current – A dated look can turn visitors away from your mobile web site. Opt for a fresh look and plan on reviewing and updating yearly.
Based on different studies, it is estimated that between 25 percent and 50 percent of people will read this post on a mobile device. Consumers and business professionals have adapted to mobile apps, devices and web sites at a rapid rate, using ‘all things mobile’ to stay connected, find information or just have fun. In a new study from Syniverse, we see just how important mobile has become for businesses.
One of the key findings is that most businesses aren’t handling mobile developments in-house. According to Synivere’s report, a full 77 percent of those surveyed are turning to outside vendors for their expertise on how to succeed in the mobile market.
Furthermore, it this survey, it is found that 92 percent of the business people surveyed believe mobile is ‘important or very important’ to their business and 84 percent ‘plan to incorporate’ mobile into upcoming marketing plans. Additionally, 88 percent say they have a ‘defined’ mobile strategy for future marketing efforts.
Of those who currently have a strategy, around half state that they are in the process of implementing it. However, only 24 percent say that their strategy has been implemented at this point and only about 10 percent say they are currently developing a mobile strategy
Businesses were quick to understand that mobile apps and web sites allow them to prosper in their local markets. Going local deepens the engagement levels of consumers. Syniverse’s data shows that 73 percent of businesses surveyed have included a location-based strategy, which allows them to use geographic profiling to better interact with shoppers.
Mobile devices are rapidly becoming more and more important to the in-store shopping experience. Based on new data from GfK, about a third of people are now using mobile devices to conduct in-store research of products while they are shopping and a surprising 20 percent of those questioned have made a purchase with their mobile device while they were in a retail store.
According to the report, those shopping for consumer electronics and toys are the most likely to use mobile devices while shopping. Additionally data shows that 70 percent of US shoppers are using both online and offline info to make decisions on purchases. 64 percent of those of shoppers choose to go in-store to see and feel the product and 63 percent stated they buy in-store to get the product home sooner.
“The future of shopping is here,” says Kimber Johnson, Managing Director of Vanity Point. “Retailers need accept and embrace their shoppers’ habits and preferences or they will be left behind.”
Mobile Applications and Mobile Web Sites should be part of a unified brand that cuts across all platforms and delivers the information that this new shopper is looking for. Businesses can no longer feel content to sever customers while they are in the store but must cater to them on-line, in the store and everywhere in between.