Today’s technology sphere has brought an experience that was only available on a desktop computer 10 years ago into the palm of the consumer’s hand. Instead of having to find a computer, sit down, login and perform a search, smart phone users can now do virtually anything on the go. With a high dependency on mobile devices, it becomes essential that the businesses of today have a dedicated mobile website.
StatCounter Global Stats – Platform Comparison Market Share
People Use Their Phones
With the power of a computer in their hands, consumers are often more likely to use their smart phones than they are to access an actual computer. Some studies suggest that as much as 60 per cent of all Internet use now occurs on the mobile device. This means that companies that only build a desktop version of a page are potentially losing out on 60 per cent of their traffic. Though this can vary from industry to industry, the numbers are extremely alarming. Any business owner will realize how much this could affect the bottom line if left unaddressed.
On the other hand, other information does show that smart phones are not typically used to purchase products. Still, this could be indicative of a distrust of ordering something on the go, or the convenience of taking out a credit card and typing in the numbers. Overall, people may not purchase as often from mobile devices, but they do visit websites.
Search Engine Ranking
Though actual studies have suggested that there is little merit to a page’s loading speed affecting its search engine ranking, the more important studies show what happens in the back end. Faster servers and optimized websites do rank more highly, which means if a business owner wants to keep his search ranking on a mobile device, it is absolutely necessary to have a mobile optimized website. Perhaps just as important, today’s Internet technology is fast, and with Internet speeds increasing, consumers expect to have everything load quickly.
Even if a page ranks highly on the search engine results, people are not going to wait around for it to load. If a consumer clicks on a website link and finds that it is not loading or that it doesn’t fit well on his/her mobile device, he/she simply will move onto to another page. As a side of effect of faster loading speeds, people expect shorter waiting times.
Regardless of what industry someone is in, new developments in mobile technology have made it essential that everyone that wants to remain competitive develops a mobile website. These mobile optimized versions load faster, are easier to read and provide the information in a convenient fashion. With more and more users using mobile technology, websites that can be accessed with smart phones are definitely the way of the future.
