I hear it a lot. “I already have a small business website. Why on earth do I need to make it mobile friendly?”
It’s simple. Mobile web use is exploding. More and more people are using their phones or tablets to find information. I’d be willing to bet that you probably use some sort of mobile device more now than ever.
In fact, by 2015, more Americans will access the web via mobile than desktop. That means that building a mobile-friendly website is essential to your small business.
Ever get tired of pinching and zooming-in on a website so you can read the content better?
Me too!
It was one of the reasons why I built a mobile friendly version of this site. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and resize this window or pull it up on your mobile device. I’ll wait.
What I have done is created a website that adapts, or responds, to the device size that you are viewing it on. So, if you pull it up on an iPhone, you will get a different look than if you view it on an iPad.
It’s called Responsive Web Design.
Same information, just tailored to enhance your viewing experience.
Ok, that’s cool but is it important?
Yes, and here are some stats from Google to back it up.
- 85% of mobile devices will be web enabled by next year.
- Mobile search has grown 4x in the past year.
- 1 in 3 mobile searches have local intent.
Still having doubts? Let’s put it into a small business example. According to Google, 30% of restaurant searches are from mobile devices. When asked, “Why do you conduct searches on your smartphone?”…72% of respondents answered, “To get information while I’m on the go.”
Think about it. People don’t bring their desktop computers with them when they are traveling, on vacation, or just out-and-about looking for some grub. They have iPads, iPhones, and laptops (maybe).
When customers are looking for your business, or the products you sell, make it easy for them to navigate your site. You want them to able to find your address quickly and pull it up on a map. Or easily find your phone number and call you with one-click.
Here are a few more stats from Google:
Actions taken as a result of looking for local information:
- 77% contacted a business
- 59% make a visit
- 44% purchased
- 90% of these people act within 24 hours.
The bottom line is that mobile-friendly websites benefit your customer, and your business.
Does this mean that my website will not work on mobile devices?
Absolutely not (unless it’s flash). Your website will work, but the user would get a better experience if it were mobile friendly.
Take a look at a few websites that recently got the responsive makeover!
Image courtesy of Marco Arment
