A business without a mobile responsive website is missing opportunities. With more and more people finding online commerce more convenient and less expensive than traditional forms of commerce, any business owner worth his salt is trying to find a way online.
Having an established online presence is essential to engaging the new generation of consumers who actually prefer to be sold to online and through their mobile devices. These are the same people who will TiVo through commercials on a TV show or simply switch a radio station once it begins playing commercials. However, they will respond enthusiastically to coupons from a QR code or location-based sales pitches on their smart phones.
Having an established online presence is essential to engaging the new generation of consumers who actually prefer to be sold to online and through their mobile devices.
It’s About Mobile
The crux of this online presence should be your mobile website. This will be the landing page that will provide information and commerce for your business. Below are just a few of the reasons that you should invest in a mobile website.
1. Commercial Intent
Customers who find your website online are much more likely to purchase from you.
According to many independent surveys, consumers to access a website online are up to 90% more likely to make a purchase or visit a store front than a consumer who accesses a website from a desktop PC.
This makes sense; when an individual accesses a website from a mobile device, that individual is most likely outdoors on the move searching for an answer to a particular problem.
In order to take advantage of these impulse buyers, you must have a mobile website that is ready to go.
2. Marketing ROI
Mobile websites give the best ROI of any marketing tool today. Contrary to popular belief, the creation and maintenance of a mobile website is very inexpensive. Because sales can be made directly from a mobile website, it pays for itself much more quickly than does advertising your products and services on television or radio.
Mobile websites have virtually no maintenance costs after the initial design and web hosting fees.
3. Connect with Customers
Mobile websites provide a forum for customers to feel personally attached to a business.
You will be viewed as a part of the life of a consumer rather than a business that is looking to sell a product to a consumer.
If you are able to entice your customers to opt in to a location based coupon service or an alert system that directs them to your mobile website, they will likely receive your updates happily rather than viewing them as spam or hard-sell advertising.
This phenomenon is based upon the fact that people perceive any information that comes to them through their personal devices as being more personal to them. You will be viewed as a part of the life of a consumer rather than a business that is looking to sell a product to a consumer.
4. Missing Link Found
The mobile website is the missing link between the online and off-line connectivity of your business and the customer.
In order to stay at top of mind of your customer base, you must have a ubiquitous presence in their lives. If you have a desktop website but no mobile website, it is very likely that your customer will completely forget your sales pitch on his way from the PC to the car.
However, if you have a mobile website, your customer is carrying you with him at all times. Your customers will literally not be able to get away from you, and contrary to what you might believe, they will actually thank you for this type of service with their continued, loyal business.
The Mobile Website of the Future
A business that is set to grow and expand their business needs to be where their customers are. The number of mobile devices, tablets and phones, in use by your customers is soon to surpass the number of desktop users.
If you put all your eggs in your “regular website” you will be missing out on the future. When your customer walks into your store, they will have phone in hand. They will be looking at your competitors and comparing prices. If they cannot also access your site while in your competitors store, you miss out on the opportunity to influence buying decisions.
A mobile website is the “next big thing” for small businesses. Shout off in the comments below. Do you agree? Do you have a mobile website?