According to Google research, “By 2013, more people will use their mobile phones than PCs to get online.” Furthermore, if you haven’t been paying attention to what your site looks like on a mobile device, chances are you are sending your potential clients elsewhere.
What does a bad mobile experience can do to your business? Here are some numbers from a recent survey:
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61% of users said that they’d quickly moved to another site if they didn’t find what they were looking for right away.
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79% of users will search for another site if they don’t like what they find on one site.
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Even if they like a business, 50% of users said they will use them less often if the website isn’t mobile-friendly
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52% of users said that a bad mobile experience made them less likely to engage with a company
Whether you are just about to set-up your mobile site or are thinking of redesigning it, be sure to include the following key elements to help you gain advantage in the mobile world.
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Make sure that your site is fast. Most mobile users do their online tasks as they go about their day. A simple design that loads fast and with content that is easy to read will help them keep on your page. Some ways to make your mobile website load faster are to include only the pages and features that are important to mobile users (you can use your website analytics to determine this). If possible, use bullet points instead of large block of texts and compress your images to keep them small.
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Make sure your website design is mobile-friendly. Mobile devices have smaller screens so be sure that your content is readable without straining your audience’s eyes. Minimizing scrolling and making your buttons thumb-friendly will also help improve user-experience on your site.
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Simplify your navigation. Have a clear navigation helps mobile users to easily find what they are looking for in your site. Include a “Back” and “Home” button to make it easy to navigate between pages on your site and include search functionality if you have complex navigation and/or a content-rich site.
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Give your audience the ability to take action. A lot of mobile users look for information about local businesses including where and how to find them, business hours and contact details. Make sure to include this information in your site and provide a map and directions. “Click-to-call,” SMS texting and email features will also enable visitors to get in touch immediately for any questions or inquiry.
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Links to your social networks. 60% of mobile users use their phone for daily social network activity. Amplify your presence by allowing visitors to engage with you and to share your brand message on social networks.
If you need help building your mobile site, Panoptic Online Marketing can help you. We offer mobile websites starting at $400. This includes the mobile hosting, auto-sync with your original site, and mobile updates, ensuring your customers constantly have the best experience. With great features including “click to call,” our mobile sites appeal to clients on smaller budgets who are looking to get the most bang for their buck. No annual contract required.
