Mobile

I recently gave a talk to the Virginia Economic Developers Association as part of a panel on “smart ideas for community marketing.” During my presentation, I touched on mobile device usage and how they can’t be ignored if you have a website.

Read the rest of this entry »

As your customers become increasingly mobile, you have to consider how your website looks on the screens of their mobile devices, from smartphones to tablets of varying sizes.

If you check your web analytics, you’ll likely find between 10% and 20% of your site visits are coming from mobile devices at this point, and those numbers are only going to rise in the coming months and years. In fact, our latest report for one client shows just over 30% of visitors are on mobile devices, an increase of over 15% this year alone!

Building a separate mobile website is a time-tested option, and if it’s designed right, it will accomplish what you need. But, it’s also a significant investment in time and money.

Responsive design provides a potentially cost- and time-saving option that can offer your users a flexible mobile experience.  But it has its own list of cons to consider as well.

Read the rest of this entry »

In the next year or two, mobile devices are expected to overtake desktop computers as the primary devices used to access in the Internet.

However, 87% of small businesses do not have a mobile-friendly website in place.

There’s a clear need to make sure you provide a seamless and user-friendly experience for customers and prospects using smartphones and tablets. And, by doing so, you’ll definitely have a competitive advantage.

But what are your options for mobile-friendly web design?

Last week, we took a look at the pros and cons of implementing a responsive website to make sure that your website is usable for mobile visitors.

Now, we’ll take a deeper dive into another strategy for a mobile-friendly web presence: mobile websites.

Read the rest of this entry »

Research reveals that by 2015, over half of people browsing the web will be on a mobile device. And roughly 80% of mobile searchers say if they don’t like what they find on one website, they’ll leave that website and look for another, more mobile-friendly solution.

Businesses must start preparing now to meet customer expectations. But how? How does a business ensure that its web presence is mobile friendly?

In the past, we’ve talked with our clients about mobile websites versus mobile apps in meeting the needs of growing mobile audiences.

More and more, responsive website design is entering our conversations.

Below is a quick guide to responsive websites–what responsive design entails and the pros and cons of implementing a responsive website–to help you evaluate your choices as you think about making your website mobile-friendly.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tablets and smartphones are becoming the way to find and access information online.

Mobile devices are changing the way we search for and buy products and services online. Gone are the days where customers interact with companies from PCs and laptops only. iPads, iPhones, Kindles, Droids and other devices are quickly becoming the primary way that folks access the web, research companies and make purchases.

Mobile-friendly websites are becoming a key differentiator, and can make a world of difference when it comes to generating leads and closing sales.

Need convincing? Check out the following statistics about the growth of mobile devices and their impact on consumer behavior. You’ll also see the myriad problems you’ll encounter if you don’t have a website that’s been optimized for mobile business.

Read the rest of this entry »

Photo credit: liewcf on Flickr

The proliferation of tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices is changing the way we research, evaluate and buy products and services online. Mobile-ready is no longer optional. Online retailers that ignore their mobile customers risk losing business–big time. The mobile phenomenon isn’t isolated to e-commerce, either. This shift in consumer behavior represents a bigger trend that all business owners must face head-on. See what’s ahead for mobile and e-commerce in 2012 and beyond, and see why mobile matters no matter what kind of business you run. Read the rest of this entry »