5 Reasons to Drink the Mobile Kool-Aid
Many businesses are currently faced with the challenge of deciding when, how, and if they need a mobile presence. At Boston Interactive, we believe that going mobile is an important next step in expanding any company's web and online marketing strategy. Also important, understanding the pathways to create an 'mDot' experience that are right for meeting that strategy. As Smartphones continue to dominate mobile phone purchases, expectations have risen as to how quickly and easily information can be accessed. Mobile web is not just a trend; it is the present and future of surfing the Internet. So if you still aren't convinced, here are 5 reasons your company should consider mobilizing.
The Numbers
Currently, around 1 billion people worldwide have access to the Internet through a desktop computer and 83 million people access to the web through a mobile device. Morgan Stanley analysts estimate that by 2015 mobile web traffic will outweigh desktop web traffic. In the fourth quarter of 2010, Smartphone sales were up 90% from the previous year and for the first time, beat out sales of personal computers.
From the Big Screen to the Small Screen
Let's face it, users are already trying to access your website from their mobile device and without an mDot you have no control over their mobile experience. Since your principal website is set up to be viewed on a monitor connected to a computer with hardware support for advanced functionality, most likely the interaction the mobile user has will be frustrating and will not result in accomplishing their reason for visiting. Try it out, check out your website on a smartphone and you'll see what we mean.
Stay Ahead of the Curve
As technologies change, how we do business changes. There was a time when the idea of e-commerce was farfetched and now it's common practice. Mobile web browsing is not a trend, so you better to be prepared for the influx of mobile source traffic. Also consider what competitors are doing - because if they don't have a mobile site or app yet, they will soon.
Bang for your Buck
People with Smartphones spend half of their time on it staying connected, a big part of which includes checking their email. If you are conducting an email campaign, there is the possibility a subscriber is going to open your email on their phone. Having a mobile website available when they click through the email can help bolster their experience, and can have a positive result for the ROI of the campaign.
Taking Your Relationship to the Next Level
Joining the mobile landscape allows you to develop another connection with your clients and extend your circle of influence. The mDot is about convenience, a subset of the full site that gets users key information, when they need it. While mobile apps can provide another level of convenience through easy, on-the-go transactions.
When making the mobile leap, you should consider which path is right for the goals you are trying to accomplish - an app or a mobile website. Apps are used to complete tasks such as transactions (bank transfers) or feeding data (streaming movies, live stock feeds). Users download apps with a preconceived notion of what they are trying to accomplish, making a specific business goal easier to reach. Mobile websites are focused on search and discovery, providing information such as who a company is, what they do, and how to get in touch with them.
So the question really isn't 'should I go mobile?' The question is 'how do I go mobile?'
You can check out our mDot version of Boston Interactive's website at m.bostoninteractive.com.