According to several sources, this year, sales of internet connected mobile devices surpass PC sales; hence the pressing question: "Do I need a mobile site?"
To best answer that question, consider the following:
- Are you a local business? According to Google 50% of all mobile searches are for local goods and services. Microsoft has said this number is 53%. (Martin Maybruck Local Online Marketing Tips)
- Do you like to be first in the pool or are you a toe dipper? By the end of 2011, 50% of Americans will own a smartphone. Yet only 21% of Google's advertisers have a mobile optimized website! (Don Campbell, Expand2Web.com)
- Who is your target market? Are they going to be viewing your site or looking for it using iPhone/Android/BlackBerry? Robert Sterling
- Is your target market composed of early adapters? According the CDC the movement to mobile phone only households is 25%. This means that more people are not getting a phone book anymore, and are instead relying on mobile searches as their "yellow pages". Around 60% of local mobile searches immediately result in a call or a visit to the business. (Shane Turner Local Search Insight )
- Are you reaching your client where the search? 33% of Facebook postings are Mobile, so any links you post in Facebook should go to landing pages or websites that are also mobile ready. (Martin Maybruck Local Online Marketing Tips )
- Are you an e-commerce business? It has been estimated that by 2015 shopping via mobile devices with account for in excess of $163 billion in sales worldwide, 12% of ecommerce turnover (ABI Research, 2010). (Eileen Lonergan EileenLonergan.com )
- Are people looking for your location? Recently, statistics unveiled by a Senior Product Manager at Google revealed that campaigns with the click to call function typically experienced a 6-10% rise in click through rate. Personally, When I am driving and lost I and easily find the location on Google maps then click on the mobile page to call for directions & landmarks. (Ta Teirlynck )
- What is Google's position on mobile? Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, told the Harvard Business Review, that 2011 initiatives are "all about mobile." (Don Campbell, Expand2Web.com )
- What is Facebook's position on mobile? Facebook's CTO said "Mobile is the primary focus for our platform this year." (Don Campbell, Expand2Web.com )
- Do you have a "Special Offer"? Total mobile coupon spending in the U.S. is expected to rise from $90 million in 2009 to $6.53 billion in 2014, according to its 2010 U.S. Local Mobile Advertising and Promotions Forecast. (Laura Heuer, Green Castle Web Design )
The big players clearly see the opportunity in mobile and intend to capitalize on it, why wait, mobile is here and it is serious player!
The contributors to this article are members of the Expand2Web Experts Group, a group of web consultants, do-it-yourself small businesses owners or those looking to start their own consulting business.
Also typically around 10% of searches for your brand is mobile. For well known brands this increases to 15-20%. Some of our clients didn’t realize that they had a stronger than 10% mobile skew showing that their customers are more than happy to engage with them via their phones.
Thank you Daniel, that is such a great point! How are you tracking your mobile visits to webpages?
Hmm, I think a list on what type of content needs a mobile website would be really useful too ~